Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Peer-reviewed

22. Impact of Postweaning Stair-step Nutritional Regimen in Beef Heifers on Reproductive Development and Productivity as Primiparous Cows

Brooklyn Laubinger; K. Harvey; M.E. Drewery; Anna McGehee; Jules Rimmer; T. Miles; M.G. McKnight; Toriann Winton; R. F. Cooke; C. Lemley; J. Halfen; B. B. Karisch

Journal of Animal Science · 2026

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Summary

Replacement beef heifers represent a substantial investment for cattle producers and require appropriate management to achieve puberty, conceive, and calve efficiently. This study evaluated the impact of post-weaning body weight (BW) gain on reproductive development and subsequent productivity in primiparous cows. Sixty Angus crossbred heifers were stratified by age and BW (237 ± 6 d; 226 ± 6 kg) at 28 d post-weaning (d -3) and randomly assigned to one of three supplementation strategies from d 0 to 168: 1) a forage-based diet designed to restrict BW gain (low control; LC), 2) concentrate supplementation to promote accelerated BW gain (high control; HC), or 3) a stair-step regimen consisting of HC for 2 months, followed by LC for 2 months, followed by HC for the final 2 months (SS). Heif

Source type
Peer-reviewed study
DOI
10.1093/jas/skag057.017
Catalogue ID
NRmocz2pbf-00b
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