Feeding for Reproduction

March, 2011
Randy Gornto, Livestock Agent Highlands County Cooperative Extension Office

Biological Priority for Nutrients
The first priority for any animal is to maintain its life. The second priority, if it is still trying to grow, is the allocation of nutrients for growth. The third priority for animals that are lactating is the allocation of nutrients to milk production, and lastly, if there are sufficient nutrients in excess of those required for the first three functions, the animal will reproduce.

While this priority ranking is to some extent an over simplification, it does recognize the fact that animals typically fail to reproduce when nutrition is inadequate to support other body functions.

The Beef Cow Production Cycle--- Four production periods
Period 1- Calving to rebreeding – 82- Days- Postpartum period

  1. Maintenance ( body condition plays in here)
  2. Lactation ( Substantial requirement with peak lactation at about 60 days postpartum)
  3. Growth ( If cow is still growing like a 2 or 3 yr. old)
  4. Reproduction ( Nutrient availability should be adequate to allow cow to rebreed by 82 days)
Period 2- Rebreeding to weaning of the calf- 123 days (assuming Weaning at 205 days)
  1. Maintenance (Body Condition?)
  2. Lactation (are still significant and the quality of forage needs to be looked at)
  3. Growth ( Again young cows have a significant requirement for growth)
  4. Pregnancy (Nutrient requirements are relatively small during early pregnancy)
Period 3- Weaning to 60 Days Prior to calving – 100 days
  1. Maintenance ( Body Condition)
  2. Growth ( Young Cows still need nutrients for growth)
  3. Pregnancy ( Nutrient requirements for pregnancy become significant, especially late in the period)
Period 4 – 60 days prior to calving – the Prepartum Period
  1. Maintenance ( Body Condition)
  2. Growth ( Young cows still need help)
  3. Pregnancy ( Nutrient requirements for pregnancy are at their highest)
  4. Reproduction ( research trials have shown that nutrition during this period has a significant impact on reproductive performance, especially the interval between calving and the start of cycling)
The Reproductive Cycle of Beef Cattle
Many biological processes are required for reproduction and nutrition impacts essentially all of them.

Ovulation and Estrus
In the typical cow reproductive cycle, a cow will exhibit heat and release an egg every 21 days until she conceives. However, following calving, a cow typically won’t cycle for at least 40 days. The period between calving and the resumption of cycling activity is called the Postpartum Period. With adequate nutrition, the postpartum period is 40-60 days in length. If nutrition is inadequate, the postpartum period may be well over 100 days long. The importance of a short postpartum period is clear when you consider that a cow must rebreed by 82 days postpartum to calve on the same day next year.

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