Influence of amount and frequency of protein supplementation to ruminants consuming low-quality cool-season forages: Efficiency of nitrogen utilization in lambs and performance of gestating beef cows

Author(s):  
Bruno I Cappellozza ◽  
David W Bohnert ◽  
Maria M Reis ◽  
Megan L Van Emon ◽  
Christopher S Schauer ◽  
...  

Abstract We evaluated the influence of amount and crude protein (CP) supplementation frequency (SF) on nitrogen (N) use by wethers and performance of late-gestation beef cows. In Exp. 1, 7 Western whiteface wethers (31.8 ± 1.4 kg) were used in an incomplete 7 × 4 Latin square to evaluate intake and N use. Wethers received 1 of 7 treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial design containing 2 levels of supplemental soybean meal offered at a rate of 100 (F) or 50 (H; 50% of F) % of the estimated CP requirement daily (D), once every 5 (5D) or once every 10 d (10D), plus a non-supplemented control (CON). Low -quality cool-season forage [4.9 % CP; dry matter (DM) basis] was provided daily for ad libitum intake. Experimental periods lasted 30 d. In Exp. 2, 84 Angus × Hereford cows (560 ± 35 kg) were stratified by age, body condition score (BCS), and expected calving date, and allocated to 1 of 21 feedlot pens (3 pens/treatment). Pens were randomly assigned to receive the same treatments as in Exp. 1 and cows had free access to low-quality cool-season forage (2.9% CP; DM basis). Cow body weight (BW) and BCS were measured every 14 d until calving and within 24 h after calving. In Exp. 1, supplementation did not alter total DM and organic matter (OM) intake (P ≥ 0.26), but both parameters linearly decreased as SF decreased (P = 0.02). Supplementation increased DM, OM, and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility (P ≤ 0.02). Additionally, F feeding linearly increased DM, OM, and NDF digestibility as SF decreased (P ≤ 0.04). Digestibility of N, N balance, and digested N retained were greater with supplementation (P < 0.01) and N digestibility linearly increased as SF decreased (P = 0.01). Mean PUN concentration was greater (P < 0.01) for supplemented vs. non-supplemented wethers, but also greater (P = 0.03) for F vs. H. In Exp. 2, pre-calving BCS change was greater (P = 0.03) for supplemented cows. A linear effect of SF × supplementation rate for pre-calving BCS change was noted (P = 0.05), as F supplemented cows lost more BCS compared with H as SF decreased. When considering supplementation intervals greater than 5 d, reducing the quantity of supplement provided, compared with daily supplementation, may be a feasible management strategy to maintain acceptable nutrient use and animal performance while reducing supplement and labor costs.

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 192-192
Author(s):  
Alice Brandão ◽  
Reinaldo F Cooke ◽  
Kelsey Schubach ◽  
Bruna Rett ◽  
Osvaldo Souza ◽  
...  

Abstract This experiment compared performance and physiological responses of the offspring from cows supplemented with Ca salts of soybean oil (CSSO) or prilled saturated fat (CON) during late gestation. Non-lactating, pregnant Angus × Hereford cows (n = 104) that conceived during the same fixed-time artificial insemination protocol, using semen from 2 sires, were used in this experiment. Cows were ranked by pregnancy sire, body weight (BW), and body condition score (BCS). On d 180 of gestation (d -15), cows were randomly assigned to receive (dry matter basis) 415 g of soybean meal per cow daily in addition to 1) 195 g/cow daily of CSSO (n = 52) or 2) 170 g/cow daily of CON (n = 52). Cows were maintained in 2 pastures (26 cows/treatment per pasture), and received daily 12.7 kg/cow (dry matter basis) of grass-alfalfa hay. From d 0 until calving, cows were segregated into 1 of 24 feeding pens thrice weekly and received treatments individually. Cow BW and BCS were recorded, and blood samples were collected on d -15 of the experiment and within 12 h after calving. Calf BW was also recorded and blood sample collected within 12 h of calving. Calves were weaned on d 290 of the experiment, preconditioned for 35 d (d 291 to 325), and transferred to a feedyard where they remained until slaughter. Upon calving, CSSO cows and calves had greater (P < 0.01) plasma concentrations of linoleic acid and total ω - 6 FA compared with CON cohorts. No differences in calf birth BW, weaning BW, and final preconditioning BW were noted (P ≥ 0.36) between treatments. Average daily gain and final BW in the feedlot were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in steers from CSSO cows compared with CON. The incidence of calves diagnosed with BRD that required a second antimicrobial treatment was less (P = 0.03) in calves from CSSO cows, resulting in reduced (P = 0.05) need of treatments to regain health compared with CON (Table 5). Upon slaughter, longissimus muscle area was greater (P = 0.03) in calves from CSSO cows compared with CON. Collectively, these results suggest that supplementing CSSO to late-gestating beef cows stimulated programming effects on postnatal offspring growth and Page 2 of 15 For Peer Review health. Therefore, supplementing late-gestating beef cows with CSSO appears to optimize offspring welfare and productivity in beef production systems.


