The use of body condition scoring to ration beef cows in late pregnancy

1986 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. Wright ◽  
A. J. F. Russel ◽  
E. A. Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Flat Rate ◽  
Subsequent Performance ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Score Gain

ABSTRACTForty-eight Hereford × Friesian and Blue Grey cows ranging in body condition score from 1·75 to 4·0, 12 weeks before calving, were fed to achieve three levels of body condition score at calving. Half the cows were fed on an increasing plane of nutrition as pregnancy advanced and half were fed on a flat-rate feeding system. The condition scores achieved by the three groups at calving were 2·28, 2·47 and 2·70 (s.e.d. 0·071; P < 0·001). Differences in cow body condition at calving were reflected in cow live weight and condition 6 weeks later, but there was no effect on calf performance. Hereford × Friesian cows lost more weight in early lactation, tended to produce more milk and their calves were heavier. Pattern of feeding had no effect on cow condition score or weight at calving or on subsequent performance.It was calculated that each unit of body condition-score loss in late pregnancy contributes the equivalent of 3200 MJ dietary metabolizable energy while 6600 MJ dietary metabolizable energy are required for 1 unit of condition-score gain.

scholarly journals Effects on maternal and foetal traits of feeding supplement to grazing pregnant ewes

1998 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 667-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Frutos ◽  
O. Buratovich ◽  
F. J. Giràldez ◽  
A. R. Mantecòn ◽  
I. A. Wright
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Uterine Wall ◽  
Fat Reserves ◽  
Large Fluctuations ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Fat Depot ◽  
Grass Growth

AbstractThirty single-bearing Merino ewes were used to examine the effect of feeding supplement, from 91 to 140 days of gestation, on changes in chemical composition of the ewes, on the relationships with live weight and body condition score and on the foetus. Ewes grazed a perennial ryegrass pasture and were offered either no supplement or 500 g per head per day of a concentrate supplement from days 30 to 90 and (or) from days 91 to 140 of pregnancy. Maternal carcass and non-carcass components, uterine wall, foetus and placenta plus cotyledons were chemically analysed. Live weight (LW) and body condition score (BCS) on day 140 were both affected by supplementation during late pregnancy, mobilization of protein and fat being lower in animals receiving supplement. BCS accounted for more variation than LW in the carcass fat depot. Because this depot was the most important source of energy from days 91 to 140 of gestation, this suggests that BCS is a useful estimator of mobilization of maternal fat reserves during this stage of pregnancy. The ability to mobilize reserves and protect foetal growth by Merino ewes in southern Europe, where large fluctuations in grass growth rate exposes them to considerable undernutrition as pregnancy proceeds, was confirmed in this experiment. However, when the nutritional regime is extreme, supplementary feeding to the ewes is recommended, in order to make the whole system economically profitable.

Effects of body condition, food intake and temporary calf separation on the duration of the post-partum anoestrous period and associated LH, FSH and prolactin concentrations in beef cows

1987 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. Wright ◽  
S. M. Rhind ◽  
A. J. F. Russel ◽  
T. K. Whyte ◽  
Alison J. McBean ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Pulse Frequency ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Condition Score

ABSTRACTAn experiment was conducted to examine factors affecting the length of the post-partum anoestrous period and associated effects on LH, FSH and prolactin. Forty-six cows (24 Hereford × Friesian and 22 Blue-Grey) ranging in body condition score at calving from 1·50 to 2·75 were used. They were individually fed chopped barley straw and concentrate at either 50 (low) or 91 (high) MJ metabolizable energy per day from calving. At 34 days post partum half the cows were separated from their calves for 48 h. The duration of the post-partum anoestrous period was estimated from progesterone concentrations in thrice weekly blood samples. Blood samples were collected every 20 min for 10 h periods immediately prior to calf separation, during the last 10 h of calf separation and 1 week later. All samples were analysed for LH, and every third sample was analysed for FSH and prolactin.There were no significant effects of genotype, feeding level or calf separation on the length of the post-partum anoestrous period. There was a negative association between body condition score at calving and the length of the anoestrous period, with each unit increase in body condition score reducing the anoestrous period by 43 (s.e. 20) days. There was some evidence that feeding level affected the number of thin cows (body condition score ≤2·25 at calving) which were still acyclic at the end of the experiment, but not the number of fat cows (body condition score ≥2·5 at calving).FSH levels were not affected by any of the factors examined. Prolactin concentrations were higher in fatter cows, in cows on the higher level of feeding and in Blue-Grey cows. Prolactin concentrations decreased during the period of calf separation. Genotype and feeding level had no effect on LH concentration or LH pulse frequency. LH pulse frequency was increased (P < 0·05) during the period of calf separation, but there was no effect 1 week later. There was a significant positive relationship between LH puise frequency and body condition score at calving in two of the three sampling periods.It is suggested that the effect of body condition on the duration of the post-partum anoestrous period i s mediated through effects on LH pulse frequency.

