Effect of Wintering System and Nutrition around Breeding on Gain and Reproduction in Heifers

Authors

Daniel M. Larson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Jeremy L. Martin, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Richard N. Funston, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

January 2008

Comments

Published in 2008 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. Copyright © 2007 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.

Abstract

Replacement heifers were developed using corn stalks (Experiments 1 and 2), winter range (Experiment 1), or a dry lot (Experiment 2) with or without a high energy supplement around breeding. Corn stalk development reduced ADG and the percentage pubertal prior to breeding; however, neither first service conception nor pregnancy rates were affected. High energy supplemental nutrition around breeding tends to improve first service conception. Corn stalk development does not appear to negatively impact reproduction, although it resulted in lighter calf birth weight compared to winter range.