Source: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA submitted to NRP
IMPROVING GROWTH DEVELOPMENT AND ATTAINMENT OF PUBERTY OF REPLACEMENT BEEF CATTLE HEIFERS WITH PERENNIAL PEANUT FORAGE
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
SPECIAL GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0219830
Grant No.
2009-34135-20236
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
2009-04431
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2009
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2011
Grant Year
2009
Program Code
[AH]- Tropical & Subtropical Research/T STAR
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
G022 MCCARTY HALL
GAINESVILLE,FL 32611
Performing Department
North Florida Research and Education Center, Quincy
Non Technical Summary
Beef cow productivity in Florida is lower than the rest of the USA. A major factor is the relatively high age of beef heifers at the time they have their first calf. To optimize productivity and economical returns, heifers should be bred to calve at two years of age. Age at puberty is an important factor if heifers are to be bred to calve at two years. Age at puberty is influenced by body weight and age which are primarily influenced by level of nutrition and cattle breed. The main pasture forages in Florida are too low in vital nutrients for adequate heifer growth development without supplemental feeding. In addition, due to hot and humid conditions, most cattle in Florida have some Brahman breeding. Brahman cattle typically reach maturity at a later age than other common breeds. Thus supplemental feeding would be of even greater importance for cattle with Brahman breeding. Supplemental feeding typically involves the use of high energy (i.e., corn, cereal by-products) and high protein feeds (i.e., various oil seed meals) which are imported into Florida and the Caribbean region at considerable cost. In contrast, locally grown legume forages may be able to provide the needed extra nutrition at a lower cost. Legumes are characterized by high concentration of protein and carbohydrates, and are highly digestible. Unfortunately, legumes that do well under the tropical/subtropical conditions encountered in Florida and throughout the Caribbean Basin are scarce. Several possible warm season legumes were recently evaluated as supplements to bahiagrass hay in trials with lambs at the University of Florida. Perennial peanut (Arachsis glabrata; PP) performed the best. Thus PP hay could be a good supplement feed for growing beef heifers. Two trials, done over consecutive years, are proposed to evaluate PP hay as a supplement feed to growing beef heifers fed free choice bermudagrass hay. The heifers will be place on experiment shortly after weaning (7 to 8 mo of age) and taken off the feeding phase at breeding (5 to 6 mo later). The PP treatment will be compared to a treatment with concentrate (corn and cottonseed meal mix; positive control) supplementation and a treatment with no supplementation (negative control). Blood samples will be taken weekly from all heifers to measure progesterone in order to determine attainment of puberty. We hypostasize that the supplementation of perennial peanut hay will result in similar or even better growth and attainment of puberty versus supplementation with a concentrate feed. It is anticipated that the reproductive productivity of young beef cattle females during the critical first three years of age can be improved by the use of locally produced perennial peanut forage as a supplementary feed. A typical beef cow in Florida will produce nine calves over her lifetime. Breeding heifers to calve as two year olds could increase that figure to 10 calves, an extra $500 gross income per cow.
Animal Health Component
90%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
90%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
3011649101030%
3013310101030%
3021649101030%
3023310101010%
Knowledge Area
302 - Nutrient Utilization in Animals; 301 - Reproductive Performance of Animals;

Subject Of Investigation
3310 - Beef cattle, live animal; 1649 - Forage legumes, general/other;