Effect of dietary repletion on reproductive activity in cows after a long anoestrous period

1996 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Zerbini ◽  
A. G. Wold ◽  
T. Gemeda
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Cyclic Activity ◽  
Natural Pasture ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Management Implication ◽  
Metabolizable Energy Intake

AbstractThis study examined whether a prolonged anoestrus had any long-term effect on subsequent fertility of cows and estimated the relationship between repletion and resumption of reproductive activity. Twelve low body-condition, non-milking, non-cycling (depletion state) F1 crossbred dairy cows (Friesian × Boron and Simmental × Boran) were stratified to two diets (H: natural grass hay offered ad libitum and mineral lick +3 kg concentrate, and H + P: H + 7 h/day natural pasture grazing) according to parity, body weight, body condition score and calving intervals. Daily dry-matter intake was similar between cows on the two diets, but total intake of nitrogen was proportionately about 0·10 greater for cows with access to pasture. The calculated metabolizable energy intake was more than twice the estimated maintenance requirement for cows on both diets. Live weights increased from depletion to ovulation, to oestrus and to conception, but were not significantly different between cows on both diets. Body condition score increased from depletion time to first oestrus and to repletion and was greater for H + P than for H cows at first oestrus and at conception. After an average of 45 days of repletion, cows were already ovulating with no significant differences between cows on either diet. Days to onset of oestrus were 83 and 44 days for diet H and H + P, respectively. Time to conception was similar between coivs on both diets. Conception occurred when cows on H and H + P diets had recovered proportionately 0·51 and 0·58 of their live-weight and 0·84 and 1·27 of their body condition loss, respectively. Interval to repletion weight was 178 and 139 days for cows on the H and H + P diet, respectively. Cows subjected to an exceptionally long depletion period were able to resume ovarian cyclic activity and to conceive in less than 3 months when given twice maintenance requirements. These results have important management implication for on-farm situations in the tropics where fluctuations of food availability and quality occur.

Effect of ewe body condition and nutrition in late pregnancy on the performance of triplet-bearing ewes and their progeny

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 557 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. R. Kenyon ◽  
S. T. Morris ◽  
K. J. Stafford ◽  
D. M. West
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
The Body ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Subsequent Performance ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Ad Libitum Feeding ◽  
Production Response

The aim of the present study was to determine the production response of triplet-bearing ewes and their lambs to two differing feeding treatments in mid to late pregnancy and to determine the effect of ewe body condition. Ninety-two days after the start of their breeding period (P92) triplet-bearing ewes, were allocated to either a Medium (n = 72) or ad libitum (‘Adlib’, n = 72) feeding treatment until P113, followed by both groups being merged and offered ad libitum feeding conditions until lambing. The Medium feeding treatment was designed to ensure pre- and postgrazing herbage masses were below 1200 and 1000 kg DM/ha, respectively. Each feeding treatment included ewes from the following body condition score groups: 2.0 or less (CS ≤2.0), 2.5 (CS2.5) or 3.0 or greater (CS ≥3.0). At P113, Medium ewes were lighter (P < 0.05) and had lower (P < 0.05) body condition scores than Adlib ewes (72.4 ± 0.80 vs 75.2 ± 0.85 kg and 2.8 ± 0.06 vs 3.3 ± 0.06, respectively). However, at P141 liveweight no longer differed (P > 0.05, 86.2 ± 0.94 vs 86.6 ± 0.99 kg, respectively), although a small difference in condition score remained (P < 0.05, 3.0 ± 0.07 vs 3.3 ± 0.08, respectively). Ewe feeding treatment had no effect (P > 0.05) on lamb liveweight or survival or ewe liveweight and body condition during lactation. Ewe body condition score group had no effect (P > 0.05) on lamb birthweight. Lambs born to CS2.5 group ewes were heavier 70 days after the midpoint of lambing (L70) than those born to CS ≤2.0 group ewes (20.9 ± 0.41 vs 19.6 ± 0.36 kg, respectively), although they displayed lower survival to L70 (56.0 vs 69.5%). Liveweight at L70 and survival of lambs born to CS ≥3.0 group ewes (20.0 ± 0.39 kg and 61.7%) did not differ (P > 0.05) from those born to either CS ≤2.0 or CS2.5 group ewes. In conclusion, these results suggest triplet-bearing ewes can be maintained under restricted feeding conditions until at least Day 113 of pregnancy without negatively affecting ewe or lamb performance when they are subsequently offered unrestricted feeding for the remainder of pregnancy and during lactation. Under these grazing conditions the body condition of triplet-bearing ewes had little to no effect on their subsequent performance or that of their lambs.

