Given the recent increases in feed cost, the demand for rice straw has been increasing on dairy farms because it is cheaper than expensive imported forages. Therefore, it is necessary to study the effect of rice straw feeding on the growth and productivity of dairy heifers. This study compared how feeding tall fescue and rice straw affects the growth, age at first calving, and feed cost of heifers. we compared the growth, age at first calving, and feed cost for each group during the breeding period. Body height was higher in the tall fescue-fed group than in the rice straw-fed group (p<0.05). The length of the growing stage was significantly shorter in the tall fescue group than in the rice straw group (p<0.001) and the age at calving also showed a significant reduction in the tall fescue group compared to the rice straw group (p<0.001). However, the feed cost was lower in the rice straw group because of the difference in the unit price of forage (p<0.001). Based on these results, during the growing period, the rice straw group had delays in growth and the age at first calving compared to the tall fescue group, but also had reduced feed costs in the short term.

본 연구는 Holstein 암소 34두로부터 조사된 체고 측정 기록에 대해 세 가지 비선형 성장곡선을 적용하여 성장모형을 추정하고, 추정된 성장모형의 모수를 이용하여 Holstein 암소의 성장특성에 대한 기초자료를 제공하고자 실시하였다. Gompertz, von Bertalanffy 및 Logistic 모형으로 추정된 성장곡선 함수식은 각각 Ht=457.2e-1.705e-0.02552t, Ht=465.4(1-0.417e-0.0.01724t)3 및 Ht=1079.1(1+12.682e-0.04275t)-1이였다. 최대성장시기를 나타내는 변곡점( )은 Gompertz, von Bertalanffy 및 Logistic에 대해 각각 616.039, 419.253 및 1759.728일로 추정되었다. 변곡점에서의 체고 증가속도 추정치는 Gompertz, von Bertalanffy 및 Logistic에 대해 각각 0.138, 0.109 및 0.366cm으로 나타났으며, 변곡점에서의 체고는 각각 176.5, 137.9 및 539.5cm으로 추정되었다. 오차 평균 제곱합의 결과를 보면 Logistic, von Bertalanffy 그리고 Gompertz 모형 순으로 적합도가 좋은 것으로 판단된다.

임신 전 젖소의 육성기 후반에 있어서 적정한 에너지와 단백질 급여 관리는 개체의 성장과 분만 후 유생산에 영향을 미친다. 본 연구는 육성기 후반의 적정 TDN:CP 비율을 결정하기 위하여 생후 15개월 령에 5.0:1(T1), 4.5:1(T2) 및 4.0:1(T3)의 비율로 급여하여 체중, 사료섭취량 및 혈액조성에 대하여 조 사하였다. 건물섭취량은 평균 8.07kg/day로 TDN: CP 비율에 관계없이 유사하였다. 단백질 섭취량은 TDN:CP 비율이 낮아짐에 따라 각각 1.45, 1.29 및 1.17kg/day로 감소하였으나 유의적 차이를 보이지 않았다. 증체량은 4.0:1 비율구가 유의적으로 가장 많이 증가하였으며, 평균 일당증체량도 0.74kg/day 로 가장 높게 나타났다(p<0.05). 60일 이후 모든 처리구의 일당증체량이 권장 수준을 충족하였으나, 4.0:1 비율구(1.28kg/day)에서 과잉 체지방 축적이 될 수 있는 수준이기 때문에 임신 및 번식과 관련하 여 주의해야 한다. 육성우 15~18개월령에서 상기의 모든 TDN:CP 비율은 혈액 조성에 큰 영향을 미치 지 않았다. 체중과 출산 및 비유 등을 고려했을 경우 4.5:1에서 5.0:1의 비율이 적합하고, 출산 시기가 가까울수록 에너지 단백질 비율을 5.0:1까지 높여주는 것이 바람직할 것으로 판단되었다.

