title: Influence of 48 hour calf separation on milk production and calf growth in range cows.
abstract: Hereford cows and their calves were either left together or separated for a 48-hr period between 50 and 80 days postpartum. Milk production and calf weights were determined 1 and 2 weeks prior to and 1 and 3 weeks after calf separation. Daily milk production of separated cows (5.6+/-.1 kg) was not different from that of control cows (5.3+/-.1 kg) at any sampling period. Similarly, calf growth was not affected (P > .10) by separation; both groups of calves gained .64 kg/day. Average 205-day adjusted weaning weights were also similar, for the control (173.5+/-4.6 kg) and separated calves (181.8+/-4.6 kg). These results indicate that 48-hr calf separation could be used in a treatment regime to decrease the postpartum anestrous interval in range cattle without detrimental effects on milk production, calf growth or 205-day adjusted weaning weight.
authors.affiliation: Oklahoma State University, Animal Science Department, Stillwater 74074 USA.
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Wettemann
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Turman
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Totusek