Effect of hay quality and breed on the onset of puberty and subsequent reproductive performance in beef heifers
dc.citation.epage | 9 | en_US |
dc.citation.spage | 5 | en_US |
dc.contributor.author | Perry, R.C. | |
dc.contributor.author | Corah, L.R. | |
dc.contributor.author | Cochran, R.C. | |
dc.contributor.author | Brethour, J.R. | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2010-11-06T20:42:20Z | |
dc.date.available | 2010-11-06T20:42:20Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2010-11-06 | |
dc.date.published | 1988 | en_US |
dc.description.abstract | The effect of hay quality on the onset of puberty and subsequent reproductive performance was evaluated in 51 3/4 Hereford x 1/4 Angus (HA) heifers and 47 3/4 Hereford x 1/4 Brahman (HB) heifers. Two qualities of alfalfa hay were fed ad libitum. along with an average of 3.1 lbs/hd/day of ground sorghum grain. HB heifers were heavier and carrying more backfat and body condition (P<.05) at the start of the experiment and they maintained their weight advantage through out the experiment. A higher (P<.05) percent of the UB heifers reached puberty by 14 and 15 months of age and became pregnant during a 45 day artificial insemination breeding period. HA heifers reached puberty at a lighter (P<.05) average weight. Heifers fed high quality alfalfa hay were heavier (P<.05) by the start of the breeding season and were carrying more (P<.05) backfat and body condition. A higher percent (P=.08) of the heifers receiving higher quality hay reached puberty by 16 months of age and a higher (P=.10) percent became pregnant during the breeding period. Heifers inseminated at their pubertal estrus had lower (P=.04) first service conception rates than heifers inseminated at their second or later estruses (52% vs. 88%). | en_US |
dc.description.conference | Cattlemen's Day, 1988, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, March, 1988 | en_US |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/2097/6486 | |
dc.publisher | Kansas State University. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service | en_US |
dc.relation.isPartOf | Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station contribution; no. 88-363-S | en_US |
dc.relation.isPartOf | Cattlemen’s Day, 1988 | en_US |
dc.relation.isPartOf | Report of progress (Kansas State University. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service); 539 | en_US |
dc.subject | Beef | en_US |
dc.subject | Hay | en_US |
dc.subject | Puberty | en_US |
dc.subject | Performance | en_US |
dc.subject | Heifers | en_US |
dc.title | Effect of hay quality and breed on the onset of puberty and subsequent reproductive performance in beef heifers | en_US |
dc.type | Conference paper | en_US |