• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.25 no.9
• /
• pp.1338-1350
• /
• 2012

This review focuses on the nutritional effects from birth until age at first calving on growth, mammary developmental changes, and first-lactation milk yield in heifer calves. The advancement in the genetic potential and the nutritional requirements of the animals has hastened the growth rate. Genetic selection for high milk yield has suggested higher growth capacity and hence increasing nutritional inputs are required. Rapid rearing by feeding high energy or high concentrate diets not only reduces the age of sexual maturity but also lowers the time period of attaining the age of first calving. However, high energy diets may cause undesirable fat deposition thereby affecting future milk yield potential. Discrepancies exist whether overfed or overweight heifers at puberty can influence the mammary development and future milk yield potential and performance. The data on post-pubertal nutritional management suggested that body weight at calving and post-pubertal growth rate is important in first lactation milk yield. There is a continuous research need for strategic feeding that accelerates growth of dairy heifers without reduction in subsequent production. Nutritional management from birth, across puberty and during pregnancy is critical for mammary growth and for producing a successful cow. This review will mostly highlight studies carried out on dairy breeds and possible available opportunities to manipulate nutritional status from birth until age at first calving.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.20 no.9
• /
• pp.1402-1406
• /
• 2007

Thirty pregnant heifers (Jersey, Holstein Friesian and Hariana) were divided into three groups (10 animals/group) according to their stage of pregnancy viz. seven-month (181-210 days) pregnancy (SMP), eight-month (211-240 days) pregnancy (EMP) and nine-month (241-280 days) pregnancy (NMP) group. Time spent in various feeding activities (eating fodder, eating concentrate, standing rumination, sitting rumination and drinking) by each animal in the three pregnant groups was recorded in four different sessions (each session of 24 h per week). The time spent eating concentrate, eating fodder, standing rumination, sitting rumination and drinking was 61.4, 271.3, 84.6, 367.6 and 10.6 min/day, respectively in the SMP group; 52.7, 289.5, 103.3, 345.8 and 9.2 min/day, respectively in the EMP group and 65.0, 277.7, 138.1, 291.0 and 9.8 min/day, respectively in the NMP group. The animals in the EMP group spent significantly (p<0.01) more time on eating fodder and concentrate compared to the animals in SMP and NMP groups. The pregnant heifers preferred rumination in standing posture in comparison to sitting posture. The time spent on standing rumination was significantly higher in the NMP group whereas the time spent on sitting rumination was significantly lower in this group. Except for the sitting rumination activity, all the other activities were predominant in daytime compared to night time; the diurnal variation was significant (p<0.01) for all the activities.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.197-202
• /
• 2020

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify environmental factors strongly associated with and to estimate genetic parameters of reproductive traits in Japanese Black heifers. Methods: Data included reproduction records of Japanese Black heifers born between 2004 and 2014. First service non-return rate (NRR) to 56 days from first to successful insemination (FS), number of services per conception (IN), age at first calving (AFC) and gestation length were analyzed with the use of the general linear model. Genetic parameters were estimated with the use of the univariate animal model of the residual maximum likelihood. Results: Averages of reproductive traits over eleven years were assessed, and the effects of farm, year, month, artificial insemination technician and interaction of farm×year on the traits were determined. Estimated heritability of FS was very low and that of AFC was higher than that of the other traits. A close genetic relation was observed among NRR, IN, and FS; however, their heritabilities were very low. AFC shows favorable genetic correlation with IN and FS. Conclusion: Low heritabilities of most reproductive traits in Japanese Black heifers are strongly influenced by farm management practices, and that large residual variances make genetic evaluation difficult. Among the reproductive traits, AFC is potentially more useful for genetic improvement of heifer reproductive traits because it has high heritability and favorable genetic correlations with IN and FS.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.9 no.5
• /
• pp.563-566
• /
• 1996

Five crossbred heifers(Holstein Friesian $\times$ Hariana) aged about one year and average body weight 157.0 kg were used to observe the effect of UMLD with restricted amount of wheat straw (500 g/100 kg body weight) on body weight gain and nutrient utilization. After seven months feeding the animals were switched to a revival diet consisted of wheat straw and concentrate mixture, for an additional six months. Fortnightly body weights were recorded and metabolism trials were conducted at the end of the two experimental periods. Results indicated that the average daily gain were 57.0 and 413.3 g in two feeding systems. This showed a sub-optimum growth during UMLD feeding which was compensated when good quality revival diet was available. Though, the nutrients intake were significantly (p < 0.01) lower in UMLD feeding period as compared to revival diet feeding, but digestibility of all the nutrients were alike statistically. It can be concluded that UMLD with restricted amount of wheat straw can be fed as scarcity feed for a short period, without causing irreparable loss to the animals, provided sufficient feed nutrients are available after the scarcity period.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.91-97
• /
• 1993

