Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-wg55d Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-14T16:11:25.377Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Impacts of stocking density on development and puberty attainment of replacement beef heifers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 May 2017

K. M. Schubach ,
R. F. Cooke ,
A. P. Brandão ,
K. D. Lippolis ,
L. G. T. Silva ,
R. S. Marques  and
D. W. Bohnert
K. M. Schubach
Affiliation:
Oregon State University – Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Burns, OR 97720, USA
R. F. Cooke*
Affiliation:
Oregon State University – Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Burns, OR 97720, USA
A. P. Brandão
Affiliation:
Oregon State University – Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Burns, OR 97720, USA UNESP – Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Botucatu 18168-000, Brazil
K. D. Lippolis
Affiliation:
Oregon State University – Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Burns, OR 97720, USA
L. G. T. Silva
Affiliation:
Oregon State University – Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Burns, OR 97720, USA UNESP – Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Botucatu 18168-000, Brazil
R. S. Marques
Affiliation:
Oregon State University – Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Burns, OR 97720, USA
D. W. Bohnert
Affiliation:
Oregon State University – Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Burns, OR 97720, USA
*
†E-mail: reinaldo.cooke@oregonstate.edu
Get access

Abstract

In all, 60 Angus×Hereford heifers were ranked by age and BW (210±2 days and 220±2 kg) on day 0, and assigned to: (a) one of three drylot pens (10×14 m pens; 10 heifers/pen) resulting in a stocking density of 14 m2/heifer (HIDENS; n=3), or (b) one of three pastures (25 ha pastures; 10 heifers/pasture), resulting in a stocking density of 25 000 m2/heifer (LOWDENS; n=3). Pastures were harvested for hay before the beginning of this experiment, and negligible forage was available for grazing to LOWDENS heifers during the experiment (days 0 to 182). All heifers received the same limited-fed diet, which averaged (dry matter basis) 4.0 kg/heifer daily of hay and 3.0 kg/heifer daily of a corn-based concentrate. Heifer shrunk BW was recorded after 16 h of feed and water withdrawal on days −3 and 183 for BW gain calculation. On day 0, heifers were fitted with a pedometer behind their right shoulder. Each week, pedometer results were recorded and blood samples were collected for puberty evaluation via plasma progesterone. Plasma samples collected on days 0, 28, 56, 84, 112, 140, 161 and 182 were also analyzed for cortisol concentrations. On days 0, 49, 98, 147 and 182, hair samples were collected from the tail switch for analysis of hair cortisol concentrations. On days 28, 102 and 175, blood samples were collected for whole blood RNA isolation and analysis of heat shock protein (HSP) 70 and HSP72 mRNA expression. Heifers from LOWDENS had more (P<0.01) steps/week compared with HIDENS. No treatment effects were detected (P=0.82) for heifer BW gain. Plasma cortisol concentrations were greater (P⩽0.05) in LOWDENS compared with HIDENS heifers on days 84, 140, 161 and 182 (treatment×day interaction; P<0.01). Hair cortisol concentrations were greater (P<0.01) in HIDENS compared with LOWDENS heifers beginning on day 98 (treatment×day interaction; P<0.01). Heifers from LOWDENS had greater (P=0.04) mean mRNA expression of HSP72, and tended (P=0.09) to have greater mean mRNA expression of HSP70 compared with HIDENS. Heifers from HIDENS experienced delayed puberty attainment and had less (P<0.01) proportion of pubertal heifers on day 182 compared with LOWDENS (treatment×day interaction; P<0.01). In summary, HIDENS altered heifer stress-related and physiological responses, and delayed puberty attainment compared with LOWDENS.

