Effect of Pre- and Post-Partum Feed Supplementation on the Productive and Reproductive Performance of Grazing Primiparous Brahman Cows |
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| Authors: | Soto R Rubio I Galina CS Castillo E Rojas S |
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| Institution: | (1) Colegio Superior Agropecuario del Estado de Guerrero, Iguala, Mexico;(2) Centro de Enseñanza, Investigación y Extensión en Ganadería Tropical, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico;(3) Departamento de Reproducción Animal e Inseminación Artificial, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico |
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| Abstract: | This experiment studied the combined effect of pre- and post-calving feed supplementation on the productive and reproductive performance of primiparous Brahman cows. The animals were 4 years old (420 kg live weight) and pregnant, and grazed rotationally on Stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis) pastures. Supplementation was given before and after (T1, n = 15), only before (T2, n = 15) or only after (T3, n = 16) calving, and there was an unsupplemented control (T4, n = 16). The supplement (1.5 kg/animal per day, 13.4 MJ digestible energy/kg dry matter and 20% crude protein) was given for 45 days before and/or after calving. Changes in body weight and body condition score and the productive behaviour of the calves were similar (p>0.05) among treatments. The concentration of urea in the plasma was low in the control group (T4) before and after calving. The animals in all the groups had a poor reproductive performance. The percentage of cows in oestrus was higher (p<0.05) in T1 (73.3%) than in T3 (37.5%). The interval from calving to conception (148.7±53.7 days) and the pregnancy rate (48.5%) were similar (p>0.05) among the treatments. The level of supplementation offered before and/or after calving did not improve the pregnancy rate. |
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| Keywords: | beef cattle calves cows bodily condition body weight growth rate nutrition oestrus cycle reproduction |
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