This experiment was carried out to examine the effects of urea-treated rice straw feeding on the growth performance of crossbred Holstein heifers under different feeding conditions. In the first experiment, the animals were given diets having 2 levels of TDN and CP and 3 levels of crude fiber (22, 30 and 36%) which were formulated with urea-treated rice straw and concentrates. Daily weight gain of heifers was not different between 22% and 30% CF diets, but the reduction of TDN or CP level to 90% of the requirements decreased the weight gain. Fiber content of 36% also reduced the body weight gain. The reduction of TDN significantly reduced DM intake and increased feed conversion ratio. Feed cost per kg weight gain was significantly increased by an increase in CF to 36%. In the second experiment, separate feeding and total mixing feeding were compared. There were no significant differences between the two feeding systems in body weight gain although the possibility of superiority in SF to TMF remained. DM intake was not affected by the feeding system, but 30% CF diet gave higher DM intake. Feed cost per kg weight gain was lower in the 30% CF diet.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.137-140
• /
• 1987

Information on certain reproductive traits were obtained from field material. The data for this study were taken from 1,111 breeding records of 273 cows and 193 heifers at Koheung, Chonnam, during the period 1979 to 1984. The cattle were bred by artificial insemination; only one or two cattle were reared by one farmer. The heifers were first bred at 551.75 days after they were born; they were pregnant at 569.06 days after birth. The average estrous cycle length was 21 days; the average number of inseminations per conception was 1.56. The non-return rate for first inseminations for cows and heifers was 62.5% and 59.6%, respectively. The gestation length was 285.79 days. Of 1,111 viable calved born 582 were male, giving a sex ratio of 100:110. The average length between calving and first insemination was 88.9 days; average calving interval was 397.69 days.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.11
• /
• pp.1553-1561
• /
• 2013

Forty-eight crossbred heifers ($378.1{\pm}18$ kg) were used in a 56-d feeding trial (four pens per treatment in a randomised complete block design) to evaluate the influence of ionophore supplementation on growth performance, dietary energetics and carcass characteristics in finishing cattle during a period of heat stress. Heifers were fed a diet based on steam-flaked corn (2.22 Mcal $NE_m/kg$) with and without an ionophore. Treatments were: i) control, no ionophore; ii) 30 mg/kg monensin sodium (RUM30); iii) 20 mg/kg lasalocid sodium (BOV20), and iv) 30 mg/kg lasalocid sodium (BOV30). Both dry matter intake (DMI) and climatic variables were measured daily and the temperature humidity index (THI) was estimated. The maximum THI during the study averaged 93, while the minimum was 70 (THI average = $79.2{\pm}2.3$). Compared to controls, monensin supplementation did not influence average daily gain, the estimated NE value of the diet, or observed-to-expected DMI, but tended (p = 0.07) to increase (4.8%) gain to feed. Compared to controls, the group fed BOV30 increased ($p{\leq}0.03$) daily gain (11.8%), gain to feed (8.3%), net energy of the diet (5%), and observed-to-expected DMI (5.2%). Daily weight gain was greater (7.6%, p = 0.05) for heifers fed BOV30 than for heifers fed MON30. Otherwise, differences between the two treatments in DMI, gain to feed, and dietary NE were not statistically significant (p>0.11). Plotting weekly intakes versus THI, observed intake of controls was greater (p<0.05) at THI values ${\leq}77$ than ionophore groups. When THI values were greater than 79, DMI of control and MON30 were not different (p = 0.42), although less than that of groups fed lasalocid (p = 0.04). Variation in energy intake was lower (p>0.05) in the ionophores group (CV = 1.7%) than in the control group (CV = 4.5%). Inclusion of ionophores in the diet resulted in relatively minor changes in carcass characteristics. It is concluded that ionophore supplementation did not exacerbate the decline of DM intake in heat-stressed cattle fed a high-energy finishing diet; on the contrary, it stabilised feed intake and favoured feed efficiency. Ionophore supplementation reduced estimated maintenance coefficients around 10% in finishing cattle during a period of heat stress. This effect was greatest for heifers supplemented with 30 mg lasalocid/kg of diet.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.931-944
• /
• 2016

