Nutritional development and the target weight debate

John B Hall

doi:10.1016/j.cvfa.2013.07.015

Nutritional development and the target weight debate

Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 2013 Nov;29(3):537-54. doi: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2013.07.015. Epub 2013 Sep 7.

Author

John B Hall¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330, Moscow, ID 83844-2330, USA; Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station, Nancy M. Cummings Research, Extension, and Education Center, University of Idaho, 16 Hot Springs Ranch Road, Carmen, ID 83462, USA. Electronic address: jbhall@uidaho.edu.

PMID: 24182433
DOI: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2013.07.015

Abstract

Postnatal nutrition has immediate and long-lasting effects on beef heifer reproductive efficiency, longevity, and productivity. This article reviews the effects of nutrients and nutritional management on reproduction in developing heifers. In addition, the current debate on the preferred target weight for heifers at breeding is discussed.

Keywords: Beef heifer; Development; Management; Nutrition; Puberty; Target weight.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animal Husbandry / methods*
Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*
Animals
Body Weight
Breeding / methods
Cattle / anatomy & histology
Cattle / growth & development
Cattle / physiology*
Female
Food Industry
Meat
Nutritional Status
Reproduction / physiology
Sexual Development