Keywords

beef heifersgrowthpubertystocking densitystress
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 11 , Issue 12 , December 2017 , pp. 2260 - 2267
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2017 

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

Albin, RC and Thompson, GB 1990. Cattle feeding: a guide to management. Trafton Printing, Inc., Amarillo, TX, USA.Google Scholar
Burnett, TA, Madureira, AML, Silper, BF, Nadalin, A, Tahmasbi, AM, Veira, DM and Cerri, RLA 2014. Short communication: factors affecting hair cortisol concentration in lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 97, 7685–7690.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carroll, JA and Forsberg, NE 2007. Influence of stress and nutrition on cattle immunity. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice 23, 105–149.Google ScholarPubMed
Cooke, RF 2014. Temperament and acclimation to human handling influence growth, health, and reproductive responses in Bos taurus and B. indicus cattle. Journal of Animal Science 92, 5325–5333.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cooke, RF, Bohnert, DW, Cappellozza, BI, Mueller, CJ and DelCurto, T 2012. Effects of temperament and acclimation to handling on reproductive performance of Bos taurus beef females. Journal of Animal Science 90, 3547–3555.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cooke, RF, Schubach, KM, Marques, RS, Peres, RG, Silva, LGT, Carvalho, R, Cipriano, RS, Bohnert, DW, Pires, AV and Vasconcelos, JLM 2017. Effects of temperament on physiological, productive, and reproductive responses in Bos indicus beef cows. Journal of Animal Science 95, 1–8.Google Scholar
Dobson, H and Smith, RF 2000. What is stress and how does it affect reproduction? Animal Reproduction Science 60-61, 743–752.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Febbraio, MA, Ott, P, Nielsen, HB, Steensberg, A, Keller, C, Krustrup, P, Secher, NH and Pedersen, BK 2002. Exercise induces hepatosplanchnic release of heat shock protein 72 in humans. Journal of Physiology 544, 957–962.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fraser, D, Duncan, IJ, Edwards, SA, Grandin, T, Gregory, NG, Guyonnet, V, Hemsworth, PH, Huertas, SM, Huzzey, JM, Mellor, DJ, Mench, JA, Spinka, M and Whay, HR 2013. General principles for the welfare of animals in production systems: the underlying science and its application. The Veterinary Journal 198, 19–27.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Grandin, T 2014. Livestock handling and transport: theories and applications, 4th edition. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haley, DB, Bailey, DW and Stookey, JM 2005. The effects of weaning beef calves in two stages on their behavior and growth rate. Journal of Animal Science 83, 2205–2214.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hill, EE, Zack, E, Battaglini, C, Viru, M, Viru, A and Hackney, AC 2008. Exercise and circulating cortisol levels; the intensity threshold effect. Journal of Endocrinological Investigation 31, 587–591.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hurnik, H 1991. Recommended code of practice for the care and handling of farm animals – beef cattle. Agriculture Canada Publication 1870/E, Ottawa, ON, Canada.Google Scholar
Huzzey, JM, Nydam, DV, Grant, RJ and Overton, TR 2012. The effects of overstocking Holstein dairy cattle during the dry period on cortisol secretion and energy metabolism. Journal of Dairy Science 95, 4421–4433.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Knight, CW, Bailey, DW, Faulkner, D and Schafer, DW 2015. Intake and grazing activity of mature range cows on Arizona rangelands. Proceedings, Western Section, American Society of Animal Science 66, 222–224.Google Scholar
Lacetera, N, Bernabucci, U, Scalia, D, Barisico, L, Morera, P and Nardone, A 2006. Heat stress elicits different responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Brown Swiss and Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science 89, 4606–4612.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lamb, RC, Barker, BO, Anderson, MJ and Walters, JL 1979. Effects of forced exercise on two-year-old Holstein heifers. Journal of Dairy Science 62, 1791–1797.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, J, Ye, G, Zhou, Y, Liu, Y, Zhao, L, Liu, Y, Chen, X, Huang, D, Liao, SF and Huang, K 2014. Feeding glycerol-enriched yeast culture improves performance, energy status, and heat shock protein gene expression of lactating Holstein cows under heat stress. Journal of Animal Science 92, 2494–2502.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mahmoud, AI, Thompson, FN, Peck, DD, Mizinga, KM, Leshin, LS, Rund, LA, Stuedemann, JA and Kiser, TE 1989. Difference in luteinizing hormone response to an opioid antagonist in beef heifers and cows. Biology of Reproduction 41, 431–437.