1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Charmley ◽  
J. A. Small ◽  
K. B. McRae

Protein supplementation for winter-calving beef cows between calving and turnout to pasture was studied in two trials. Changes in cow body weight (BW) and condition and calf BW gains were recorded from calving to weaning in the fall. Reproductive performance was monitored, and in trial 2, milk production was determined. In trial 1, multiparous silage-fed cows were allocated to one of five levels of corn gluten meal (CGM): 0, 200, 400, 600 and 800 g d−1. In the second trial, cows were allocated to either restricted or ad libitum silage feeding in combination with three protein supplements: no protein, 400 g d−1 CGM or 475 g d−1 soybean meal (SBM). In trial 1, cows gained weight during supplementation, but on pasture they lost weight (linear effect, P = 0.10). Calf gains and weights at turnout and weaning showed a quadratic response to protein supplementation (P < 0.05). There was a trend toward a linear decline in days to first service with increasing levels of CGM (P < 0.10). In trial 2, cows on restricted silage feeding lost weight (P < 0.05) and body condition (P < 0.10), whereas those fed ad libitum silage gained weight and condition. On pasture, this pattern of weight change was reversed (P < 0.05). Protein supplementation did not influence BW change but tended to cause a lower body condition score at turnout (P = 0.10). Restricting silage intake to the cow did not affect calf performance, but protein supplementation increased gains both during supplementation and on pasture, thus increasing weaning weights (P < 0.05). When silage was fed ad libitum, SBM was more effective than CGM for increasing calf gain. However, when silage was restricted, CGM was more effective. Restricting silage intake did not impair milk production, but feeding CGM increased milk production (P < 0.05). For ad libitum-fed cows, protein supplementation increased pregnancy rate; restricting feed had the opposite effect. Our data suggest that protein supplementation to silage-fed beef cows in good body condition can increase calf performance; however, the level of supplementation is critical, and possible adverse effects on breeding have to be taken into account, particularly with cows in negative energy balance after calving. Key words: Beef cow, protein, milk production, calf gains, silage


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 247-248
Author(s):  
Trenton L Black ◽  
Taoqi Shao ◽  
Frank A Ireland ◽  
Joshua C McCann ◽  
Daniel W Shike

Abstract The objective was to determine the effects of supplementing calcium salts of PUFA or SFA + MUFA during late gestation on performance of fall-calving beef cows through calving. Mature, Simmental x Angus cows confirmed pregnant to a synchronized artificial insemination (AI) and fetal sexed were selected prior to the start of the experiment. At 200 d of gestation, cows (n = 96; BW = 603 ± 72 kg) were stratified by age, AI service sire, fetal sex and BW and allotted to 8 groups. Groups were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments (4 groups per treatment): SFA + MUFA (0.155 kg of EnerGII per cow per day on a DM basis) and PUFA (0.08 kg of Strata and 0.08 kg of Prequel per cow per day on a DM basis). The SFA + MUFA supplement included palmitic and oleic acid. The PUFA supplement included eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and linoleic acid. All cows grazed endophyte-infected tall fescue and were supplemented 2 kg DM per cow per d of soybean hulls for 78 d during late gestation in addition to their treatment supplement. Body condition score and BW were collected at trial initiation, during supplementation, before calving, and after calving. Pen was the experimental unit and BW, BCS, and calf BW were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. The BW and BCS at trial initiation, during supplementation, before calving, and after calving of the cows supplemented PUFA were not different (P ≥ 0.38) than the BW and BCS of cows supplemented SFA + MUFA. Calf birth BW from cows supplemented with PUFA were not different (P = 0.87) than calf birth BW from cows supplemented with SFA + MUFA. Supplementing cows PUFA during late gestation in fall-calving cows did not affect BW, BCS or calf birth BW.


