Rearing of dairy cattle 8. Relationships of dietary energy intake, changes in live weight, body condition and fertility

1982 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Baishya ◽  
S. V. Morant ◽  
G. S. Pope ◽  
J. D. Leaver

ABSTRACTIn each of 2 years, two groups of 25 British Friesian heifers were given, respectively, a moderate- and a low-energy diet for a 12-week period. Mean live-weight gains of 0·25 kg/day and 0·45 kg/day were recorded for the moderate-energy diet, and losses of 0·22 kg/day and 013 kg/day for the low-energy diet. Heifers were inseminated artificially at oestrus at approximately the mid-point of the 12-week period, this oestrus being the next observed after synchronized oestrus, which followed luteolysis induced by cloprostenol injections. With few exceptions, heifers that gained weight were in good or medium condition at insemination and those that lost weight were in medium or poor condition.Highest pregnancy rate (0·78) was recorded for heifers that gained weight and were in medium condition at insemination. For heifers losing weight, pregnancy rate dropped to 0·46 (P < 0·05) due to reproductive failure occurring before the 25th day after insemination. Only in heifers in poor body condition was there a significantly higher proportion failing to ovulate normally (P < 0·001). Among heifers gaining weight, those failing to become pregnant to the first insemination were approximately lOOg/kg heavier than the pregnant ones (P<0·05).Irrespective of gain or loss of weight, and of body condition at insemination, embryo losses did not occur later than the 25th day after insemination, except that five heifers that showed oestrus when pregnant (according to plasma progesterone levels) and were reinseminated then showed evidence of embryo loss.

2005 ◽  
Vol 143 (5) ◽  
pp. 427-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. AHMED ◽  
S. HALDAR ◽  
M. C. PAKHIRA ◽  
T. K. GHOSH

Diets for broiler chickens (n=90) were supplemented with chromium (CrCl3, 6H2O), either alone (0·2 mg/kg diet) or in a combination with ascorbic acid (0·2 mg Cr and 50 mg ascorbic acid/kg diet). The objectives of the study were to ascertain if ascorbic acid had any additive effect on the actions of chromium and whether chromium supplementation could alleviate the nutritional stress in the birds imposed by a reduced energy intake. The birds were fed at the recommended (Bureau of Indian Standards 1992) and at a lower plane of energy. Live-weight gain and diet utilization were higher (P<0·01) when the normal energy diet supplemented with chromium was fed. Food intake (35 days) was higher (P<0·001) in the birds fed with the low energy diet. There was an increase (P<0·01) in metabolizability due to the supplementation of chromium. The metabolizability of crude protein and total carbohydrate increased (P<0·05) when chromium and ascorbic acid were supplemented together. Chromium intake was higher (P<0·001) in the supplemented birds, especially in those fed with the low energy diet (P<0·05), though its retention was higher (P<0·05) when the normal energy diet was given. Chromium in combination with ascorbic acid also enhanced (P<0·01) chromium retention. Blood glucose (P<0·001) and plasma cholesterol (P<0·05) were lower in the supplemented birds and blood glucose was reduced further when ascorbic acid was supplemented together with chromium (P<0·01). Plasma protein increased (P<0·05) in the supplemented chickens. However, variation in the dietary energy concentration did not exert any significant effect on these blood parameters. Plasma chromium was higher (P<0·05) in the supplemented birds, though chromium had little effect in this regard with ascorbic acid. Plasma copper increased (P<0·05) when chromium was supplemented alone and increased further (P<0·05) when chromium and ascorbic acid were supplemented together. Deposition of chromium in the breast and thighs increased (P<0·05) due to supplementation. Protein content and total accretion of protein in the carcass were higher (P<0·05) when chromium was supplemented alone and with ascorbic acid. The supplemented birds had less (P<0·01) fat per 100 g of carcass irrespective of the dietary energy concentration. Weight of the hot carcass increased (P<0·05) due to chromium supplementation although dietary energy concentration did not affect this particular parameter. It was concluded that inorganic chromium supplementation (0·2 mg chromium/kg diet) might effectively enhance the growth performance, diet utilization and carcass characteristics in broiler chickens. Addition of ascorbic acid might also be beneficial in this regard. However, dietary energy concentration was more critical and to yield the maximum benefit of Cr supplementation in broiler chickens, an optimum level was essential.


Author(s):  
K. Shibi Thomas ◽  
R. Amutha ◽  
M. R. Purushothaman ◽  
P. N. Richard Jagatheesan ◽  
S. Ezhil Valavan

Two biological trials were conducted to determine the energy and lysine requirements of “TANUVAS Namakkal gold Japanese quail” for production performance. The economic impact of different levels energy and lysine during the chick (0-2 weeks) and grower (3-5 weeks) phases was assessed using seven hundred and twenty straight-run, day-old chicks randomly grouped in nine treatments with four replicates of twenty chicks each. Three levels of energy (2800, 2900 and 3000 kcal/kg) and three levels of lysine (1.2, 1.3 and 1.4%) were tested for chick and grower phase of the first experiment. The net profit per bird (Rs. 8.49) was high in group T1 (low energy and low lysine) and the net profit per kg live weight (Rs. 48.57) was high in T2 (2900 kcal/kg and 1.2%). For the second experiment an energy level of 2700, 2800 and 2900 kcal/kg was fixed for chick and grower mash, lysine level of 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4% was fixed for chick phase and 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3% for grower phase and the crude protein level was fixed as 20.3 and 19.4 per cent for chick and grower mash respectively for the second trial. The net profit per bird (Rs. 7.18) was high in group T6 and the net profit per kg live weight (Rs. 37.62) was high in T6 (2900 kcal/kg and 1.3% lysine during chick phase and 1.2% lysine during the grower phase).


2001 ◽  
Vol 136 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. EARLY ◽  
O. MAHGOUB ◽  
C. D. LU

The effects of dietary energy concentration on tissue composition and nitrogen metabolism were determined by comparative slaughter and nitrogen balance trials in Omani male lambs during the hot summer months (July to October; maximum temperature 48 °C). Weaned lambs (n = 10 per diet) were fed on one of three isonitrogenous (160 CP g/kg DM) diets that contained low (9·98 MJ/kg DM), medium (10·3 MJ/kg DM) and high (11·4 MJ/kg DM) metabolizable energy contents. An initial slaughter group of 10 animals was used to estimate the initial body composition. Treatment animals were slaughtered at 113–114 days. Increasing dietary energy concentrations resulted in a progressive increase in empty body, carcass and non-carcass water, protein and fat contents. Increasing dietary energy concentrations also resulted in a greater deposition of energy in carcass fat and a reduced deposition of energy in carcass protein. Dietary energy concentration did not affect the distribution of energy between protein and fat within empty body and non-carcass tissues. Ratios of energy to empty body, carcass or non-carcass weight were not affected by dietary energy concentrations and averaged 17·1, 18·2 and 15·9 MJ/kg respectively. These data indicate that more energy is required to deposit carcass tissues than non-carcass tissues. Nitrogen balance trials (feed N–faecal N–urinary N) conducted midway through the experiment indicated that dietary energy concentration had no effect on nitrogen digestibility or nitrogen retention. However, nitrogen retention determined by comparative slaughter showed that animals fed the low energy diet retained significantly less empty body nitrogen compared to animals fed the high energy diet. Thus, nitrogen retention determined by nitrogen balance trials overestimated direct measurements of nitrogen retention determined by comparative slaughter and this overestimation was greater on the low energy diet.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaokang Lv ◽  
Kai Cui ◽  
Minli Qi ◽  
Shiqin Wang ◽  
Qiyu Diao ◽  
...  

Supplying sufficient nutrients, such as dietary energy and protein, has a great effect on the growth and rumen development of ruminants. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary energy and protein levels on growth performance, microbial diversity, and structural and physiological properties of the rumen in weaned lambs. A total of 64 two-month-old Hu lambs were randomly allotted to 2 × 2 factorial arrangements with four replicates and with four lambs (half male and half female) in each replicate. The first factor was two levels of dietary metabolizable energy (ME) density (ME = 10.9 MJ/Kg or 8.6 MJ/Kg), and the second factor was two levels of dietary crude protein (CP) content (CP = 15.7% or 11.8%). The trial lasted for 60 days. A low dietary energy level restrained the growth performance of lambs (p < 0.05). The ruminal concentration of acetate and the ratio of acetate to propionate increased but the propionate concentration decreased significantly with the low energy diet. However, the rumen morphology was not affected by the diet energy and protein levels. Moreover, a low energy diet increased ruminal bacterial diversity but reduced the abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria (p < 0.05) and genus Succinivibrionaceae_uncultured (p < 0.05), which was associated with the change in ruminal fermentation phenotypes. By indicator species analysis, we found three indicator OTUs in the high energy group (Succinivibrionaceae_uncultured, Veillonellaceae_unclassified and Veillonellaceae_uncultured (p < 0.01)) and two indicator OTUs in the low energy group (Bacteroidales_norank and Lachnospiraceae_uncultured (p < 0.01)). In conclusion, these findings added new dimensions to our understanding of the diet effect on rumen microbial community and fermentation response, and are of great significance for establishing the optimal nutrient supply strategy for lambs.


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 174
Author(s):  
V. A. Nascimento ◽  
G. S. Moura ◽  
M. Dias ◽  
F. A. Oliveira ◽  
A. R. Dias ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to evaluate the administration of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH-p) or equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) in protocols of ovulation synchronization. One hundred forty-nine crossbred Holstein-Gyr cows were used in 2 properties in Minas Gerais and 3 treatments: TControl (n = 49 cows), Day 0: insert of a progesterone device (Primer®, Tecnopec, São Paulo, Brazil) + 2 mg of estradiol benzoate (RIC-BE®); Day 8: removal of Primer + 112 mg of D-cloprostenol (Prolise®, ARSA SRL, Buenos Aires, Argentina) + 1 mg of estradiol benzoate and fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) accomplished 44 h after the removal of Primer; TFSH (n = 50 cows), similar to TControl, but on Day 8, 15 mg of FSH-p (Folltropin®, Bioniche Animal Health) was administered; TeCG (n = 50 cows), similar to TControl, with administration on Day 8 of 300 IU of eCG (Novormon®, Syntex SA, Buenos Aires, Argentina). Cows that returned to estrus 14 to 28 days after the FTAI were inseminated once again. For all statistical analysis, we used the program SAS 9.0 (2002; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) at 5% probability. Quantitative variables (live weight, days postpartum, follicular average per cow) were analyzed by variance, and body condition score by Friedman test. The pregnancy rates were submitted to logistic analysis considering the effect of local experimental factors and were analyzed by Spearman correlation among the variables studied and the pregnancy rate. There was no difference (P > 0.05) between treatment for pregnancy rate in FTAI protocols (TControl = 40.82%; TFSH = 38.00%; TeCG = 26.00%), in the first insemination after FTAI (TControl = 56.25%; TFSH = 70.59%; TeCG = 68.42%), and in FTAI plus first insemination after FTAI (TControl = 59.18%; TFSH =62.00%; TeCG = 52.00%), as well as for the estrus repetition (TControl = 55.17%; TFSH = 54.84%; TeCG = 51.35%) and the correlation (P > 0.05) among the pregnancy rate and postpartum period, milk production, body weight and body condition. No effect was observed on the pregnancy rate by the addition of the hormones FSH and eCG in the protocol of ovulation synchronization in crossbred Holstein-Gyr cows; however, reinsemination in the period from 14 to 28 days after FTAI increased the pregnancy rate. CNPq; FAPEMIG; TECNOPEC/São Paulo, Brazil.


1983 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 455-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Rhind ◽  
R. G. Gunn ◽  
J. M. Doney

ABSTRACTSeventy-nine Scottish Blackface and 79 North × South Country Cheviot ewes were fed to increase their mean condition score by 0·5 over periods of either 4 (M/H group) or 8 (I group) weeks prior to mating. Thereafter, they were fed a live-weight maintenance ration until they were slaughtered at 50 to 65 days after mating. Reproductive tracts were recovered, corpora lutea counted and embryos counted and examined. Plasma progesterone levels were monitored at selected times after mating. The proportion of ewes in each treatment group that were pregnant at the time of slaughter was similar (0·75 to 0·83) but there was evidence of differences in the pattern of reproductive failure with treatment. The proportion of non-pregnant ewes which had apparently been pregnant initially was 0·55 in the M/H group compared with only 0·27 in the I group. Circulating progesterone levels were not affected by premating nutritional treatments but differed with breed.


