Pre-weaning growth of red deer calves is not determined by ability of hinds to produce milk

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (7) ◽  
pp. 507
Author(s):  
G. K. Barrell ◽  
M. Wellby ◽  
M. J. Ridgway ◽  
G. W. Asher ◽  
J. A. Archer
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Plasma Insulin ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
The Other ◽  
Calf Growth ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Bovine Somatotrophin

Three experiments were carried out to determine whether growth of suckling red deer calves is determined by the potential of their mothers to produce milk. In the first experiment red deer hinds (n = 10, calves 6 weeks old) were treated either with bovine somatotrophin (bST, 54 mg s.c. injected every 2 weeks for 8 weeks then 108 mg every 2 weeks for a further 8 weeks) or saline. There was no effect of bST treatment on calf or hind liveweight, calf liveweight gain or body condition score of hinds. The second experiment used red and red-wapiti crossbred deer calves (n = 8–11) suckled by red deer dams that had been treated with bST or had received excipient only for 12 weeks from when the calves were 5 weeks old. Calf liveweight was affected by genotype (wapiti-red crossbreds were heavier than their red counterparts) but there was no effect of bST treatment of the hinds on calf growth in either of the genotypes. Although bST treatment of the suckled hinds elevated their plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 concentration it had no effect on milk yield. A third experiment ruled out the possibility that bST ingested by calves in milk from treated hinds would have had any influence on growth of calves in the other experiments. From these results it is concluded that the inherent demand from suckling calves, rather than the ability of adequately nourished hinds to produce milk, determines growth rate of red deer calves from birth to weaning.

Bovine somatotrophin stimulates milk production in red deer hinds

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (7) ◽  
pp. 619
Author(s):  
G. K. Barrell ◽  
J. A. Archer ◽  
M. Wellby ◽  
M. J. Ridgway ◽  
M. J. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Plasma Insulin ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Machine Milking ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Bovine Somatotrophin

To determine its potential as a tool for studies of growth in suckling red deer calves, bovine somatotrophin (bST) was administered to lactating red deer hinds. The present study used twice-daily machine milking of bST-treated hinds (n = 10, 54 mg bST for 2 weeks then 108 mg for 1 week) and compared the milk yield with that of saline-treated controls (n = 9). Treatment with 54 mg bST tended to increase milk yield by ~16% and the 108-mg dose increased (P = 0.013) milk yield by ~32%. Both doses of bST increased (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively) plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 concentration but did not affect total solids or fat content of the milk, nor was there any effect on body condition score or liveweight of the hinds. This shows that milk production in red deer hinds is increased by administration of bST, which makes it a suitable experimental technique for investigating the lactational biology of red deer.

Examining the impacts of red deer hind body condition score and pasture forage mass on calf weaning weight

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 466 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Stevens ◽  
B. R. Thompson ◽  
G. W. Asher ◽  
I. C. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Calf Growth ◽  
Total Milk ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Average Body

The effect of pre-calving hind body condition and the interaction with pasture forage mass during lactation on calf growth and intake to weaning were investigated. Two-hundred and forty red deer hinds (Cervus elaphus scoticus × hippelaphus) of average body condition score (BCS) 3.5 were subjected to either ad libitum or restricted feeding for the 4 weeks before the expected start of calving (31 October) to create hinds of low (2.5) or high (3.5) BCS. The hinds were then grazed continuously on pasture of either low (<1200 kg DM/ha) or high (>2400 kg DM/ha) forage mass during lactation (29 October–25 March). In a 2 × 2 crossover design liveweight, liveweight gain and pasture intake were measured in both hinds and calves. Low hind body condition score (BCS 2.5) at the onset of lactation resulted in low calf weaning weight (46.9 kg) when forage mass was low, but not when forage mass was high (57.3 kg). High BCS (3.5) in hinds resulted in intermediate calf weaning weight when on low forage mass (51.2 kg) and high calf weaning weight when forage mass was high (56.6 kg). Both BCS and forage mass influenced calculated total milk production.

