title: Effect of varying dietary energy levels during the last trimester of pregnancy on subsequent first lactation performance in Sahiwal heifers.
abstract: The aim of the study was to determine optimum dietary energy level during the last trimester of pregnancy for Sahiwal heifers in subtropical Pakistan. Sixteen Sahiwal heifers, 5-6 months pregnant, were assigned to four dietary treatments with four heifers on each treatment. Isonitrogenous (CP = 14.1%) diets having varying energy, namely, ME 88%, ME 100% (Control), ME 112% and ME 124% of NRC recommended level for pregnant heifers, were fed until calving. All were fed a similar diet after calving. Precalving weight gain was highest (P < 0.05) in heifers fed ME 112 and 124% (486 ± 13 and 497 ± 5 g/day, respectively) followed by ME 100% (444 ± 7 g/day), and the lowest weight gain was recorded for ME 88% (397 ± 8 g/day). A similar trend was observed for feed efficiency. Body condition score at calving in groups ME 124% and ME 112% was higher than ME 88% and ME 100%. Nutrient digestibility, birth weight of calves and milk composition except fat content were not influenced by energy levels. The highest daily milk yield was observed in heifers fed ME 100% followed by ME 112, 124, and 88%. We conclude that the NRC recommendation is applicable to the subtropical region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Livestock Production, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiaz
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasir
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Javed
authors.forename: Masroor Ellahi
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Babar
authors.forename: Talat Naseer
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Pasha
authors.forename: Makhdoom Abdul
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jabbar
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001724:Birth Weight; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004063:Digestion; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010154:Pakistan; D011247:Pregnancy; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011897:Random Allocation; D012098:Reproduction; D015430:Weight Gain
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