Date of Graduation
2003
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
Committee Chair
Paul E. Lewis
Abstract
The effects of dietary treatment, supplementation or forage only, on the induction of puberty, growth response, and fertility of 196 yearling beef heifers were investigated. Heifers were assigned to one of the two dietary treatments based on age and weight. Upon completion of the feeding trial (145d, year 1; 159d, year 2) all heifers were placed on one of three estrous synchronization protocols for timed artificial insemination and placed for one estrous cycle with a clean up bull for both years. Growth variables, (ADG and final weight) were enhanced by supplementation with soybean hull pellets. The effect of dietary treatment on fertility measures were observed in year 1 but not in year 2. The effect of body composition variables (back-fat and rump fat) showed a tendency to enhance overall pregnancy rate. The overall pregnancy rate in year 2 did not differ with dietary treatment which supports the conclusion that an all forage system is an acceptable and more economical management system for developing replacement beef heifers.
Recommended Citation
Kinsey, James F., "The nutritional management on reproduction in beef replacement heifers." (2003). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD). 10766.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/10766