Effect of herbage allowance on productive and reproductive responses of primiparous beef cows grazing on Campos grassland
Martín Claramunt A D , Andrea Fernández-Foren B and Pablo Soca C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Centro Universitario Regional del Este, Universidad de la República, Route 8 km 281, 33000, Treinta y Tres, Uruguay.
B Laboratorio de Técnicas Nucleares, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Laplaces, 1550, Montevideo, Uruguay.
C Departamento de Producción Animal y Pasturas, EEMAC Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de la República, Route 3 km 363, 60000, Paysandú, Uruguay.
D Corresponding author. Email: martinclaramunt@gmail.com
Animal Production Science 58(9) 1615-1624 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN16601
Submitted: 7 September 2016 Accepted: 9 February 2017 Published: 24 March 2017
Abstract
The effects of two levels of herbage allowance (HA, kg DM/kg liveweight (LW)) on forage mass and chemical composition, cow body condition score, cow LW, stocking rate, productive and reproductive responses were evaluated during two consecutive years. Eighty primiparous spring-calving beef cows were allocated to a completely randomised block design of two HA that had an annual average of 2.5 (low) and 4.0 kg DM/kg LW (high) from –150 to 195 days postpartum. The grazing system was continuous, and the put-and-take method was employed to adjust HA. At 86 ± 12 days postpartum, all cows were submitted to calf suckling restrictions with nose plates (12 days) and dietary flushing (2 kg/cow.day of whole-rice bran for 22 days), 6 days before bull introduction. Forage mass was affected by HA (P = 0.004) and year (P = 0.014); the high HA had a greater forage mass than the low HA (1474 vs 1212 ± 86 kg DM/ha; P < 0.05), and Year 2 had a greater forage mass than Year 1 (1545 vs 1134 ± 78 kg DM/ha; P < 0.05). Stocking rate was affected by HA and season (P = 0.0004) interaction. The stocking rate during autumn and spring was greater in low than high HA, and no differences were identified in winter and summer. The body condition score was improved in high HA during autumn and resulted in a greater winter (mid-gestation) body condition score than the low HA without differences during spring-summer (postpartum). Cow LW was lower during autumn, winter and early postpartum (16 days postpartum) in low HA in Year 1 than high HA of Year 1 and high and low HA cows in Year 2. Furthermore, the probability of total pregnancies (0.88 vs 0.59 ± 0.07; P = 0.01) and the calf weight adjusted to 205 days (194 vs 175 ± 16 kg; P < 0.05) were greater in high HA. Calf weight adjusted to 205 days (Year 1: 192 vs Year 2: 177 ± 16 kg; P < 0.05) and survival curves of postpartum anoestrus (P = 0.01) were affected by year but did not affect the probability of conception, early or total pregnancies. In conclusion, the reproductive and productive responses of primiparous beef cows grazing Campos grasslands were improved in high HA and could contribute to alleviating adverse climatic conditions effects.
Additional keywords: anoestrus, calf weight, forage allowance, grazing management, pregnancy, rangelands.
References
Asociación Argentina de Consorcios Regionales de Experimentación Agrícola (AACREA) (2015) ‘Cría Vacuna.’ (Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires: Argentina)Adams DC, Nielsen MK, Schacht WH, Clark RT (2000) Designing and conducting experiments for range beef cows. Journal of Animal Science 77, 1–18.
| Designing and conducting experiments for range beef cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Aiken GE (2016) Invited review: grazing management options in meeting objectives of grazing experiments. The Professional Animal Scientist 32, 1–9.
| Invited review: grazing management options in meeting objectives of grazing experiments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
AOAC (2007) ‘Official methods of analysis.’ (AOAC International: Gaithersburg, MD)
Astessiano AL, Pérez-Clariget R, Quintans G, Soca P, Meikle A, Crooker BA, Carriquiry M (2014) Metabolic and endocrine profiles and hepatic gene expression in periparturient, grazing primiparous beef cows with different body reserves. Livestock Science 170, 63–71.
| Metabolic and endocrine profiles and hepatic gene expression in periparturient, grazing primiparous beef cows with different body reserves.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Baeza S, Lezama F, Piñeiro G, Altesor A, Paruelo JM (2010) Spatial variability of above-ground net primary production in Uruguayan grasslands: a remote sensing approach. Applied Vegetation Science 13, 72–85.
| Spatial variability of above-ground net primary production in Uruguayan grasslands: a remote sensing approach.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Beal WE, Perry RC, Corah LR (1992) The use of ultrasound in monitoring reproductive physiology of beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science 70, 924–929.