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Castro Kuinchtner ◽  
Fernando Luiz Ferreira de Quadros ◽  
Felipe Jochims ◽  
Pedro Trindade Casanova ◽  
Gabriela Machado Dutra ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance and feed intake of grazing beef heifers on two grazing intervals determined by thermal sum related to leaf elongation duration during cool season on natural grasslands. A complete randomized block design experiment with two treatments and three replications was conducted from May to September 2011 in the central part of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The treatments were two thermal sums calculated at 375 and 750 degrees-days (DD) to determine the intervals between grazing periods in a rotational grazing system. Thirty six beef heifers with average age of 18 months old and (initial body weight = 220±14kg) were used, all heifers received ground corn supplement at a rate of 5g kg-1 of body weight per day, at 2p.m., throughout the experiment and had free access to mineral and protein supplementation (450g kg-1 of CP). Similar average daily gain (ADG), beef production gain (BPG) and feed intake (FI), were obtained in both treatments. Leaf elongation duration is an alternative grazing management tool for improved animal production and to increase animal stocking rate.


2005 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 403-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Renquist ◽  
J. W. Oltjen ◽  
R. D. Sainz ◽  
J. M. Connor ◽  
C. C. Calvert

AbstractFall-calving multiparous Angus × Hereford cows 3 to 10 years of age were stratified by age in a three by two factorial treatment arrangement to evaluate the efficacy of modifying stocking rate and supplementation strategy to manage cow body condition and production parameters over a 5-year study. Efficacy was evaluated quarterly in association with calving, breeding, weaning, and mid way between weaning and calving (i.e. in August). Three protein supplementation strategies (none, standard, strategic) were imposed across both a moderate (0·3 cows per ha) and a high (0·4 cows per ha) stocking rate. In the strategically supplemented group, protein supplement was provided to cows with a body condition score <5·5 at the quarterly evaluations. There was an effect of supplementation on pregnancy rate, which in combination with previously established culling practices resulted in different age profiles amongst supplementation strategies in years 2 to 5 (P < 0·01). Two statistical analyses were therefore conducted to dissociate the confounding effects of supplementation strategy and age. One model included the effect of stocking rate, supplementation strategy, production year, and all interactions; the second included the addition of age and its interactive effects. Stocking rate and supplementation strategy affected pregnancy rate in each of the models (P = 0·003 and P = 0·10, respectively). Standard, non-supplemented and strategically supplemented animals had estimated pregnancy rates of 0·83, 0·76, and 0·79, respectively (P = 0·10). The effects of nutrition on both calving interval and birth weight were independent of the model employed. Animals that were not supplemented had extended calving intervals (P = 0·06), but there was no effect of stocking rate (P > 0·10). Birth weight was not affected by supplementation strategy or stocking rate (P > 0·10). The lower 205-day weights of calves on a heavy compared with moderate stocking rate was independent of age (P = 0·02). However, the increased 205-day weight of calves born to strategically supplemented cows compared with those born to unsupplemented cows was only evident when data were not corrected for differences in age among groups (P = 0·03). Likewise, analyses of cow condition parameters using models without and with age resulted in different interpretations. These results suggest that strategic and standard supplementation result in similar animal performance and that the improvement in herd productivity associated with altering stocking rate and supplementation may partially be due to altered herd age dynamics.


2020 ◽  
Vol 82 ◽  
pp. 211-219
Author(s):  
Sue McCoard ◽  
Shen-Yan Hea ◽  
Catherine McKenzie ◽  
Kirsty Hammond ◽  
Tim Smith

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect that body condition score of pregnant ewes fed on turnip and swede crops during mid-late gestation had on offspring survival and performance. Data were collected from 755 multiparous mixed-age ewes carrying 1–4 fetuses. Ewes grazed a turnip crop for 1 month prior to pregnancy scanning with supplementary ryegrass/clover baleage (~75 days gestation) followed by a swede crop with supplementary Lucerne baleage for 1 month following pregnancy scanning (to ~120 days gestation). Ewe body condition score (BCS) at mating, pregnancy scanning and pre-lambing, along with lamb survival and growth rates to weaning were recorded. Lamb survival from pregnancy scanning to tailing differed by litter size (P<0.001) with lower survival in litters with 3 or more lambs compared to singles and twins which did not differ. Improving BCS from pregnancy scanning to 120 days gestation had a positive effect on lamb survival irrespective of litter size and ewe age (P<0.001). Lamb survival in ewes ≥5 years of age, irrespective of litter size, was lower (P<0.001) compared to 2 or 3–4-year-old ewes, which in turn did not differ from each other. The key finding of the study was that loss in BCS from pregnancy scanning to 120 days gestation, negatively impacted on lamb survival, especially in ewes carrying 3 or more fetuses and in ewes >5 years of age irrespective of the number of fetuses carried. Furthermore, there was high variation in BCS change observed in both early and mid-pregnancy.  