The performance of ewes offered diets containing different proportions of perennial ryegrass and white clover silage in late pregnancy

1990 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Orr ◽  
T. T. Treacher
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Forage Intake ◽  
In Pregnancy

ABSTRACTFinn Dorset ewes were offered forage ad libitum from week 16 of pregnancy until lambing and were either unsupplemented (U) or given 600 g/day of concentrates (S). Grass silage and white clover silage, ensiled separately and having similar dry matter concentrations, were offered in four mixtures with white clover proportions of 0, 0·20, 0·40 and 0·60 on a fresh basis. Forage intake was significantly higher for mixtures containing higher proportions of clover (9·1, 10·5, 12·3 and 13·6 g organic matter (OM) per kg live weight) and the ewes gained more weight (33, 65, 178 and 174 g/day) and had smaller losses in body condition score (–0·59, –0·49, –0·39 and –0·17). Higher proportions of clover in the diet in late pregnancy also resulted in significantly higher growth rates of lambs during lactation, when a common diet was offered.The number of foetuses carried in pregnancy had significant effects on intake and some aspects of performance. For ewes carrying singles, twins and multiples respectively, mean daily forage intakes were 12·2, 11·9 and 10·4 g OM per kg live weight and losses in body condition score were –0·05, –0·40 and –0·62.Offering the supplement reduced forage intake and for treatments U and S respectively, mean daily values were 12·6 and 10·2 g OM per kg live weight. Whilst the supplemented ewes had smaller losses in body condition score in late pregnancy (–0·54 v. –0·28), lamb birth weights and growth rates were significantly increased only for ewes which had carried three or more foetuses in pregnancy and reared their two heaviest lambs.

scholarly journals Effects of winter feeding strategies with alternative feeds on the performance of mature suckler cows and their progeny

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 348 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. MANNINEN ◽  
K. SAARIJÄRVI ◽  
H. HUHTA
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Feeding Strategies ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Reproduction Strategy ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Alternative Feeds ◽  
Barley Silage

The present study evaluated the effects of feeding strategies with alternative feeds on the performance of mature suckler cows and their progeny during indoor feeding and subsequent grazing. In both experiments, a 2 × 2 factorially arranged design consisted of two feeding strategies (Step-up, Sas offered on Strategy S, but at a constant daily level. In Experiment 1, cows on Diet C were offered grass silage and straw and on Diet A grass silage and a fl our-mill industry by-product. On Strategy S, feeding was stepped with barley (0, 1.5 and 3.5 kg d-1). On Strategy F, barley was offered 1.43 kg per head daily. In Experiment 2, cows were offered either grass silage (C) or whole-crop barley silage (A) as a sole feed. Strategy S was carried out by offering 68, 95 and 119 MJ metabolizable energy (ME) per cow daily. On Strategy F, roughage was given daily 97 MJ ME. In both experiments, there were no signifi cant differences between treatments in the cow live weight, body condition score, calf pre-weaning live weight gain and cow reproduction. Strategy F can be practised in the nutrition of mature suckler cows in marginal circumstances. Flour-mill industry by-product can partly replace grass silage and straw in the winter diet. Wholecrop barley silage can be offered as a sole feed to suckler cows with good body condition score in autumn.;

The influence of herbage mass and supplementary feeding on nutrient flows and animal performance in grazing, lactating ewes