| The use of ultrasound in monitoring reproductive physiology of beef cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK383is1Sltw%3D%3D&md5=38262a98932e2eadb92fb9b40e5f39a4CAS |
Berretta EJ (2006) Country pasture/forage resources profiles: Uruguay Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Roma, 2005. Available at http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/agpc/doc/Counprof/PDF%20files/Uruguay_English.pdf [Verified 4 November 2016]
Berretta EJ, Risso DF, Montossi F, Pigurina G (2000) Campos in Uruguay. In ‘International symposium on grassland ecophysiology and grazing ecology’. (Eds G Lemaire, J Hodgson, A de Moraes, C Nabinger, PCF Carvalho) pp. 377–394. (CAB International: Wallingford, Oxon, UK)
BIF (2002) ‘Guidelines for uniform beef improvement programs.’ 8th edn. (Beef Improvement Federation: Athens, GA)
Bransby DI (1989) Compromises in the design and conduct of grazing experiments. In ‘Grazing research: design, methodology, and analysis’. (Ed. GC Marten) pp. 53–67. (Crop Science Society of America: Madison, WI)
Briske and Heitschmidt (1991) Grazing management: an ecological perspective. In ‘Grazing management: an ecological perspective’. (Eds RK Heitschmidt, JW Stuth) pp. 11–27. (Timber Press: Portland, OR)
Buskirk DD, Faulkner DB, Ireland F (1995) Increased postweaning gain of beef heifers enhances fertility and milk production. Journal of Animal Science 73, 937–946.
| Increased postweaning gain of beef heifers enhances fertility and milk production.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXkvV2gtrg%3D&md5=4e9893ebd9a13aaa3f188f0f984e3dd9CAS |
Carvalho PCF, Bremm C, Mezzalira JC, Da Trindade JK, Nascimento D, Jr (2011) How can grazing behavior research at the bite to patch scales contribute to enhance sustainability of rangeland livestock production systems. In ‘Diverse rangelands for a sustainable society, IX international rangeland congress’. (Eds SR Feldman, GE Oliva, MB Sacido) pp. 565–571. (Universidad de Rosario: Rosario, Argentina)
Casal A, Astessiano AL, Espasandin AC, Trujillo AI, Soca P, Carriquiry M (2017) Changes in body composition during the winter gestation period in mature beef cows grazing different herbage allowances of native grasslands. Animal Production Science 57, 520–529.
| Changes in body composition during the winter gestation period in mature beef cows grazing different herbage allowances of native grasslands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Casas E, Thallman RM, Cundiff LV (2011) Birth and weaning traits in crossbred cattle from Hereford, Angus, Brahman, Boran, Tuli, and Belgian Blue sires. Journal of Animal Science 89, 979–987.
| Birth and weaning traits in crossbred cattle from Hereford, Angus, Brahman, Boran, Tuli, and Belgian Blue sires.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXntFKltrg%3D&md5=d97e7aec36ffdf68889fba82213da191CAS |
Coates DB, Penning P (2000) Measuring animal performance. In ‘Field and laboratory methods for grassland and animal production research’. (Eds L’t Mannetje, RM Jones) pp. 353–402. (CAB International: Wallingford, Oxon, UK)
Daget PH, Poissonet J (1971) Une méthode d’analyse phytologique des prairies. Critéres d’applícation. Annales d’Agronomie 22, 5–41.
Funston RN, Larson DM, Vonnahme KA (2010) Effects of maternal nutrition on conceptus growth and offspring performance: implications for beef cattle production. Journal of Animal Science 88, E205–E215.
| Effects of maternal nutrition on conceptus growth and offspring performance: implications for beef cattle production.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3c3pslOluw%3D%3D&md5=ae892762c6bad68e19b070e35b86576cCAS |
Greenwood PL, Bell AW (2014) Consequences of nutrition during gestation, and the challenge to better understand and enhance livestock productivity and efficiency in pastoral ecosystems. Animal Production Science 54, 1109–1118.
| Consequences of nutrition during gestation, and the challenge to better understand and enhance livestock productivity and efficiency in pastoral ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gutiérrez V, Espasandin AC, Astessiano AL, Casal A, López‐Mazz C, Carriquiry M (2012) Calf foetal and early life nutrition on grazing conditions: metabolic and endocrine profiles and body composition during the growing phase. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 97, 720–731.
| Calf foetal and early life nutrition on grazing conditions: metabolic and endocrine profiles and body composition during the growing phase.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Haydock KP, Shaw NH (1975) The comparative yield method for estimating dry matter yield of pasture. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 15, 663–670.
Hess B, Lake SL, Scholljegerdes EJ, Weston TR, Nayigihugu V, Molle JDC, Moss GE (2005) Nutritional controls of beef cow reproduction. Journal of Animal Science 83, E90–E106.