The effect of different pasture management strategies during the weaning-to-mating period on reproductive performance of Greyface ewes

1990 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. Gunn ◽  
J. M. Doney ◽  
R. D. M. Agnew ◽  
W. F. Smith ◽  
D. A. Sim
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
The Other ◽  
Conservation Strategy ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Mating Period ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Condition Score

ABSTRACTThe effects on reproductive performance of different strategies of pasture management designed to conserve herbage in situ during the late growing season for use during the pre-mating and mating period were studied in three experiments over 3 years with Greyface ewes. Two experiments with 341 ewes compared set-stocking of pasture at 12 ewes per ha on two initial levels of herbage mass with a conservation strategy which left half of the area ungrazed and grazed the other half of the area at 24 ewes per ha from late August until mid October (2 weeks before the start of mating) after which the total area was grazed at 12 ewes per ha. In a third experiment with 124 ewes, the conservation strategy left a quarter of the area ungrazed and varied stocking rate to a minimum of 12 ewes per ha to maintain two initial levels of herbage mass on the other three-quarters of the area and then compared set-stocking at six ewes per ha on this area with set-stocking at 18 ewes per ha on the previously ungrazed quarter of the area during the pre-mating and mating period.Initial levels of herbage mass were within the range of 2000 to 2100 kg dry matter (DM) per ha (7 cm sward height; high) and 1500 to 1700 kg DM per ha (4 to 5 cm; low). Mean herbage accumulation rates between August and October were estimated to be 25 and 44 kg DM per ha per day in the first two experiments. Initial live weight and body condition score also varied considerably between years and subsequent response was influenced by herbage growth rate. Where mean ewe body condition was within the score 2·75 to 3·00, range over the mating period and herbage mass on set-stocked areas was not higher than 2200 kg DM per ha (8 cm sward height) in the pre-mating period or not lower than 1300 kg DM per ha (3·5 cm) at about 3 weeks after mating, the strategy of management did not influence reproductive performance in terms of the number of lambs born. Within these limits, however, reproductive performance was positively related to herbage mass in late August (low = 1·60, high = 1·94).When herbage mass fell below the 1300 kg DM per ha level before or during mating, reproductive performance was improved by a herbage-conservation strategy which maintained ewe body-condition score within the 2·75 to 3·00 range. When herbage mass and growth rate were high, reproductive performance was also improved by a herbage-conservation strategy which restricted the development of excessive body condition before mating by avoiding the increase in barrenness shown to derive from very high levels of body condition.

scholarly journals Genetics of heifer puberty in two tropical beef genotypes in northern Australia and associations with heifer- and steer-production traits

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 399 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Johnston ◽  
S. A. Barwick ◽  
N. J. Corbet ◽  
G. Fordyce ◽  
R. G. Holroyd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Production Traits ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Marbling Score ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Age At Puberty

A total of 2115 heifers from two tropical genotypes (1007 Brahman and 1108 Tropical Composite) raised in four locations in northern Australia were ovarian-scanned every 4–6 weeks to determine the age at the first-observed corpus luteum (CL) and this was used to define the age at puberty for each heifer. Other traits recorded at each time of ovarian scanning were liveweight, fat depths and body condition score. Reproductive tract size was measured close to the start of the first joining period. Results showed significant effects of location and birth month on the age at first CL and associated puberty traits. Genotypes did not differ significantly for the age or weight at first CL; however, Brahman were fatter at first CL and had a small reproductive tract size compared with that of Tropical Composite. Genetic analyses estimated the age at first CL to be moderately to highly heritable for Brahman (0.57) and Tropical Composite (0.52). The associated traits were also moderately heritable, except for reproductive tract size in Brahmans (0.03) and for Tropical Composite, the presence of an observed CL on the scanning day closest to the start of joining (0.07). Genetic correlations among puberty traits were mostly moderate to high and generally larger in magnitude for Brahman than for Tropical Composite. Genetic correlations between the age at CL and heifer- and steer-production traits showed important genotype differences. For Tropical Composite, the age at CL was negatively correlated with the heifer growth rate in their first postweaning wet season (–0.40) and carcass marbling score (–0.49), but was positively correlated with carcass P8 fat depth (0.43). For Brahman, the age at CL was moderately negatively genetically correlated with heifer measures of bodyweight, fatness, body condition score and IGF-I, in both their first postweaning wet and second dry seasons, but was positively correlated with the dry-season growth rate. For Brahman, genetic correlations between the age at CL and steer traits showed possible antagonisms with feedlot residual feed intake (–0.60) and meat colour (0.73). Selection can be used to change the heifer age at puberty in both genotypes, with few major antagonisms with steer- and heifer-production traits.

