Arkansas - Agricultural Communication Services - University of ...

AAES Research Series 488
Table 3. Pre- and post-partum data for cows by treatment.
Treatment
Item Control Corn Corn-Soy SEM
Number of Animals 15 16 16
Days pre-partum 56 50 59.5 3.8
Initial body wt,lb 1,202 1,217 1,196 26
Initial BCS, 1-9 g 5.2 5.4 5.4 0.1
Wt at start of breeding, lb 1,045 1,081 1,059 26
BCS at start of breeding, 1-9 4.7 a 5.3 b 5 a 0.2
Change in body wt, lb -157 -138 -137 13
Change in BCS, 1-9 0.5 c 0.1 d 0.4 c 0.1
Cycling at start of breeding, no 2 of 15 4 of 16 2 of 16 ---
Pregnant at end of breeding seasons, % 31.3 43.7 56.2 ---
Pregnant at 30 d after breeding, % 50 56.2 56.2 ---
Calving percentage, % 50 50 56.2 ---
Calving interval, day 361 d 354 d 345 e 6
Calf birth wt, lb 73.8 75.6 74.4 2.9
Calf weaning wt, lb 332 352 349 15
Calf ADG birth-weaning, lb/day 1.25 1.31 1.37 0.07
ab Means within a row with no superscript in common differ (P < 0.03).
cd Means within a row with no superscript in common differ (P < 0.04).
ef Means within a row with no superscript in common differ (P < 0.10).
g Body condition score (BCS) can range from 1 = very thin to 9 = very fat.
Table 4. Estimated forage intake a , nutrients available, and requirements b
for heifers by treatment.
Treatment Diet Pounds DM fed lb TDN lb CP
or estimated intake available available
Control
Savoy 16.50 9.64 2.65
Fescue
Total 16.50 9.64 2.65
supplied
Requirement 22.90 13.80 2.34
Balance -6.40 -4.16 0.31
Corn
Savoy 16.50 9.64 2.65
Fescue
Corn 1.76 1.58 0.17
Total 18.26 11.22 2.82
supplied
Requirement 22.90 13.80 2.34
Balance -4.64 -2.58 0.48
Corn-Soy
Savoy 16.50 9.64 2.65
Fescue
Corn 1.32 1.18 0.13
Soybean 0.45 0.39 0.22
meal
Total supplied 18.27 11.21 3.00
Requirement 22.90 13.80 2.34
Balance -4.63 -2.59 0.66
a Estimated forage intake is calculated as 120 divided by the forage NDF expressed as a percentage times body weight.
b Nutrient requirements are from NRC (1996) based on heifers calving at 1000 lb with a mature cow weight of 1200 lb.
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