Date of Graduation
2002
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
Committee Chair
Paul E. Lewis
Abstract
The effects of weight; high (HW) or low (LW), and diet; high-energy (HE) or low-energy (LE), on the fertility of 118 yearling Angus, Hereford, and Angus x Hereford beef heifers were investigated. Heifers were blocked by body weight, and randomly assigned to diets for 47 and 42 days in years, 1 and 2, respectively. Estrus was synchronized with MGA (8 d, 0.5mg/hd/d), PGF2α (25 mg i.m.), and estradiol benzoate (400 µg i.m, 48 h after PGF2α) regimen. Heifers were artificially inseminated between 78-84 h after the PGF2α injection and then exposed to a bull for the second service. Overall pregnancy rate was affected by weight (LW = 83 ± 0.06 vs HW = 65 ± 0.06 %). Follicle size, (observed in 13 heifers per group) was affected by the weight and diet interaction (LWHE = 12.3 ± 0.5 vs HWHE = 10.3 ± 0.5 mm).
Recommended Citation
Baptiste, Quinn Stephan, "The effects of diet and weight on induction of puberty and fertility response in yearling beef heifers." (2002). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 10669.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/10669