Effects of dietary supplementation of pioglitazone or walnut meal on metabolic profiles and oxidative status in dairy cows with high pre-calving BCS

2018 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Negin Jamali Emam Gheise ◽  
Ahmad Riasi ◽  
Pietro Celi ◽  
Ahmad Zare Shahneh
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Plasma Insulin ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Oxidative Status ◽  
Plasma Metabolites ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Ppar Γ ◽  
Condition Score

This research paper addresses the hypothesis that dietary pioglitazone (PGT), as synthetic and specific ligand for PPAR-γ or walnut meal (WM) as a natural ligand for PPAR-γ, affect plasma metabolites and reduce the oxidative status in high body condition score (BCS) dairy cows (≥4 BCS). Total of 36 multiparous Holstein cows were randomly assigned to one of the dietary treatments: 1- Control (basal diet; CTR), 2- Walnut meal (9·45% walnut meal of DMI; WM), and 3- Pioglitazone (6 mg/kg BW; PGT). The experimental diets were fed from parturition time to 21 d postpartum. Results showed that the PGT supplementation increased dry matter intake (DMI) (22·95 kg/d) compared to the CTR (21·45 kg/d) and WM (21·78 kg/d) groups. Results showed that milk yield and milk composition were not affected by the experimental diets. Body condition score losses tended to be higher in the CTR group compared to the PGT and WM cows. The PGT group had higher plasma insulin compared to the CTR group (11·84 vs. 10·68 mIU/l), and WM cows had intermediate plasma insulin. The PGT cows had lower plasma non esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and tended to have lower β-hydroxy butyric acid (BHBA) than the CTR group. Feeding pioglitazone decreased plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) compared to the CTR and WM groups. It was concluded that dietary pioglitazone had positive effects on DMI, BCS change, blood metabolites and oxidative status in fresh dairy cows with high pre-calving BCS. The anti-oxidant effects of walnut meal were not supported by the present data.

Plasma concentrations of leptin, insulin-like growth factor-I, and insulin in relation to changes in body condition score in heifers1

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 445-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. V. León ◽  
J. Hernández-Cerón ◽  
D. H. Keisler ◽  
C. G. Gutierrez
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Insulin Like Growth Factor ◽  
Factor I ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Growth Factor I

scholarly journals A body condition score system and its use for farmed red deer hinds

1998 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 545-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Audige ◽  
P. R. Wilson ◽  
R. S. Morris
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Score System ◽  
Condition Score

Evaluation of Bos indicus and Bos taurus straightbreds and crosses. II. Post-weaning growth, puberty, and pelvic size of heifers

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 795 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Hearnshaw ◽  
PF Arthur ◽  
R Barlow ◽  
PJ Kohun ◽  
RE Darnell
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
The Other ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Medium Quality ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Pelvic Size

Post-weaning growth and body condition, puberty and pelvic size of 197 heifers comprising straightbred Hereford (HxH) and Brahman (BxB), first-cross (BxH) and back-cross (HxBH and BxBH) heifers were evaluated. The heifers were born over a 3 year period, and grazed improved and semi-improved pastures following weaning at Grafton, New South Wales. Prior to weaning, heifers had been reared by dams on three pasture systems (high, medium and low quality pastures). Heifers from low quality pre-weaning pasture had higher (P < 0.05) post-weaning liveweight gain than those from high and medium quality pastures. BxH heifers gained 71 g/day more (P < 0.05) than the mean gain of their contemporaries of the other genotypes, whose gains were similar, from weaning to either 26 or to 30 months of age. Liveweight at all ages was influenced by genotype x pre-weaning pasture system interaction. At 30 months of age, BxH heifers from high and medium pre-weaning pastures were the heaviest. At the same age, but from low quality pre-weaning pasture, heifers with crossbred dams (HxBH and BxBH) were the heaviest. Wither height depended significantly (P < 0.05) on the proportion of Bos indicus genes, increasing from 113.8 cm in the HxH heifers to 124.4 cm in the BxB heifers at 30 months of age. BxH heifers had a higher (P < 0.05) body condition score than their contemporaries of the other genotypes, which were in similar condition, at 26 and 30 months of age. On average (across pre-weaning pasture system), 9% of BxB heifers had reached puberty by 22 months of age compared to 62, 95, 82 and 64% (s.e.= 9) for HxH, HxBH, BxH and BxBH heifers respectively. No significant genotype differences were obtained in the height, width and size of the pelvic opening of the heifers, measured just prior to the beginning of the mating season at 26 months of age.