This study was designed to investigate the carryover effects of high-forage to concentrate (F: C) diet in bred heifers on feed intake, feed efficiency (FE) and milk production of primiparous lactating Holstein cows. The experiment was conducted for 589 days (d) from onset of pregnancy through to the end of first lactation. Twenty-four bred heifers (Body weight: BW= 345.8 ± 45.4 kg and 15 ± 1.2 mon of age) randomly assigned to two groups of 3 pens containing 4 heifers each and fed high forage (HF) diet with F: C ratio of 91.7: 8.3% and low forage (LF) diet with F: C ratio of 77.8: 22.2% throughout the pregnancy period. After calving, lactating cows were fed total mixed ration (TMR) based diet. No differences (p > 0.05) were observed in dry matter intake (DMI) of bred heifers and primiparous lactating cows in both HF and LF groups. The FE of mid-to-late lactation period was higher (p< 0.05) in HF than LF group. However, the HF group showed higher (p < 0.05) milk yield, 4 % fat corrected milk (FCM) and energy corrected milk (ECM) than LF group during the 305 d lactation. The LF group showed higher (p < 0.05) milk fat, crude protein (CP), milk urea nitrogen (MUN), solid not fat (SNF) and somatic cell count (SCC) than HF group. It is concluded that restriction of F: C ratio to 91.7: 8.3% to bred heifers has the potential carryover effects to maintain higher milk yield and FE with no adverse effect on feed intake and milk composition of primiparous lactating Holstein cows.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of two different feeding systems on blood metabolites in Holstein heifers and analyze the economic impacts of the feeding systems. The following two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of feeding system on blood metabolite changes in Holstein heifers and analyze the economic impacts of the two systems. In experiment 1, the effects of two different feeding systems on cortisol, progesterone, and estradiol in Holstein heifers were examined. In experiment 2, the effects of two different feeding systems on the body weights of Holstein heifers and profitability of the two feeding systems were studied. Results showed that the pasture-raised heifers showed significantly decrease in the levels of blood cortisol (p<0.05) and increases in the levels of progesterone and estradiol (p>0.05) when compared with heifers raised in indoor feeding system. The average daily gain was significantly higher (p<0.05) in indoor-raised heifers (0.73 kg/day) as compared to pasture-raised heifers (0.58 kg/day). Also, 25.2% more profits were obtained from the pasture feeding system as compared to the indoor feeding system. These results together would be useful in the investigation of feeding system and growth performance in dairy cattle.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of vitamin or mineral supplements on the conception rates of dairy heifers when replacing the last injection of GnRH with hCG in ovsynch protocol (experiment 1) and also to investigate whether the estrus synchronization treatment in the heifer stage affects the conception rates after 1st parturition (experiment 2). In experiment 1, 50 heifers were randomly assigned into 3 groups: 20 heifers each in groups 1 and 2, and 10 in group 3. All three groups were treated with an intramuscular injection of GnRH on day 0 (day 0 = the day of program start), PGF2α on day 7 and hCG on day 9, and were inseminated on day 10, 12~16h after hCG injection. In group 1 (vitamin group), the heifers were treated with an intramuscular injection of 5 ml of vitamin-ADE 500Ⓡ, and group 2 (mineral group) was treated twice with an intramuscular injection of 30 ml of mineral supplement-LAPTOVETⓇ on a one-week interval beginning on the day of hormone treatment (day 0 and day 7 respectively). Group 3 (control) was treated only with hormones. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed by ultrasonography through a rectal probe. First service conception rates (FSCR) and average services per conception (ASPC) were recorded for all subjects. Of the total 50 heifers, 6 (2 in group 1, 3 in group 2, and 1 in group 3) heifers were eliminated due to accidents during experiment 1. FSCRs were 58.8% (10/17), 66.7% (12/18) and 44.4% (4/9) in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. ASPCs were 1.53±0.72, 1.27±0.59 and 1.63±0.74 in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Although there were no significant difference between the groups, relatively good results (higher FSCR and lower ASPC) were obtained in both group 1 and 2. In experiment 2, 11 primiparous cows from group 2 of experiment 1 in heifer stage which had been treated both with the hormones for estrus synchronizing and mineral supplements (ES group), and 12 primiparous cows treated only with minerals (non-ES group) were compared to examine the effects of estrus synchronization program on conception rates after 1st parturition. Following the examination, postpartum ASPCs were 1.55±0.82 and 2.17±1.47 in ES group and non-ES group, respectively. The postpartum average days open (ADO) were 116±56 and 197±93 in ES group and non-ES group, respectively. Although there were no significant difference between the two groups, desirable results (lower ASPC and shorter ADO) were found in ES group after 1st parturiton. In conclusion, experiment 1 indicates that vitamin or mineral supplement with ovsynch protocol may have some positive effect on FSCR and ASPC of dairy heifers, and in experiment 2, ES program in heifer stage had a positive effect on ASPC and ADO following 1st parturition.