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marques, RS, Cooke, RF, Rodrigues, MC, Cappellozza, BI, Larson, CK, Moriel, P and Bohnert, DW 2016. Effects of organic or inorganic Co, Cu, Mn, and Zn supplementation to late-gestating beef cows on productive and physiological responses of the offspring. Journal of Animal Science 94, 1215–1226.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Milne, KJ and Noble, EG 2002. Exercise-induced elevation of HSP70 is intensity dependent. Journal of Applied Physiology 93, 561–568.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Moya, D, He, ML, Jin, L, Wang, Y, Penner, GB, Schwartzkopf-Genswein, KS and McAllister, TA 2015. Effect of grain type and processing index on growth performance, carcass quality, feeding behavior, and stress response of feedlot steers. Journal of Animal Science 93, 3091–3100.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Moya, D, Schwatzkopf-Genswein, KS and Veira, DM 2013. Standarization of a non-invasive methodology to measure cortisol in hair of beef cattle. Livestock Science 158, 138–144.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mulliniks, JT, Hawkins, DW, Kane, KK, Cox, SH, Torrell, LA, Scholljegerdes, EJ and Petersen, MK 2013. Metabolizable protein supply while grazing dormant winter forage during heifer development alters pregnancy and subsequent in-herd retention rate. Journal of Animal Science 91, 1409–1416.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Naito, H, Powers, SK, Demirel, JA and Aoki, J 2001. Exercise training increases heat shock protein in skeletal muscles of old rats. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 33, 729–734.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Noble, EG, Milne, KJ and Melling, CWJ 2008. Heat shock proteins and exercise: a primer. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism 33, 1050–1065.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
National Research Council (NRC) 2000. Nutrient requirements of beef cattle, 7th revised edition. National Academic Press, Washington, DC, USA.Google Scholar
Olson, KC, Jaeger, JR and Brethour, JR 1992. Growth and reproductive performance of heifers overwintered in range or drylot environments. Journal of Production Agriculture 5, 72–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Patterson, DJ, Perry, RC, Kiracofe, GH, Bellows, RA, Staigmiller, RB and Corah, LR 1992. Management considerations in heifer development and puberty. Journal of Animal Science 70, 4018–4035.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Perry, GA, Larimore, EL, Perry, BL and Walker, JA 2015. Grazing behavior of drylot developed beef heifers and the influence of post-AI supplementation on AI pregnancy success. Professional Animal Scientist 31, 264–269.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Petersen, MK, Muscha, JM, Roberts, AJ and Waterman, RC 2014. Can method of weaning and subsequent development impact heifer fitness. Proceedings, Western Section, American Society of Animal Science 65, 116–119.Google Scholar
Reis, MM, Cooke, RF, Cappellozza, BI, Marques, RS, Guarnieri Filho, TA, Rodrigues, MC, Bradley, JS, Mueller, CJ, Keisler, DH, Johnson, SE and Bohnert, DW 2015. Creep-feeding to stimulate metabolic imprinting in nursing beef heifers: Impacts on heifer growth, reproductive, and physiological parameters. Animal 9, 1500–1508.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rodrigues, MC, Cooke, RF, Marques, RS, Arispe, SA, Keisler, DH and Bohnert, DW 2015. Effects of oral meloxicam administration to beef cattle receiving lipopolysaccharide administration or vaccination against respiratory pathogens. Journal of Animal Science 93, 5018–5027.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schillo, KK, Hall, JB and Hileman, SM 1992. Effects of nutrition and season on the onset of puberty in the beef heifer. Journal of Animal Science 70, 3994–4005.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thornton, PK 2010. Livestock production: recent trends, future prospects. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 365, 2853–2867.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vandesompele, J, de Preter, K, Pattyn, F, Poppe, B, Van Roy, N, de Paepe, A and Speleman, F 2002. Accurate normalization of real-time quantitative RT-PCR data by geometric averaging of multiple internal control genes. Genome Biology 3, research0034-1.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Welch, WJ 1992. Mammalian stress response: cell physiology, structure/function of stress proteins, and implications for medicine and disease. Physiological Reviews 72, 1063–1081.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed