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2008; Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station contribution; no. 08-212-S; Report of progress (Kansas State University. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service); 995; Beef; Cattle; Dry matter intake; Gestation; Lactation; First-calf heifers
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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Forage Intake By Pregnant And Lactating First-Calf Heifers (2008), D.R. Linden, David E. Anderson, L.A. Pacheco, J.W. Bolte, N.A. Sproul, M.D. Thomas, K. C. Olson, John R. Jaeger, Kelsey L. Holcomb
Forage Intake By Pregnant And Lactating First-Calf Heifers (2008), D.R. Linden, David E. Anderson, L.A. Pacheco, J.W. Bolte, N.A. Sproul, M.D. Thomas, K. C. Olson, John R. Jaeger, Kelsey L. Holcomb
Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports
Forage dry matter intake by mature cows usually decreases during the final 4 to 8 weeks of gestation and then increases dramatically during the first 4 to 8 weeks of lactation. Rapid fetal growth during late pregnancy causes a physical impingement of the rumen. This reduction in ruminal capacity can cause prepartum reduction in forage intake. The rumen recovers its normal volume after calving. The increase in forage intake typical of the postpartum period is driven by milk production. Little research has focused on forage intake patterns by first-calf beef heifers during late gestation and early lactation. It is unknown …