Growth rate during rearing, which varies depending on provided nutrition, has been related with age at 1st calving (AFC). This study investigated the effect of upgrowth parameters during the rearing period on the reproduction of nulliparous Holstein heifers. The study comprised 77 successively born heifers from the same herd. Growth rate and fertility traits were measured during rearing and fertility parameters were recorded in lactations 1. Growth parameters (body weight, height, heart girth and body length) were measured at the approximate birth time, 270 and 450 d of age. Reproduction data collected included age at 1st breeding, number of services per conception (S/C), pregnancy rate to 1st artificial insemination, AFC. Animals were subsequently divided into 4 AFC groups for analysis: <23 mo, 23∼ 25 mo, 26∼30 mo and >30 mo. The AFC reflected both upgrowth rate and heifer reproduction, with later calving heifers smaller. Increased skeletal growth (at 270 and 450 d) was related with a reduced AFC (p<0.05). Early calving animals (<23 mo) had the best reproduction as nulliparous heifers, with most conceiving at first service (87.5%). Fertility in the first lactation was the worst in the oldest AFC group (>30 mo). In the 1st lactation period, a number of services per conception (3.1±0.3) increased with increasing AFC (>30 mo). Sub-optimal upgrowth related with an increased AFC could be mitigated by improved monitoring of replacement heifers during the rearing period.

Raising replacement heifers is important aspect of dairy farm management that can be characterized as a long-term performance and high-cost production period. This study was investigated the effect of month of age at the first pregnancy on calving difficulty of Holstein heifers. Heifers was inseminated with semen of easy-calving sire and the reproductive performance was compared for the effect of first pregnancy at 12-14 months of age (12 month old), 15-16 months of age (15 month old), 17-19 months of age (17 month old) and > 20 months of age (20 month old) in Holstein heifers. Holstein heifers showed different easy calving score (ECS) depending on their ages; frequency of ECS 1 was 55.2%, 64.9%, 59.4% and 52.0% at 12, 15, 17 and 20 month of age, respectively. Frequency of ECS 4 was 5.2%, 1.8%, 6.3% and 4.8% at 12, 15, 17 and 20 month of age, respectively. The rates of retained placenta postparturition in first pregnancy age category was 12.3% at 12 months of age, 5.3% at 15 months of age, 9.4% at 17 months of age and 19.0% at 20 months of age. When It was evaluated by present results, the reproductive performance like easy calving score (ECS), retained placenta rates, and abortion and stillbirth rates of heifers which was inseminated at 14 months old or less and at 17 months old or more was reduced. Therefore, the first pregnancy age for optimum reproductive performance was 15-16 months.