scholarly journals Levels of insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I and thyroid hormones in relation to the body condition score changes in periparturient dairy cows

2013 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 385-396
Author(s):  
Natalija Fratric ◽  
D. Gvozdic ◽  
Milica Stojic ◽  
G. Djoric ◽  
M. Petrovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Thyroid Hormones ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
The Body ◽  
Insulin Like Growth Factor ◽  
Factor I ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Growth Factor I

scholarly journals Proposal of Equations for Predicting Post-Farrowing Sow Weight

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Luis Mallmann ◽  
Gabriela Da Silva Oliveira ◽  
José Zacarias Rampi ◽  
Felipe Basquera Betiolo ◽  
Deivison Pereira Fagundes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
The Other ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Nutritional Requirements ◽  
Prediction Equations ◽  
Litter Weight ◽  
Condition Score

Background: Body condition score is used widely in swine production to ensure adequate nutritional levels in sows during gestation and lactation. However, body condition score is not a gold standard for the estimation of nutritional requirements in sows. Post-farrowing sow body weight assessment might serve as a useful approach for the better adjustment of the nutritional requirements during lactation; however, this approach is time-consuming, requires labor, and might result in detrimental effects on the sow behavior and welfare. The objective of the present study, therefore, was to formulate prediction equations for the estimation of post-farrowing sow weight.Materials, Methods & Results: Seven equations were formulated for predicting the post-farrowing sow body weight, by using the data from three databases, which comprised a total 522 sows (434 gilts and 88 multiparous). The sows were weighed on Day 112 of gestation and after farrowing within 12 h. The piglets birth weight was recorded within 24 h after farrowing. The equations were formulated considering all the parity orders. While formulating the equations, the following five variables were used: pre-farrowing body weight, piglets born, litter weight, the interval between pre-farrowing weighing and farrowing (in days), and the total feed intake between pre-farrowing and post-farrowing weighing. The seven models were compared using the sets of possible predictors through regression with the best subsets procedure (Minitab for Windows, v. 18). Equations (EQ) 1, 2, and 4 were validated with a database comprising 732 sows (parity orders: 1–5). The females were weighed on Day 107 of gestation and within 24 h after farrowing. The predicted weights estimated by EQ 2 and 4 (215.4 ± 34.3 kg and 216.7 ± 34.4 kg, respectively) did not significantly differ from the observed weight (216.8 ± 34.6 kg) [P > 0.05].Discussion: Pre-farrowing sow body weight was identified as the main input variable required for the estimation of the post-farrowing sow body weight. Thus, even EQ 1, which contained only this variable, exhibited a high coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.8707). However, the R2 value kept increasing as more input variables were included in the equation. Equation 2, 4, and 6 included the litter weight variable, and the addition of this variable increased the numerical value of R2 from 0.8707 in EQ 1 to 0.8975 in EQ 2. The EQ 3, 5, and 7 considered the piglets born variable as well, which increased the R2 value from 0.8707 in EQ 1 to 0.9119 in EQ 3. The coefficient of determination did not vary much among the equations; therefore, the selection of the prediction equations depended on data availability, feed management, facility, and the reliability of data collection in each farm. Although EQ 1 demonstrated a greater correlation between the predicted and the observed post-farrowing weight compared to the other equations, the values of error in central tendency and the errors due to disturbances were numerically higher for EQ 1 in comparison to the other two equations (EQ 2 and 4). Therefore, it is suggested that EQ 1 should be used as the last choice for the estimation of post-farrowing sow weight as it presented low trueness and precision, and also because the predicted weight estimated by EQ 1 was statistically lower than the observed weight (211.67 ± 33.33 kg vs. 216.84 ± 34.62 kg; P = 0.012). EQ 4 emonstrated higher trueness and precision; however, it did not differ significantly from EQ 2 and 1. Further analyses are required in order to validate EQ 3, 5, 6, and 7. Among the equations that were predicted as well as validated, the simplest and the easiest equation with satisfactory results for trueness and precision was EQ 2, which is as follows:Post-farrowing sow weight (kg) = 13.03 + (0.93 × pre-farrowing body weight, kg) + (–1.23 × piglets born, n)

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