2012 ◽  
Vol 150 (5) ◽  
pp. 644-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. DOVE ◽  
J. A. MILNE ◽  
C. S. LAMB ◽  
A. M. SIBBALD ◽  
H. A. McCORMACK
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Mass Treatment ◽  
Lower Body ◽  
Energy Supplement ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Soyabean Meal ◽  
Body Condition Scores

SUMMARYThe present paper examines the effect of the type of supplement given to grazing ewes in early lactation on the performance of ewes and lambs on temperate sown pastures. Lactating ewes grazed perennial ryegrass pastures at either low- or high-herbage masses, between days 8 and 96 of lactation. On the low-herbage mass treatments, ewes were either unsupplemented or received either an energy supplement (sugarbeet pulp) or a protein supplement (1:1 sugarbeet pulp:formaldehyde-treated soyabean meal) between days 8 and 50 of lactation. The provision of supplements or the higher herbage mass led to increases in live weight (LW) and body condition score of ewes during days 8–50 of lactation, while unsupplemented ewes on the low-herbage mass treatment lost LW and had lower body condition scores. After supplementation finished, previously supplemented ewes or those grazing the higher herbage mass lost LW and condition, while unsupplemented ewes grazing the low-herbage mass gained both LW and condition. Non-treatment factors such as ewe dentition score significantly affected ewe and lamb LW gains. Regression analyses indicated that lamb LW gains between days 8 and 50 of lactation were 40–60 g/d greater in lambs from supplemented ewes or ewes grazing the higher herbage mass cf. unsupplemented ewes. Overall, there was no difference in the response of ewes or lambs to the type of supplement. Milk yields were estimated in a subset of ewes (replicate 4). Ewes on the high-herbage mass treatment or those supplemented with protein had higher milk yields than those on the low-herbage mass treatment or those given the energy supplement. Supplemented ewes in this replicate had higher metabolizable energy intakes (MEIs). Measurements of digesta flow in a further subset of ewes indicated that both supplements resulted in greater ruminal and post-ruminal supplies of energy and protein than in the unsupplemented ewes at the lower herbage mass, but differences in ruminal and post-ruminal nutrient provision between the supplements were less than had been intended. It is suggested that this is the reason for there being no statistical difference in the performance of ewes and lambs in response to the type of supplement.

scholarly journals Live weight and body condition changes in dry cows at pasture and effects on subsequent performance.

1969 ◽  
Vol 85 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 165-180
Author(s):  
Paul F. Randel
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Previous Treatment ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Subsequent Performance ◽  
Management Standard ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Constant Group

During a 720-d experiment in a Holstein and Brown Swiss herd, two feeding regimens were compared during the grazing phase of dry cow management until confinement before expected calving.The two treatments involved rotational grazing (24-d cycles) at a stocking rate of 2.5 animals per hectare in; (A) all-grass swards or (B) all-grass plus 3 h daily access to swards of Leucaena leucocephala and grasses, Large heifers were added as needed to maintain constant group size at pasture. A daily supplement of 2 kg/head of bulky concentrate was fed. During the first 19 mo of the study, while rainfall was adequate, dry cows in treatments A and B gained live weight (LW) satisfactorily (0.69 ± 0.26 and 0.67 ± 0.23 kg/d) and increased in body condition score (BCS) on a scale of 1 to 5 at rates of 0.40 and 0.34 point/100 d, respectively. During the final 5 mo, pasture conditions and LW gains were poor because of prolonged drought. Monthly rainfall of 50 mm or more maintained grazing conditions adequate for use with the present level of supplemental feeding. There were no differences (P > 0.05) between treatments. Under common postpartum management, standard 305-d lactational milk yields were unaffected by previous treatments A or B. However, a positive trend (P < 0.10) was associated with higher prepartum BCS. Cows that scored 3.5 produced 4,013; 4,111; 4,367; 4,627 and 4,450 kg, respectively. Postcalving reproductive performance was not affected by previous treatment or by BCS prepartum or BCS at 6 wk postpartum.

