The effect of individual liveweight and condition of beef cows on their reproductive performance and birth and weaning weights of calves

Abstract

AIM: To examine of the influence of liveweight (LW), condition (CS) and age of dam on inter-calving interval (ICI), date of calving, days from joining to calving, and birth and weaning weights of calves.

METHODS: LW and CS were measured in a herd of mixed-aged (3–8 years) Hereford x Friesian beef cows on four occasions, annually, over a 3-year period from joining (the date bulls were introduced into the herd at the start of a restricted breeding season) in November 2000 to weaning in March 2004. The four dates of weighing and condition-scoring were joining (November), weaning (March), winter (June), and pre-calving (August). Calves were tagged, identified to their dam, and weighed within 24 h of birth, and at weaning. Date of calving, ICI and days from joining to calving were determined.

RESULTS: The CS and LW of cows varied between years. LW increased in cows up to 6 years of age. Three-year-old cows had a longer ICI than older cows. Change in CS and LW from winter to pre-calving and pre-calving to joining were negatively correlated with ICI for younger cows but not for cows≥5 years (CS) and 6–8 years (LW) old. No difference in CS or LW pre-calving was evident between cows that subsequently became pregnant compared with non-pregnant cows, although cows that became pregnant gained more condition from pre-calving to joining than non-pregnant cows. Pregnant cows were heavier and had higher CS at joining than non-pregnant cows.

CONCLUSIONS: Young cows, up to second-mating as 3-year-olds, would benefit from separate nutritional management from older cows, to ensure ICI and days to conception are kept at targeted levels. In addition, increasing CS from pre-calving to joining and higher LW and CS at joining resulted in higher pregnancy rates.

KEY WORDS:

• Beef cattle
• reproduction
• nutrition
• liveweight
• condition score
• inter-calving interval
• age

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Riverside Farm Research Fund; and the assistance provided by Mr N Kilmister, Mr J Bruce, Mr GS Purchas, Mr DL Burnham and Mr C Davie-Martin of Massey University in the conduct of this trial.