title: Effect of dietary intake on pattern of growth of dominant follicles during the oestrous cycle in beef heifers.
abstract: Friesian x Hereford heifers (n = 19; mean +/- s.e.m. body weight (BW) = 375 +/- 5 kg) were used in a randomized incomplete block design. Heifers were fed 0.7 (n = 7; L), 1.1 (n = 7; M) or 1.8% (n = 5; G) of BW in dry matter (DM)/day for 10 weeks. Ovaries were examined by ultrasound, for one oestrous cycle, from week 5 of treatment. Maximum diameter of dominant follicles was smaller (P less than 0.05) in L (11.8 +/- 0.1 mm) than in M (13.7 +/- 0.2 mm) or G (13.2 +/- 0.3 mm) heifers. Growth rate (mm/day) of dominant follicles during the oestrous cycle was not affected (P greater than 0.05) by dietary intake. Persistence of dominant follicles was shorter (P less than 0.05) in L (9.8 +/- 0.2 days) than in M (11.9 +/- 0.3 days) or G (12.7 +/- 0.4 days) heifers. Three dominant follicles were identified during the oestrous cycle of 5 of 7 L, 3 of 7 M and 1 of 5 G heifers (P less than 0.10); 2 dominant follicles were identified in the remaining heifers (n = 2 of 7, 4 of 7 and 4 of 5, respectively). Length of the luteal phase and luteal-phase concentrations of progesterone were not affected (P greater than 0.05) by treatment. Low dietary intake reduced the diameter and persistence of dominant follicles during the oestrous cycle of beef heifers and tended to increase the proportion of oestrous cycles with 3 dominant follicles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Husbandry and Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Enright
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Crowe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McConnell
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Spicer
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Boland
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Roche
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D004971:Estrus / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000502:physiology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone