Effects Of Nutrition On Reproduction Flashcards
Does Mother Nature have a preferred time to get pregnant?
Yeah - want to have babies when the pastures good (Spring)
What are two key management decisions that impact your nutrition program?
When is the bull going in and out?
When am I weaning the calves?
When do follicular waves occur?
All the time whether a pre-pubertal heifer or a post-partum cow
What tells us whether a cow has reached puberty or has gone post-partum anestrus?
Presence of a CL
T/F: the first post-pubertal heat or postpartum anestrus is very fertile
False
What are the 3 extremely basic steps to pregnancy?
- gotta be cycling
- gotta ovulate
- gotta maintain the embryo/fetus
What factors affect cyclicity?
Day length
Presence of a male
HPG axis
Suckling response - makes them less likely to get pregnant
Adiposity
Define puberty
Complete a cycle and have the capacity to maintain pregnancy
Low concentrations of ______ are associated with delayed puberty
IGF
What are the two broad categories of nutritional infertility?
Malnutrition - very evident
Metabolic infertility - not grossly malnourished, but something in bloodstream is off
What may be the potential benefit of increasing energy prior to breeding in cows
Multiple ovulations
Has been shown in ewes - flushing 1-2 weeks prior to breeding
T/F: odds of pregnancy or conception decrease if fed too much protein
True
T/F: Levels of fat in the diet have no effect on fertility
False - Fat has been shown to increase pregnancy rates in dairy cows (not studied as much in beef)
What are the effects of a low plane of nutrition (below maintenance) on post-weaning bulls?
Reduced testicular growth, ejaculate volume, sperm production and seminal vesicle development
Is there such thing as over-feeding bulls?
Yes! Risk of laminitis and deposition of fat in scrotum (decrease fertility b/c too warm)