Presently, the first pregnancy age of dairy heifers attended National Dairy Herd Improvement Program (NDHI) in Korea has increased, and more research have been requested to evaluate the possibility of decreasing the first pregnancy age of dairy heifers. Accordingly, this study was investigated the effects of the month of age at the first service and pregnancy on the reproductive efficiency of Holstein heifers. For these, the reproductive performance of heifers was analyzed by evaluating the effects of first insemination service at 12-14 months of age (12 month old), 15-16 months of age (15 month old), 17-19 months of age (17 month old), and > 20 months of age (20 month old) in Holstein heifers. The service numbers per conception in the first insemination months were 1.85±1.22, 1.59±0.77, 1.58±0.72, and 1.76±0.97 times at 12, 15, 17 and 20 months of age, respectively. The conception rates in the first service were 51.2, 57.8, 54.8, and 52.9% at 12, 15, 17 and 20 months of age, respectively. The conception ages were 453.2±78.9, 512.1±75.9, 590.1±98.0, and 713.0±74.5 days in the heifers serviced firstly at 12, 15, 17 and 20 months of age, respectively. There was significantly difference in the conception age among groups (p<0.05). The cumulative conception rates in the heifers serviced firstly at 12, 15, 17 and 20 months of age were 51.21, 57.8, 54.8 and 53.0% by the first service, 29.8, 30.1, 32.3, 23.5% by the second service, and 19.0, 12.1, 12.9 and 23.5% by the third service, respectively. The service numbers per conception in the first pregnancy months were 1.31, 1.55, 2.0, 2.05 times at 12, 15, 17 and 20 months of the first service age, respectively. The service numbers per conception in the 12 and 15 months of age were significantly lower than those in the 17 and 20 months of age (p<0.05). The rates of repeat-breeder were 6.0, 11.3, 22.0, and 41.0% in the heifers serviced firstly at 12, 15, 17 and 20 months of age, respectively. These results demonstrate that first pregnancy of Holstein heifers should be conducted at 15 months of age, because the age at first pregnancy in heifers can be substantially influenced through implementation of reproductive management and performance.

This study investigated the effect of birth weight on the fertility of Holstein heifers. Growth parameter (body weight) was measured at birth. Calves were analyzed as three subgroups: low (L), average (A) and high (H) birth weight (BW) calves. LBW calves were born 10 kg lighter than HBW calves. Fertility data collected included age at first breeding (AFB), number of services per conception, pregnancy rate to first artificial insemination (AI), and age at first calving (AFC). Primiparous calves in HBW are smaller compared to multiparous cows (18.3% versus 48%). Although not significantly different, LBW offspring appeared to breed faster over the service period compared with the ABW offspring that bred three weeks later on the average. The mean pregnancy rate to first AI for LBW heifers was higher (60%) than ABW (48%) and HBW (45%). HBW cows required more services per conception (2.1) than the LBW (1.7) and ABW (1.9). There were significant differences (p<0.05) in age at first calving among the different calving birth weights. Smaller birth size did not have any subsequent adverse effects on fertility. HBW offspring were more likely or tend to have worse fertility parameters.

A study was conducted to investigate the efficiency of recipient for Embryo Transfer (ET) in Holstein Heifers. A total of 193 heifers (Age 14-20 months and body weight, 250-400 Kg) was assigned in 2 groups (natural ovulation cycle group and Hormone-induced ovulation synchronization group) based on the development of corpus luteum (CL) and uterus where 28.49% (55/193) heifers were in normal estrous. The ET technique was applied in both of the groups to transfer the embryo in the recipients and evaluated their efficiency. In vivo frozen embryos were used for ET at the blastocyst stage. Results showed that according to recipient preparation method the conception rates were 22.72% (10/44) and 40.26% (60/149) in hormone-induced ovulation synchronization group and natural ovulation cycle group, respectively. The pregnancy rate of heifers was significantly higher (p<0.05) during the first time ET compared to repeat ET; however, recipient showed no significant difference in CL development in both side. The conception rate were 31.03% (9/29), 37.75% (57/151) and 15.38% (2/13) at day 6, 7 and 8, respectively after the CL development of the heifers. The conception rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the right side compared to left side of the CL development. In addition, during ET anesthesia group and non anesthesia group conception rate of the recipient were 27.63% (21/76) and 41.88% (49/117), respectively.