Effects of plane of nutrition during the first month of pregnancy on conception rate, foetal development and lamb output of mature and adolescent ewes

2006 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. 947-954 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Annett ◽  
A. F. Carson
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Adolescent Mothers ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Conception Rate ◽  
Foetal Development ◽  
Crown Rump Length ◽  
Condition Score

AbstractEmbryo transfer studies have demonstrated that high plane feeding in early pregnancy is detrimental to the successful establishment of pregnancy in adolescent but not mature ewes. To further examine this relationship with ewes that conceive naturally and to investigate its effects on foetal development, 102 Greyface and Texel×Greyface ewes (body condition score (BCS) 3·8) and 114 Texel×Greyface adolescent ewes (BCS 3·3) were allocated to one of three treatments following a synchronized mating. From day 1 to 31 of pregnancy, animals were offered grass nuts (10·2 MJ metabolizable energy (ME) per kg dry matter (DM); 163 g crude protein per kg DM) at one of three levels to supply approximately 2·0 (H); 1·0 (M) and 0·6 (L) of their predicted ME requirements for maintenance. Increasing the post-mating plane of nutrition resulted in significant increases in ewe live weight (P<0·001) and BCS (P<0·001) during the treatment period. When diets were standardized for all animals during mid pregnancy (days 31 to 105), L ewes gained more live weight (P<0·05) and BCS (P<0·001) than H ewes. Early pregnancy nutrition had no effect on the conception rate of mature ewes; however adolescent ewes on the H and M treatments had lower conception rates (P<0·05) than those offered the L diet (0·59, 0·61 and 0·82 respectively). As a result, L adolescent ewes tended to have a higher mean total lamb birth weight per ewe mated (P=0·09) although lamb output at weaning was not influenced by plane of nutrition. Lambs born from adolescent mothers had lower lamb birth weights (P<0·001) and a shorter mean head length, crown-rump length and thoracic girth (P<0·001). Foetuses from H ewes had longer hind legs than those from L ewes on day 83 of gestation (P<0·05) and at term (P<0·05). The results of this study suggest that allowing adolescent but not mature ewes to lose live weight and body condition can increase the proportion of productive ewes following a natural service.

Nutritional needs of cattle in the hills and uplands

1985 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 55-66
Author(s):  
A. J. F. Russel ◽  
P. J. Broadbent
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Traditional Practice ◽  
Body Reserves ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Summer Grazing

AbstractSystems of management of beef cows in the hills and uplands seek to make use of the cow's ability to utilise body tissue to maintain production during periods of undernutrition in winter and to replenish body reserves from relatively inexpensive summer grazing.In spring-calving cows, the periods of winter undernutrition occur during late pregnancy and the early months of lactation. On upland farms, cows with adequate body reserves (condition score 3.5) at the beginning of winter, fed less than 50 MJ ME per day during the final 3 months of gestation and 70 MJ ME per day during the first 2 months of lactation, will lose about 1.5 units of body condition but such a regime will not necessarily result in biologically significant production penalties. Fertilised ryegrass swards maintained at 8 cm sward surface height during the grazing season will support levels of milk production of around 11 kg per day, calf growth rates of the order of 1.2 kg per day and allow full recovery of cow body weight and condition. In hill herds, the magnitude of losses in weight and condition over winter must be restricted to the extent of the recovery which the quality of summer grazing will support.Similar considerations apply in autumn-calving herds, where the greater part or all of lactation coincides with the period of winter feeding. Cows calving at a body condition score of 3.0 can be fed 75 MJ ME per day from before to one month after mating without prejudicing reproductive performance, and 60-65 MJ ME per day from then until turnout. Where good quality pasture is available, milk production will increase from around 5 to more than 9 kg per day following turnout, calf performance will be enhanced by delaying weaning and cows will recover in full the weight and condition lost during winter. In the hill situation, calves may require to be weaned at turnout if full cow recovery is to be achieved.Studies on the nutrition of the weaned suckled calf indicate that a policy of feeding weaned calves inexpensively during winter to gain between 0.3 and 0.5 kg per day may constitute a viable alternative to the traditional practice of selling calves in the autumn. Such animals will achieve significantly higher growth rates at pasture in the following summer than calves fed more generously and gaining weight more rapidly during winter.On some hill farms where opportunities for the conservation of winter fodder are limited but where there is plentiful summer grazing, a system of June calving followed by a short lactation, and in which calves are only very moderately fed over winter, merits consideration.The areas in which further research is most urgently required to effect significant improvements in efficiency are those concerned with the relationship between nutrition and reproductive efficiency and the induction of twinning in cows.

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