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matheus Fellipe de Lana Ferreira ◽  
Luciana Navajas Rennó ◽  
Edenio Detmann ◽  
Mário Fonseca Paulino ◽  
Sebastião de Campos Valadares Filho ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Supplementation programs for prepartum beef cows are usually adopted because the nutritional status of the cows upon calving is a main factor impacting reproductive performance of the next production cycle. Metabolic parameters that relate nutritional status to physiological processes can be used to better understand the effects of supplementation. This study evaluated the effects of 60-d pre-partum energy-protein supplementation on performance, metabolic and hormonal responses during the peripartum phase of grazing beef cows. Thirty-eight pregnant multiparous Nellore cows were assigned to a completely randomized design with two treatments: control (no supplement) and supplementation (1.5 kg of energy-protein per d) during the last 60 d of gestation. Results: The supplemented cows had higher ADG pre-partum (P<0.10), but postpartum ADG did not differ between treatments. Nonsupplemented cows’ ADG did not change during these periods (P>0.10). Supplementation did not affect BCS and calf BW upon calving on days 45 and 90, milk yield and composition (P>0.10). No differences were found for forage intake and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (P>0.10). The intake and digestibility of CP and OM increased with supplementation (P<0.10). An interaction occurred (P>0.10) between supplementation and peripartum days for BUN, βHB, T3 and T4. Concentration of others blood parameters significantly changed (P<0.10) along peripartum days. There was no difference in pregnancy rates and days from calving to conception among treatments (P>0.10). Conclusions: Providing an energy and protein supplement to grazing Nellore cows over the last 60 d of gestation improved their pre-partum energy balance. However, no post-partum carryover effects were detected. Keywords: nutrition, metabolism, parturition, Zebu


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matheus Fellipe de Lana Ferreira ◽  
Luciana Navajas Rennó ◽  
Edenio Detmann ◽  
Mário Fonseca Paulino ◽  
Sebastião de Campos Valadares Filho ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Supplementation programs for prepartum beef cows are usually adopted because the nutritional status of the cows upon calving is a main factor impacting reproductive performance of the next production cycle. This study evaluated the effects of 60-d pre-partum energy-protein supplementation on performance, metabolic and hormonal responses during the peripartum phase of grazing beef cows. Thirty-eight pregnant multiparous Nellore cows were assigned to a completely randomized design with two treatments: control (no supplement) and supplementation (1.5 kg of energy-protein per d with 30% crude protein, dry matter basis) Results: The supplemented cows had higher ADG pre-partum (P<0.10), but postpartum ADG did not differ between treatments. Supplementation did not affect BCS and calf BW upon calving, on days 45 and 90, milk yield and composition (P>0.10). No differences were found for forage intake and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (P>0.10). The intake and digestibility of CP and OM increased in response to supplementation (P<0.10). An interaction occurred between supplementation and peripartum days for BUN, βHB, T3 and T4, which had higher concentrations for supplemented cows at pre-partum period (P<0.10). Concentration of others blood parameters significantly changed along peripartum days (P<0.10). There was no difference in pregnancy rates and days from calving to conception between treatments (P>0.10). Conclusions: Providing an energy and protein supplement to grazing Nellore cows over the last 60 d of gestation improved their pre-partum energy balance. However, no post-partum carryover effects were detected. Keywords: nutrition, metabolism, parturition, Zebu


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matheus Fellipe de Lana Ferreira ◽  
Luciana Navajas Rennó ◽  
Edenio Detmann ◽  
Mário Fonseca Paulino ◽  
Sebastião de Campos Valadares Filho ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Supplementation programs for prepartum beef cows are usually adopted because the nutritional status of the cows upon calving is a main factor impacting reproductive performance of the next production cycle. This study evaluated the effects of 60-d pre-partum energy-protein supplementation on performance, metabolic and hormonal responses during the peripartum phase of grazing beef cows. Thirty-eight pregnant multiparous Nellore cows were assigned to a completely randomized design with two treatments: control (no supplement) and supplementation (1.5 kg of energy-protein per d with 30% crude protein, dry matter basis) Results: The supplemented cows had higher ADG pre-partum (P<0.10), but postpartum ADG did not differ between treatments. Supplementation did not affect BCS and calf BW upon calving, on days 45 and 90, milk yield and composition (P>0.10). No differences were found for forage intake and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (P>0.10). The intake and digestibility of CP and OM increased in response to supplementation (P<0.10). An interaction occurred between supplementation and peripartum days for BUN, βHB, T3 and T4, which had higher concentrations for supplemented cows at pre-partum period (P<0.10). Concentration of others blood parameters significantly changed along peripartum days (P<0.10). There was no difference in pregnancy rates and days from calving to conception between treatments (P>0.10). Conclusions: Providing an energy and protein supplement to grazing Nellore cows over the last 60 d of gestation improved their pre-partum energy balance. However, no post-partum carryover effects were detected. Keywords: nutrition, metabolism, parturition, Zebu


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