Abstract
Bali cattle (Bos javanicus), the main cattle species in eastern Indonesia, have high rates of calf mortality (up to 48%, Talib et al., 2003) and low average daily gain (ADG) (< 0.2 kg, Dahlanuddin et al., 2012). The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of body condition score (BCS) of heifers throughout pregnancy and lactation on milk production and ADG of calves up to 6 mo of age. Non-pregnant Bali heifers [n = 24, 3.2 ± 0.1 BCS (1 to 5 scale), mean ± s.e.m.] were ranked on body weight (BW; 217 ± 6 kg) and allocated to treatments that would result in high (4.0) and low (2.5) BCS at parturition and throughout lactation. Heifers were maintained in individual pens and fed a mixture of tree legumes (Leucaena leucocephala and Sesbania grandiflora) ad libitum and 10 g maize grain DM/kg LW.day (HighBCS, 164 g CP and 8.9 MJ ME/kg DM) or King grass (Pennisetum purpureum; LowBCS, 75 g CP and 7.8 MJ ME/kg DM) ad libitum throughout pregnancy and lactation. Heifers observed to be in oestrus were mated with a single bull. Heifer BW was measured every week, BCS was measured every month, milk production was estimated by the weigh-suckle-weigh technique, calf BW was measured at birth and every week until weaning at approximately 6 mo of age. At parturition HighBCS heifers were heavier (292 ± 15 vs. 226 ± 10 kg) and in a higher BCS (4.2 ± 0.1 vs. 2.8 ± 0.1) than LowBCS heifers (P < 0.01). At weaning HighBCS heifers were heavier (276 ± 3 vs. 181 ± 12 kg) and in a higher BCS (4.2 ± 0.1 vs. 2.3 ± 0.1) than LowBCS heifers (P < 0.001). Calf birth weight (13.5 ± 0.2 kg) was unaffected by maternal BCS (P > 0.1). HighBCS heifers produced more milk than LowBCS heifers at each measurement during lactation and overall (2.1 ± 0.1 vs. 1.0 ± 0.1 kg/day, P < 0.001). ADG of calves between birth and 6 mo for age was higher for calves born to HighBCS heifers than those born to LowBCS heifers (0.37 ± 0.02 vs. 0.16 ± 0.02 kg, P < 0.001). In conclusion, milk production of Bali cows and pre-weaning ADG of Bali calves are influenced by BCS during lactation. Strategies to increase BCS during lactation will increase calf growth and potentially reduce calf mortality.
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Access to Document
10.2527/jam2016-0830SDGs
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