title: Nutritional development and the target weight debate.
abstract: Postnatal nutrition has immediate and long-lasting effects on beef heifer reproductive efficiency, longevity, and productivity. This article reviews the effects of nutrients and nutritional management on reproduction in developing heifers. In addition, the current debate on the preferred target weight for heifers at breeding is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 2330, Moscow, ID 83844-2330, USA; Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station, Nancy M. Cummings Research, Extension, and Education Center, University of Idaho, 16 Hot Springs Ranch Road, Carmen, ID 83462, USA. Electronic address: jbhall@uidaho.edu.
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D001947:Breeding / Q000379:methods; D002417:Cattle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D019649:Food Industry; D008460:Meat; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D046468:Sexual Development
keywords: Beef heifer; Development; Management; Nutrition; Puberty; Target weight