Influences of nutrition during pregnancy and lactation on birth weights and growth to weaning of calves sired by Piedmontese or Wagyu bulls
L. M. Cafe A B C , D. W. Hennessy A B D , H. Hearnshaw A B E , S. G. Morris A F and P. L. Greenwood A C GA Cooperative Research Centre for Cattle and Beef Quality, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
B NSW Department of Primary Industries, Agricultural Research and Advisory Station, Grafton NSW 2460, Australia.
C NSW Department of Primary Industries, Beef Industry Centre of Excellence, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
D Current address: 187 Fitzroy Street, Grafton, NSW 2460, Australia.
E Current address: PO Box 433, Grafton, NSW 2460, Australia.
F NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar Agricultural Institute, Wollongbar, NSW 2477, Australia.
G Corresponding author. Email: paul.greenwood@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46(2) 245-255 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA05225
Submitted: 15 August 2005 Accepted: 6 February 2006 Published: 3 March 2006
Abstract
The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of nutrition during pregnancy and lactation on birth weight and growth to weaning of Piedmontese and Wagyu sired calves. This research was also conducted to provide animals for long-term studies on the consequences of growth early in life. During 2 breeding cycles, Hereford cows were managed within low or high pasture-based nutritional systems from about 80 days of pregnancy to parturition. During lactation, the calves and their dams remained on the low or high nutritional system or crossed over to the alternative system. From commencement of the nutritional treatment during pregnancy until parturition, and then during lactation, cows on low nutrition lost an average of 45 and 23 kg liveweight, respectively, and those on high nutrition gained 55 and 40 kg, respectively. Calves of Wagyu sires weighed less at birth (31.0 v 35.9 kg, s.e. = 0.31 kg) and weaning (182 v. 189 kg, s.e. = 2.26 kg) than those of Piedmontese sires. Calves of cows on low nutrition during pregnancy weighed less at birth than those of cows on high nutrition (32.5 v. 35.2 kg, s.e. = 0.32 kg). Low nutrition during pregnancy adversely influenced birth to weaning ADG (676 v. 759 g, s.e. = 9.2 g), weight gain (145 v. 160 kg, s.e. = 2.1 kg) and liveweight (177 v. 195 kg, s.e. = 2.3 kg) of calves at weaning. The nutritional system during lactation had greater effects on ADG (618 v. 816 g, s.e. = 9.2 g), weight gain (131 v. 174 kg, s.e. = 2.1 kg) and liveweight (164 v. 207 kg, s.e. = 2.3 kg) of calves at weaning than the nutritional system during pregnancy. Overall, the responses to the nutritional treatments were consistent for the progeny of both sire-genotypes.
Additional keywords: calf, cattle, meat, newborn.
Acknowledgments
The financial and in-kind support of the Cooperative Research Centre for Cattle and Beef Quality, NSW Department of Primary Industries, CSIRO Livestock Industries, and the University of New England to enable the conduct of this research is gratefully acknowledged. We also acknowledge the considerable efforts of the following research, technical and farm staff: Lewis Molloy, Keith Newby, Bill Lee, Eric Donoghue, Max Johnson, Albert Martin and Karl Schultz, NSW Department of Primary Industries Agricultural Research and Advisory Station, Grafton; Phil Dawes, Peter Kamphorst and Peter Newman, NSW Department of Primary Industries Centre for Perennial Grazing Systems, Glen Innes; Stuart McClelland, Joe Brunner, Bill Johns, Steve Sinclair, NSW Department of Primary Industries Beef Industry Centre of Excellence, Armidale; John Wilkins, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wagga Wagga; Matt Wolcott, Beef Quality CRC, Armidale; and Bill Hoffman, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Casino. We also acknowledge David Fisher who undertook an Honours project at the University of New England within this research. We are also grateful to James and Lyndon Mulligan of ‘Spelga Piedmontese’, the Australian Wagyu Association and Peter Lee of ‘Waterview Wagyu’ for the supply of the semen and the bulls used in this study. Finally, we wish to acknowledge the contribution of Dr Hutton Oddy, Meat and Livestock Australia for his role in initiating this research.
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