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The use of body condition scoring to ration beef cows in late pregnancy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

I. A. Wright ,
A. J. F. Russel  and
E. A. Hunter
I. A. Wright
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Research Organisation, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 OPY
A. J. F. Russel
Affiliation:
Hill Farming Research Organisation, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 OPY
E. A. Hunter
Affiliation:
AFRC Unit of Statistics, James Clerk Maxwell Building, The Kings Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ
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Abstract

Forty-eight Hereford × Friesian and Blue Grey cows ranging in body condition score from 1·75 to 4·0, 12 weeks before calving, were fed to achieve three levels of body condition score at calving. Half the cows were fed on an increasing plane of nutrition as pregnancy advanced and half were fed on a flat-rate feeding system. The condition scores achieved by the three groups at calving were 2·28, 2·47 and 2·70 (s.e.d. 0·071; P < 0·001). Differences in cow body condition at calving were reflected in cow live weight and condition 6 weeks later, but there was no effect on calf performance. Hereford × Friesian cows lost more weight in early lactation, tended to produce more milk and their calves were heavier. Pattern of feeding had no effect on cow condition score or weight at calving or on subsequent performance.

It was calculated that each unit of body condition-score loss in late pregnancy contributes the equivalent of 3200 MJ dietary metabolizable energy while 6600 MJ dietary metabolizable energy are required for 1 unit of condition-score gain.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 43 , Issue 3 , December 1986 , pp. 391 - 396
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1986

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References

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