This study was conducted to compare among bull, steer and heifer on growth performance, blood composition and carcass traits according to fattening phase in Hanwoo. 12 month of aged 4 bulls ($339.8{\pm}18.5kg$), 4 steers ($309.8{\pm}13.2kg$), and 3 heifers ($290.0{\pm}16.7kg$) were allocated in the stalls with individual feeding system during 20 months. Average daily gain was not different among the treatment groups during early fattening phase, but higher in the bulls and lower in the heifers after mid-fattening phase (p<0.05). The difference of body size by animal groups appeared from 24 month of age, and wither height and body length of Hanwoo heifer were the smallest (p<0.05) among treatment group. But wither height was not difference among treatment groups at 32 month of age. At 12 month of age, concentrations of serum cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose and total protein were higher in the heifers compared to other groups, and serum GPT (Glutamic pyruvic transaminase) was the highest (p<0.05) in the bulls, and serum GOT (Glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase) was the highest (p<0.05) at late fattening phase in the bulls. Meat yield index was similar between the bulls and the heifers, and the lowest (p<0.05) in the steers. Marbling score was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the steers and the heifers than in the bulls, and meat quality was the best in the steers among treatment groups. The results of this experiment might be used as a basal data on difference between gender in revision of Korean feeding standard for Hanwoo.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.133-139
• /
• 2012

This study was carried out to develop the useful inducing method of estrus for Korean native cows. Under the condition of estrus induction by administering $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ for the cows in which corpus luteum (CL) in ovaries was detected by ultrasonography, ovarian responses and the changes of progesterone ($P_4$) concentration against $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ compared with conception rate were observed in cows and heifers. In inducing estrus administering $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$. to the cows which has corpus luteum in ovaries, ovarian reponses, the changes of progesterone concentration, and conception rate were identified and compared. The results attained from the studies were as follows. Significant decreases of CL in size over time after $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ administration were detected in both cow and heifer groups (p<0.001), but not different between groups in the CL regression rate (p>0.05). In addition, the percentage changes relative to the plasma $P_4$ concentration on day 1 after $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ treatment were decreased to below 1ng/ml. The growth rate of follicle was observed as 31% on day 1 and 42% on day 2 in cows, and 34% on day 1 and 97% on day 2 in heifers, resulting that growth of heifers are faster than that of cows (p<0.05). The conception rate after $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ treatment were 60.5% and 64.2% in cows and heifers, respectively. It also indicated that the conception rate after estrus observation with $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ injection was as high as 66.6% while that with timed-artificial insemination (TAI) regardless of the estrus observation was 56%, which means the pregnancy rate of artificial insemination after estrus observation was higher than that of TAI (p<0.05). In the result of all above, there were significant decreases in CL size and the plasma $P_4$ concentration by days but rapid growth in follicles, which has no differences in cows and heifers. The conception rate was commonly high after estrus observation and more than 50% under TAI.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.83-88
• /
• 2000

This study was conducted to determine the effect of repeated ultrasound-guided transvaginal retrieval of oocytes recovery, estrous cycle and ovarian adhesion in Korean native, Hanwoo heifers. Heifers were at unknown stages of the estrous cycle at the start of experiments in which all follicles $\geq$6mm in diameter were ablated. The results obtained in this study were as follows; Follicle developing number and oocytes collected number were no effected to repeated OPU to nine session, 4 e.a range oocytes collected to repeated OPU session. Oocytes were observated follicles were 8.7$\pm$4.2 e.a, collected oocytes were 4.1$\pm$3.4 e.a to two times collected per week and observated follicles was 10.2$\pm$6.1 e.a, collected oocytes were 4.3$\pm$2.9 e.a to one times collected per week, but no difference significantly(P＜0.05). Ovaries adhesive percentage to repeated OPU was eight ovaries adhisived(20%) of forty ovaries, three ovaries(7.5%) to 1~3 times oocytes collected, four ovaries(l0%) to 4~6 times, one ovaries(2.5%) to 7~9 times oocytes collected session. To repeated OPU effection, ovaries adhisive heifers were long estrous cycle(＞25 day) to 7 heads(87.5%) of 8 head, non-adhesive ovaries heifers were 5 heads(41.7%) were long estrous cycle to repeated OPU 12 heads. Although, now unknown about the dynamics of follicles wave and about functional changes to repeated OPU ovaries, more question about ovaries adhesive cause remain.