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Relationship between puberty in heifers and the cessation of luteal activity after nutritional restriction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

J. A. Vizcarra ,
R. P. Wettemann  and
D. K. Bishop
J. A. Vizcarra
Affiliation:
Animal Science Department, Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Stillwater 74078-0425, USA
R. P. Wettemann
Affiliation:
Animal Science Department, Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Stillwater 74078-0425, USA
D. K. Bishop
Affiliation:
Animal Science Department, Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station, Stillwater 74078-0425, USA
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Abstract

The relationship between puberty and the cessation of luteal activity after nutritional restriction was evaluated in 15 Angus × Hereford heifers. Heifers attained puberty at a body weight of 297 (s.e. 6) kg and a body condition score (BCS) of 5·5 (s.e. 0·1) on a scale of 1 (emaciated) to 9 (obese). After 154 (s.e. 16) days of nutritional restriction, heifers became anoestrus at a weight of 273 (s.e. 8) kg and a BCS of 3·0 (s.e. 0·2). The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient between date of-puberty and date of cessation of luteal activity was (r = –0·49; P < 0·06). This indicates that the heifers that attained puberty first were the last to cease luteal activity during nutritional restriction.

Keywords

anoestrusheifersnutritionpuberty
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 61 , Issue 3 , December 1995 , pp. 507 - 510
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1995

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