1980 ◽  
Vol 238 (3) ◽  
pp. E235-E244 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Garlick ◽  
G. A. Clugston ◽  
J. C. Waterlow

Rates of whole-body protein synthesis and breakdown in obese subjects have been measured by three methods: constant intravenous infusion of [1-14C]leucine, repeated oral doses of [15N]glycine, and a single oral dose of [15N]glycine. The three techniques gave similar rates of synthesis and breakdown when the subjects received a normal diet containing 8.0 MJ and 70 g protein. After 3 wk on a low-energy diet (2.1 MJ), repeat measurements were made. When the low-energy diet contained protein (50 g), rates of protein synthesis and breakdown were little different from those with the normal diet. When the low-energy diet contained no protein, there was a 40% fall in whole-body protein synthesis and a smaller fall in breakdown. Excretion of 3-methylhistidine in the urine did not change with either low-energy diet. We conclude that the decrease in dietary energy from 8.0 to 2.1 MJ did not influence protein turnover, but that dietary protein was necessary if rates of whole-body protein synthesis and breakdown were to be maintained.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz Orcirio Fialho de Oliveira ◽  
Urbano Gomes Pinto de Abreu ◽  
Rodrigo da Costa Gomes ◽  
Ériklis Nogueira ◽  
Juliana Correa Borges Silva ◽  
...  

Abstract Early weaning (EW) has been adopted in cattle breeding farms in Pantanal as a strategy to increase the rate of pregnancy in cows. The primary income of these properties is the production of beef calves, and the price of these animals depends on their weight. Therefore, the calves subjected to EW should present weight similar to or higher than those of calves subjected to conventional weaning (CW). This study aimed to evaluate the productive performance of pure (Nellore) calves and crossbred (Nellore/Angus) calves reared in the Pantanal and subjected to either EW or CW. After EW, the calves were supplemented with concentrate at 1 kg/animal/day (low-energy diet) or 1% of live weight (high-energy diet). The weights adjusted to 300 days of age were higher for EW calves fed the high-energy diet (p<0.01) in both genetic groups. No significant differences were observed in the weight of EW animals fed the low-energy diet and CW animals (p>0.01), and animal weight was 241.17 and 236.27 kg in crossbred calves and 184.44 and 189.78 in Nellore calves, respectively. The EW adopted in this experimental model did not affect the productive performance of calves raised in the Pantanal.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-33
Author(s):  
B. Saleh ◽  
D. J. U. Kalla ◽  
S. T. Mbap ◽  
U. D. Doma ◽  
A. Y. Girgiri

The effects of varying levels of dietary energy and protein on gross morphology and histology of testes of FUNNAB – Alpha chickens were studied at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Bauchi state. Twelve cocks were randomly divided into four dietary treatments; Standard diet (SD) (Control) (2650Kcal/Kg ME/ 16%CP), High Energy – Low Protein (HELP, 2800 Kcal/Kg ME/ 14%CP), High Energy – High Protein (HEHP, 2800 Kcal/Kg ME/ 18% CP) and Low Energy – Low Protein (LEHP, 2400 Kcal/Kg ME/ 18%CP) groups. A total of twelve FUNAAB – Alpha cocks were used for this experiment. The cocks were reared in floor pens under natural mating. At 69 weeks of age, all the cocks were slaughtered and testicles carefully removed for gross morphology and histological studies. A significant (P<0.05) influence of diet was noted on live weight with cocks fed HELP diet being heavier (P<0.05) than those in the other treatment groups. Means for all parameters of testicles measured where not different (P>0.05) from each other. Histological sections of the testes showed that HELP diet had mild effect on spermatogenesis evidenced by the scanty spermatozoa in the tubular lumen. It was concluded that FUNAAB – alpha cocks can be fed diets meant for breeding hens without adverse effect on spermatogenesis. However, feeding the LEHP diet produced roosters that were overweighed with slightly impaired spermatogenesis.


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