Kottek M, Grieser J, Beck C, Rudolf B, Rubel F (2006) World map of the Koppen-Geiger climate classification updated. Meteorologische Zeitschrift 15, 259–263.
| World map of the Koppen-Geiger climate classification updated.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lalman DL, Williams JE, Hess BW, Thomas MG, Keisler DH (2000) Effect of dietary energy on milk production and metabolic hormones in thin, primiparous beef heifers. Journal of Animal Science 78, 530–538.
| Effect of dietary energy on milk production and metabolic hormones in thin, primiparous beef heifers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXisVSht7c%3D&md5=c399748fc77b3fe2b02d356ea215627eCAS |
Laporta J, Astessiano AL, López-Mazz C, Soca P, Espasandin AC, Carriquiry M (2014) Effects of herbage allowance of native grasslands in purebred and crossbred beef cows: metabolic, endocrine and hepatic gene expression profiles through the gestation–lactation cycle. Animal 8, 1119–1129.
| Effects of herbage allowance of native grasslands in purebred and crossbred beef cows: metabolic, endocrine and hepatic gene expression profiles through the gestation–lactation cycle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXpvVWkt70%3D&md5=1acbbe7e4c85c85050bb6e534e836401CAS |
McGowan M, Galloway D, Taylor E, Entwistle K, Johnston P (1995) ‘The veterinary examination of bulls.’ pp. 81. (Australian Association of Cattle Veterinarians: Qld)
Meikle A, Kulcsar M, Chilliard Y, Febel H, Delavaud C, Cavestany D, Chilibroste P (2004) Effects of parity and body condition score at calving on endocrine and reproductive parameters of the dairy cow under grazing conditions. Reproduction (Cambridge, England) 127, 727–737.
| Effects of parity and body condition score at calving on endocrine and reproductive parameters of the dairy cow under grazing conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXlt1Ohu7Y%3D&md5=948ebbbdbe7dc4acafb3e8b7ab0204c3CAS |
MGAP (2013) Anuario estadístico Agropecuario 2013. Dirección de estadísticas agropecuarias (MGAP: Montevideo) Available at http://www.mgap.gub.uy/Dieaanterior/Anuario2013/DIEA_Anuario_2013.pdf [Verified 4 November 2016]
Moojen EL, Maraschin GE (2002) Potencial produtivo de uma pastagem nativa do rio grande do sul submetida a níveis de oferta de forragem. Ciência Rural 32, 127–132.
| Potencial produtivo de uma pastagem nativa do rio grande do sul submetida a níveis de oferta de forragem.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mott G, Lucas H (1952) The design, conduct, and interpretation of grazing trials on cultivated and improved pastures. In ‘Proceedings of the international grassland congress’. pp. 1380–1385. (State College Press: State College, PA)
Nabinger C, de Moraes A, Maraschin GE (2000) Campos in Southern Brazil. In ‘Grassland ecophysiology and grazing ecology’. (Eds G Lemaire, J Hodgson, A de Moraes, C Nabinger, PCF Carvalho) pp. 355–376 (CAB International: Wallingford, Oxon, UK)
National Research Council (1987) ‘Predicting feed intake of food producing animals.’ (National Academy Press: Washington, DC)
National Research Council (2001) ‘Nutrient requirements of beef cattle.’ (National Academy Press: Washington, DC)
Nicol AM, Nicoll GB (1987) Pastures for beef cattle. In ‘Feeding livestock on pasture’. pp. 119–131. (New Zealand Society of Animal Production: Lincoln)
Quintans G, Vázquez AI, Weigel KA (2009) Effect of suckling restriction with nose plates and premature weaning on postpartum anestrous interval in primiparous cows under range conditions. Animal Reproduction Science 116, 10–18.
| Effect of suckling restriction with nose plates and premature weaning on postpartum anestrous interval in primiparous cows under range conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD1Mros1Kisg%3D%3D&md5=7eed431d9ad81602335a4b565644fca8CAS |
R Development Core Team (2013) R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. Available at http://www.R-project.org/ [Verified 1 September 2016]
Rattray PV, Brooks IM, Nicol AM (2007) ‘Pasture and supplements for grazing animals.’ (New Zealand Society of Animal Production: Lincoln)
Roberts AJ, Funston RN, Grings EE, Petersen MK (2016) TRIENNIAL REPRODUCTION SYMPOSIUM: Beef heifer development and lifetime productivity in rangeland-based production systems. Journal of Animal Science
| TRIENNIAL REPRODUCTION SYMPOSIUM: Beef heifer development and lifetime productivity in rangeland-based production systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
SAS Institute (2002) ‘SAS system for Windows.’ Version 9.0. (SAS Institute Inc.: Cary, NC)
Soares AB, Carvalho PC, Nabinger C, Semmelmann C, Trindade JK, Guerra E, Freitas TS, Pinto CE, Fontoura Júnior JA, Frizzo A (2005) Animal and forage production on native pasture under different herbage allowance. Ciência Rural 35, 1148–1154.
