Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-06T01:16:07.075Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of plane of nutrition during rearing on growth, production, reproduction and health of dairy cattle.* I. Growth to 24 months

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 1959

J. A. Crichton ,
J. N. Aitken  and
A. W. Boyne
J. A. Crichton
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen
J. N. Aitken
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen
A. W. Boyne
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen
Get access

Extract

1. Eighteen pairs of one-egg and 6 pairs of two-egg twin calves were used in a balanced incomplete block design to examine four systems of rearing: (1) a continuous high plane of nutrition from birth to first calving (HH); (2) a high plane for the first 44 weeks followed by a low plane until 2 months before calving (HL); (3) a continuous low plane until 2 months before calving (LL); and (4) a low plane to 44 weeks followed by a high plane to first calving (LH). All animals were fed on a high plane during the two months before calving.

2. Mean daily consumptions of DM, TDN, S.E. and DCP are given and the net energy intakes compared with a recently recommended standard.

3. At 44, 80 and 104 weeks of age there were highly significant differences between the groups in all weights and measurements due to treatment. Low-plane feeding retarded the growth of the skeleton to only a limited extent as compared with live-weight. After the changeover, animals on the HL system lost much of the advantage in body measurements they had gained over those fed on a continuous low plane.

4. All groups reached sexual maturity at the same stage of physical development but at different ages. The HL animals were the slowest to attain maturity indicating that as with growth the changeover from a high plane to a low plane of nutrition had had an adverse effect.

5. Low-plane animals on poor hill pasture made better growth than their mates on good arable pasture. Evidence is presented, however, to show that part of this greater growth in live-weight was due to increased ‘fill’.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 1 , Issue 2 , September 1959 , pp. 145 - 162
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1959

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bonnier, G., & Hansson, A., 1946. Studies on monozygous cattle twins. V. The effect of different planes of nutrition on growth and body development of dairy heifers. Acta Agric. suec., 1: 171.Google Scholar
Bonnier, G., Hansson, A., & Skjervold, H., 1948. Studies on monozygous cattle twins. IX. The interplay of heredity and environment on growth and yield. Acta. Agric. suec., 3: 1.Google Scholar
Crichton, J. A., & Aitken, J. N., 1954. The economical rearing of dairy heifers. Proc. Nutr.Soc., 13: 10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davis, H. P., & Willett, E. L., 1938. Relation between rate of growth and milk and fat production. J. Dairy Sci., 21: 637.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Donald, H. P., 1953. A study of variation in twin cattle. I. General Description. J.Dairy Res., 20: 355.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eckles, C. H., 1946. Dairy Cattle and Milk Production. Macmillan Co., London. 3rd ed.Google Scholar
Filmer, J. F., 1952. Annual Report 1951–52. Animal Research Division of the New Zealand Department of Agriculture, Wellington N. Z.Google Scholar
Flux, D. S., 1950. The effect of undernutrition before calving on the quantity and composition of milk produced by two-year-old heifers. J. agric. Sci., 40: 177.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hammond, J., 1950. Farm Animals. Their Breeding, Growth and Inheritance. Arnold, London.Google Scholar
Hancock, J., 1951. Studies in monozygotic cattle twins. V. Uniformity trials—growth. N.Z. J. Sci. Tech., Agric., 33 (4): 17.Google Scholar
Hansen, K., & Steensberg, V., 1950. (The endurance and production of cows reared on different rations.) 246. Beretn. Forsøgslab.(Kbh.): 48 pp. (In Danish).Google Scholar
Hansson, A., Brännäng, E., & Claesson, O., 1953. Studies on monozygous cattle twins. XIII. Body development in relation to heredity and intensity of rearing. Acta Agric. scand., 3: 61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hogan, A. G., 1929. Retarded growth and mature size of beef steers. Res. Bull. Mo. agric. Exp. Sta., No. 123.Google Scholar
Joubert, D. M., 1954. The influence of winter nutritional depressions on growth, reproduction and production of cattle. J. agric. Sci., 44: 5.Google Scholar
Joubert, D. M., 1954. The influence of high and low nutritional planes on the oestrus cycle and conception rate of heifers. J. agric. Sci., 45: 164.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Joubert, D. M., & Bonsma, F. N., 1957. The effect of nutrition on the birth weight of calves. Sci. Bull. Dep. Agric. S. Afr., No. 371.Google Scholar
Lush, J. L., Jones, J. M., Dameron, W. H., & Carpenter, O. L., 1930. Normal growth of range cattle. Bull. Tex. agric. Exp. Sta., No. 409.Google Scholar
Mackintosh, J., 1938. The feeding of dairy cows. Bull. Minist. Agric. (Lond.), No. 42 (revised).Google Scholar
Morrison, F. B., 1956. Feeds and Feeding. The Morrison Publishing Co., Ithaca N.Y. 22nd ed.Google Scholar
Moulton, C, Trowbridge, P. F., & Haigh, L. D., 1921. Studies in animal nutrition. Changes in form and weight on different planes of nutrition. Bull. Mo. agric. Exp. Sta., No. 43.Google Scholar
Ragsdale, A. C., 1934a. Feed consumption of dairy cattle during growth. Bull. Mo. agric. Exp. Sta., No. 338.Google Scholar
Ragsdale, A. C., 1934b. Growth standards for dairy cattle. Bull. Mo. agric. Exp. Sta., No. 336.Google Scholar
Reed, O. E., Fitch, J. B., & Cave, H. W., 1924. The relation of feeding and age of calving to the development of dairy heifers. Bull. Kans. agric. Exp. Sta., No. 233.Google Scholar
Reid, J. T., 1953. Effects of several levels of nutrition upon growth, reproduction and lactation in cattle. Proc. Cornell Nutr. Conf.Google Scholar
Roy, J. H. B., 1959. Scientific Principles of Feeding Farm Livestock. Proc. Conference Brighton 1958. Farmer & Stockbreeder, London. P. 48.Google Scholar
Sorensen, A. M., Hansel, W., Hough, W. H., Armstrong, D. T., McEntee, K., & Bratton, R. W., 1959. Causes and prevention of reproductive failures in dairy cattle. Bull. Cornell agric. Exp. Sta., No. 936.Google Scholar
Swanson, E. W., & Spann, T. R., 1954. The effect of rapid growth and fattening upon lactation in cattle and rats. J. Anim. Sci., 13: 1032. (Amer. Soc. Anim. Prod.)Google Scholar
Woodman, H. E., 1948. Rations for livestock. Bull. Minist. Agric. (Lond.), No. 48.Google Scholar