Field Of Science
1010 - Nutrition and metabolism;
Goals / Objectives
Beef cow productivity in Florida is lower than the rest of the USA. A major factor is the relatively high age of beef heifers at the time they have their first calf. To optimize productivity and economical returns, heifers should be bred to calve at two years of age. Age at puberty is an important factor if heifers are to be bred to calve at two years. Age at puberty is influenced by body weight and age which are primarily influenced by level of nutrition and cattle breed. The main pasture forages in Florida are the C4 tropical grasses which are too low in energy and protein for adequate heifer growth development without supplemental feeding. In addition, most cattle in Florida have some Brahman breeding. Brahman cattle typically reach maturity at a later age than other common breeds. Thus supplemental feeding would be of even greater importance for cattle with Brahman breeding. Supplemental feeding typically involves the use of high energy (i.e., corn, cereal by-products) and high protein feeds (i.e., various oil seed meals) which are imported into Florida and the Caribbean region at considerable cost. In contrast, locally grown legume forages may be able to provide the needed extra nutrition at a lower cost. Legumes are characterized by high concentration of protein and non-structural carbohydrates, and are highly digestible. Unfortunately, legumes that do well under the tropical/subtropical conditions encountered in Florida and throughout the Caribbean Basin are scarce. Several possible warm season legumes were recently evaluated as supplements to bahiagrass hay in trials with lambs at the University of Florida. Perennial peanut (Arachsis glabrata) supplementation resulted in the greatest increases in DM intake, digestibility and N balance suggesting that it would a good supplement feed for growing beef heifers. We hypostasize that the supplementation of perennial peanut hay will result in similar or even better growth and attainment of puberty versus supplementation with a concentrate feed. Thus the objective is to determine the influence of supplemental feeding of conserved perennial peanut forage on growth performance and age at puberty of growing beef cattle heifers. This study contributes to the enhancement of livestock productivity in Florida and the Caribbean Basin by the utilization of nutritious locally adapted legumes rather than relying on supplements which are often imported and expensive. Another potential benefit would be reduced need for expensive nitrogen fertilizer. A typical beef cow in Florida will produce nine calves over her lifetime. Breeding heifers to calve as two year olds could increase that figure to 10 calves, an extra $500 gross income per cow.
Project Methods
The study will consist of two trials, one per year, done over two consecutive years. Each trial will start with 7 to 8 mo weaned beef cattle heifers and will end just before breeding of the heifers (12 to 15 mo). The study will be conducted at the University of Florida's North Florida Research and Education Center located near Marianna in NW Florida (31 N). In each year, 60, 180 to 270 kg heifers will be fed bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) hay free choice supplemented with nothing (negative control), concentrate feed (positive control) or perennial peanut (Arachis globrata: PP) hay from October to March. Heifers will be predominantly Brangus, Angus and Brangus x Angus crossbreds. The heifers will be divided into twelve groups of five heifers based on genetic background, weight and body condition. Supplementation treatment will assigned a random to give four replicates per treatment. Supplemental concentrate (corn and cottonseed meal) or PP hay will be limit fed at iso-calorie levels to meet energy (TDN) and crude protein (CP) requirements of a 230 kg beef heifer growing at 0.5 to 0.7 kg per day. The amounts to be fed and formulation of the supplements will be depended upon initial composition analysis of the hays and concentrate feed. Adjustments will be made, if necessary during the trials depending upon further composition analysis. The dietary guidelines (NRC 2000; DM basis) will be 62% TDN (1.4 Mcal NEm and 0.86 Mcal NEg/kg of DM) and a minimum of 11% crude protein at an average consumption of 6.0 to 6.5 kg of dry matter per day. Target body weight at breeding will be 65% of mature weight. All heifers will have free access to water and a complete cattle mineral mixture while on experiment. The heifers will be maintained in 1.3 ha dormant bahiagrass pastures; each equipped with shade and a waterer. The bahiagrass pastures will be closely grazed before placement of the heifers. Each year, the heifers will be weighed and body condition scored (1 to 9 scale) at the start and every 28 days for the duration of the trial. The heifers will be weighed after an over night fast of no feed and water. Blood samples (jugular) will be taken at the start and every 7 days thereafter from each heifer to measure progesterone concentration until puberty is confirmed. Breeding of the heifers will start mid-March. The same breeding protocol will be applied to all heifers. Even though the feeding phase will end at the start of breeding, blood sampling for progesterone will continue for those heifers that have not attained puberty until early June. All heifers will be checked for pregnancy during July. The design of each year's trial is a complete randomized design with four replicates. The main parameters to be measured include days of age at puberty, body weight at puberty, body condition score at puberty, and subsequent conception rate.

Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: This project served as a graduate students master's theirs research. Project was a topic of and results given at a field day, and results were used in several beef cattle producers and county agent workshops. Results were also included in an extension publication and presented at a professional meeting. A journal series publication will be finished shortly. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
The objective of the study was to determine the influence of supplemental feeding of perennial peanut hay (Arachis glabrata Benth; 12 to 15% crude protein, 60 to 62% TDN) on growth performance and age at puberty in growing beef cattle heifers. Over a two year period, 120 heifers were randomly allocated into pens and assigned to one of three supplement treatments: 80% corn and 20% soybean meal supplement (CSBM; 1.2 kg per head per day), perennial peanut hay supplementation (PPH; 2.5 kg per head per day), and a control which received no supplement (CON). All heifers received ad libitum access to bermudagrass hay (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) during the 140 day developmental phase. Following the developmental phase, heifers were comingled for a 77 day breeding season during the breeding phase. Period influenced average daily gain (ADG; P = 0.002) and treatment effected ADG, with the CON tending (P = 0.06) to be have lesser ADG than the CSBM and PPH heifers. There was a treatment by day interaction (P = 0.06) on mean body weight (BW) with heifers in the CON treatment being lighter at the conclusion of the development phase (P = 0.02). Total dry matter intake during the 140-d development phase was greater (P < 0.01) for PPH (5.3 kg per head per day) than for CON (3.4), and CSBM heifers (4.3), with CSBM being greater than CON. There was no effect of treatment on age (P = 0.32), BW (P = 0.16), and body condition score (BCS; P = 0.27) at attainment of puberty, nor days on treatment prior to attainment of puberty. In addition, no difference in fetal age (P = 0.34) was observed: however, overall pregnancy rate differed by treatment (P = 0.05) with PPH having greater pregnancy rate (88%) than control (64%), whereas CSBM (78%) was intermediate (78%). In conclusion, PPH is a viable alternative feed for the development of beef cattle heifers in the lower Southeastern USA.

Publications

  • Myer, Bob, Lori Warren, Juliet Eckert, Dennis Hancock, Ann Blount, and Clay Olson. 2010. Perennial peanut: forage nutritional composition and feeding value. UF-IFAS, EDIS, FL Coop. Ext. Pub. No. AN234. 6 p.
  • Bischoff, K. M. 2011.Effects of feeding perennial peanut hay on growth, development, attainment of puberty, and fertility in beef replacement heifers. Masters Thesis, Dept. of Animal Sciences, IFAS, University of Florida, Gainesville.
  • Lamb, G.C., K. M. Bischoff, T. E. Black, V. R. G. Mercadante, G. H. L. Marquezini, R. F. Cooke, and N. DiLorenzo. 2011. Management implications associated with the onset of puberty and persistence of estrous cycles in beef heifers. J. Anim. Sci. 89(E-Suppl. 1): 494 (Abstr.).
  • Bischoff, K.M, T.E. Black, V.R.G. Mercadante, C.H.L. Marquezini, R.O. Myer, A.T. Adesogan, N. DiLorenzo, and G.C. Lamb. 2012. Effects of feeding perennial peanut hay on growth development, attainment of puberty, and fertility in beef replacement heifers. J. Anim. Sci 90:(E-Suppl. 1)(abstract).
  • Bischoff, K.M, G.C. Lamb, R.O. Myer, A.T. Adesogan, and N. DiLorenzo. 2013. Effects of feeding perennial peanut hay on growth development, attainment of puberty, and fertility in beef replacement heifers. J. Anim. Sci (in preparation).


Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Limited at this time - we will follow the heifers, now part of the NFREC cow herd, for another year to evaluate any long term effects. This project was the Masters Research project of Kalyn Bischoff - who completed her requirements for a Master of Science degree at UF, summer 2011. An extension fact sheet was published summarizing the nutritional value of perennial peanut forage. At least one scientific peer reviewed journal article is planned. Preliminary results have been presented at a field day and several tours of the NFREC Marianna Beef Unit. Results have been and will be used in various national, regional and state presentations, field days, workshops and county agent training sessions. The results would also be helpful to perennial peanut hay producers. PARTICIPANTS: The project was part of the Master of Science program for K. M. Bischoff. TARGET AUDIENCES: Beef cattle researchers and extension specialists, forage extension specialists, students, county extension agents, beef cattle farmers, and perennial peanut hay producers PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
The objective of the study was to determine the influence of supplemental feeding of perennial peanut hay (Arachis glabrata Benth; 12 to 15% crude protein, 60 to 62% TDN) on growth performance and age at puberty in growing beef cattle heifers. Over a two year period, 120 heifers were randomly allocated into pens and assigned to one of three supplement treatments: 80% corn and 20% soybean meal supplement (CSBM; 1.2 kg per head per day), perennial peanut hay supplementation (PPH; 2.5 kg per head per day), and a control which received no supplement (CON). All heifers received ad libitum access to bermudagrass hay (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) during the 140 day developmental phase. Following the developmental phase, heifers were comingled for a 77 day breeding season during the breeding phase. Period influenced average daily gain (ADG; P = 0.002) and treatment effected ADG, with the CON tending (P = 0.06) to be have lesser ADG than the CSBM and PPH heifers. There was a treatment by day interaction (P = 0.06) on mean body weight (BW) with heifers in the CON treatment being lighter at the conclusion of the development phase (P = 0.02). Total dry matter intake during the 140-d development phase was greater (P < 0.01) for PPH (5.3 kg per head per day) than for CON (3.4), and CSBM heifers (4.3), with CSBM being greater than CON. There was no effect of treatment on age (P = 0.32), BW (P = 0.16), and body condition score (BCS; P = 0.27) at attainment of puberty, nor days on treatment prior to attainment of puberty. In addition, no differences in fetal age (P = 0.34) and overall pregnancy rate (P = 0.50) were observed. In conclusion, there were no differences among treatments in reproductive performance despite the occurrence of differences in DMI, BW, and ADG, making PPH a viable feed option in the southeastern United States of America for replacement heifer development. We will be following the heifers until after weaning of their fist calf to evaluate any long term influence of prior supplement treatment has on calving percentage, calf birth weight and calf weaning weight.

Publications

  • Bischoff, K. M. 2011.Effects of feeding perennial peanut hay on growth, development, attainment of puberty, and fertility in beef replacement heifers. Masters Thesis, Dept. of Animal Sciences, IFAS, University of Florida, Gainesville.
  • Lamb, G.C., K. M. Bischoff, T. E. Black, V. R. G. Mercadante, G. H. L. Marquezini, R. F. Cooke, and N. DiLorenzo. 2011. Management implications associated with the onset of puberty and persistence of estrous cycles in beef heifers. J. Anim. Sci. 89(E-Suppl. 1): 494 (Abstr.).


Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: None at this time - project is on-going. An extension fact sheet was published summarizing the nutritional value of perennial peanut forage. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
The first year was completed this past summer and the second year stated October 2010. Results are preliminary but indicate that perennial peanut hay would be a suitable feed supplement to grass hay for developing beef cattle heifers.

Publications

  • Myer, Bob, Lori Warren, Juliet Eckert, Dennis Hancock, Ann Blount, and Clay Olson. 2010. Perennial peanut: forage nutritional composition and feeding value. UF-IFAS EDIS pub. no. AN234, Cooperative Extension, University of Florida, Gainesville. 6 p.