Nutritional levels in rearing, gestation and postpartum on the performance of primiparous
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2023v44n6p2113Keywords:
Stocking rate, Natural pastures, Improved natural pastures, Pregnancy rate.Abstract
This study evaluated the reproductive performance of 36-month-old Hereford primiparous cows
(n = 119) fed different nutritional levels during rearing and pre-mating. Nutritional levels were based on two
stocking rates (SR) and the use or not of improved pastures. Heifers grazed on natural pastures during
rearing at two different SRs (0.8 and 0.6 animal units [AU] per ha). Before the first mating period, each
group was allocated either to natural or improved natural pastures at a single SR (0.7 AU ha -1 ). The better
pre-mating live performance of heifers grazing on improved pastures, independently of SR during rearing,
was not maintained during gestation, as all heifers achieved similar body weight (BW) and body condition
score (BCS) at calving. After calving, cows were allocated to natural or improved natural pastures,
independently of the previous feeding system. Except at calving, cows grazing on improved natural pastures
showed higher BW, BCS, and BW change until the end of the mating period than those grazing on natural
pastures. The higher nutritional levels supplied by improved natural pastures promoted higher pregnancy
rates (44.3%) than natural pastures (13.8%). Pregnancy rate increased according to BW range (very light,
light, medium, or heavy), with observed values of 0.0, 18.8, 21.2, and 88.0%, respectively. Cows with BCS
lower than 2.6 did not conceive, whereas a 48.1% pregnancy rate was observed in cows with 2.6-3.4 BCS
and a 100% pregnancy rate in cows with 3.5 or higher BCS. Grazing on improved natural pastures during the
post-calving period promotes higher body weight and body condition scores in primiparous cows, resulting
in higher pregnancy rates.
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