| Animal and forage production on native pasture under different herbage allowance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Soca P, Claramunt M, Do Carmo M (2007) Sistemas de cría vacuna en ganadería pastoril sobre campo nativo sin subsidios: Propuesta tecnológica para estabilizar la producción de terneros con intervenciones de bajo costo y de fácil implementación. Revista Ciencia Animal 3, 3–22.
Soca P, Carriquiry M, Keisler DH, Claramunt M, Do Carmo M, Olivera-Muzante J, Rodríguez M, Meikle A (2013) Reproductive and productive response to suckling restriction and dietary flushing in primiparous grazing beef cows. Animal Production Science 53, 283–291.
| Reproductive and productive response to suckling restriction and dietary flushing in primiparous grazing beef cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXjsVymurY%3D&md5=5f0cbe682ee84d3869b31d2fff4d3471CAS |
Soca P, Carriquiry M, Claramunt M, Gestido V, Meikle A (2014a) Metabolic and endocrine profiles of primiparous beef cows grazing native grassland. 1. Relationships between body condition score at calving and metabolic profiles during the transition period. Animal Production Science 54, 856–861.
| Metabolic and endocrine profiles of primiparous beef cows grazing native grassland. 1. Relationships between body condition score at calving and metabolic profiles during the transition period.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXpt12mt7g%3D&md5=37740420b41b252eb3bb12c07a8eabf7CAS |
Soca P, Carriquiry M, Claramunt M, Ruprechter G, Meikle A (2014b) Metabolic and endocrine profiles of primiparous beef cows grazing native grassland. 2. Effects of body condition score at calving, type of suckling restriction and flushing on plasmatic and productive parameters. Animal Production Science 54, 862–868.
| Metabolic and endocrine profiles of primiparous beef cows grazing native grassland. 2. Effects of body condition score at calving, type of suckling restriction and flushing on plasmatic and productive parameters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXpt12mt7k%3D&md5=5494b36db9e0c7c573325b633add2c17CAS |
Sollenberger L, Moore J, Allen V, Pedreira C (2005) Reporting herbage allowance in grazing experiments. Crop Science 45, 896–900.
| Reporting herbage allowance in grazing experiments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stalker LA, Adams DC, Klopfenstein TJ, Feuz DM, Funston RN (2006) Effects of pre- and postpartum nutrition on reproduction in spring calving cows and calf feedlot performance. Journal of Animal Science 84, 2582–2589.
| Effects of pre- and postpartum nutrition on reproduction in spring calving cows and calf feedlot performance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XovFGku7s%3D&md5=d793421cbf46250f5ff38bb18b8679c8CAS |
Therneau T, Lumley T (2015) survival: survival analysis. R package version 2.38-3. Available at https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/survival/index.html [Verified 4 November 2016]
Trujillo AI, Orcasberro R, Beretta V, Franco J, Burgueño J (1996) Performance of Hereford cows under conditions of varied forage availability during late gestation. In ‘Development of feed supplementation strategies for improving ruminant productivity on small-holder farms in Latin America through the use of immunoassay techniques. Proceedings of the final research co-ordination meeting of an FAO/IAEA co-ordinated research programme organised by the joint FAO/IAEA division of nuclear techniques in food and agriculture’. pp. 69–80. (International Atomic Energy Agency: Vienna)
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) (2016) Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade. Foreigner Agricultural Service of USDA. Available at http://apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/circulars/livestock_poultry.PDF [Verified 4 November 2016]
Van Soest PJ, Roberston JB, Lewis BA (1991) Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. Journal of Dairy Science 74, 3583–3597.
| Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK38%2FnvVCltA%3D%3D&md5=134fffdb99e7905cf25104d139000225CAS |
Vizcarra JA, Ibañez W, Orcasberro R (1986) Repetibilidad y reproductibilidad de dos escalas para estimar la condición corporal de vacas Hereford. Investigaciones Agronómicas 7, 45–47.
Wright IA, Russel AJ (1987) The effect of sward height on beef cow performance and on the relationship between calf milk and herbage intakes. Animal Production 44, 363–370.
| The effect of sward height on beef cow performance and on the relationship between calf milk and herbage intakes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