This study was carried out between 2008 and 2009 in four dairy farms to investigate the effect of feeding of whole crop barley silage on the reproductive performance of Holstein heifers. Two diets, mixed hay or whole crop barley silage separately from concentrate were fed 6-month old Holstein heifers (=37). In control group (=CON), heifers (n=16) were fed 6 kg (/head) mixed hay and 4 kg (/head) commercial diet. In whole crop barley silage group (=WBS), heifers (n=21) were fed 10 kg (/head) whole crop barley silage, 4 kg (/head) mixed hay and 2 kg (/head) commercial diet. To manage body weight gain, the body condition score of heifers were measured every month. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Body weight in CON and WBS heifers at 13-, 14-, 15- and 17-month old were 340±17.9 and 342±13.6 kg, 356±15.7 and 366±14.7 kg, 382±13.1 and 387±14.4 kg, and 429±15.0 and 417±10.3 kg, respectively. 2. Body condition score in CON and WBS heifers at 9-, 12-, 15- and 17-month old were 2.88±0.04 and 2.80±0.04, 2.88±0.04 and 2.80±0.04, 2.89±0.08 and 3.00±0.07, and 2.89±0.08 and 3.00±0.07, respectively. 3. Average age of sexual maturity in CON and WBS heifers were 437.3±9.9days and 939.6±12.5days, WBS group heifers were significantly shorter (p<0.05) than CON group heifers. 4. First-service conception rates in CON or WBS group were 81.3% (13/16) and 66.7% (14/21), respectively, and cumulative conception rate to 2nd artificial insemination were 87.5% for CON and 85.7% for WBS group. Conception rate was not different between treatments

The objective of present study was to investigate the effect of seasons on reproductive performance of Hanwoo and Holstein heifers. Heat stress in summer or cold stress in winter stress to Hanwoo and Holstein heifers may bring reproduction failure, which would pose an important economic loss, even around Daegwallyeong region located in high mountainous area. Seasonal differences in the serum levels of LH, FSH and progesterone () in response to environmental factors (hot and cold) out of 20 pubertal Hanwoo heifers in Daegwallyeong, Gangwon Province and 20 non-lactating Holstein heifers in Chonan city of Republic of Korea at 2-3 years of age were compared. Blood samples for hormonal analysis were from jugular vein after detection of estrus repeatedly over four seasons within four-week intervals (Spring: May to June, Summer: July to August, Autumn: October to November and Winter: January to February). In Hanwoo heifer population, averages of LH and FSH concentration in spring and in summer were greater compared to those in winter (p<0.05). LH or FSH levels tended to be greater (p=0.06) in spring and less (p=0.09) in winter compared to the levels in autumn. Only in summer, cattle seemed to show lower LH or FSH secretion (p<0.05). Similar to the results in Hanwoo heifers, the serum concentrations of LH and FSH in Holstein heifers decreased further by heat stress in summer when P 4 levels were high during luteal phase. The results demonstrate significant effect of summer heat on reproduction of Hanwoo or Holstein heifers. Although parameters indicating the extent of heat stress were not measured in this study, we suggest that serum hormone levels could be considered as successful indicators of summer heat stress condition for Hanwoo and Holstein heifers even under rather cool summer climate.

This study was conducted to develop an improved method for oocyte pick-up(OPU) with finger-sensibility using ultrasound-guidance from ovarian follicles in Holstein heifers. Oocytes were aspirated from ovarian follicles of clear-outline (>2mm), obscure-outline and invisible( 2mm) on ultrasound images with 3 different vacuum pressure(40, 80, 120mmHg). Total number of oocytes recovered/follicles were 309/237(130.4%). 113/80(141.3%) and 107/74(144.6%) with 40, 80 and 120 mmHg of vacuum pressure, respectively. Mean number of oocytes recovered was higher in 2 OPU/week (18.35.3) than 1 OPU/week(14.54.1), but this difference was not statistical1y significant. The recovery rates were not affected by the number of OPU as 135.6%(282 oocytes/208 follicles) in 1~20 OPU, 137.7% (168/122) in 21~40 OPU and 148.4%(92/62) in 41~60 OPU, respectively. The proportions of good oocytes (Grades I) recovered were not significantly different by the number of OPU until 40 OPU(12.4% in 1~20 OPU vs 16.7% in 21~40 OPU). However, a significantly(P<0.05) lower recovery rate resulted from more than 40 OPU compared to less than 40 OPU(7.6%). These results imply that more fertilizable oocytes can be produced from invisible-immature follicles by transvaginal aspiration with finger-sensibility from Holstein heifers.

This study was carried out to investigate the reproduction efficiency and disease of Holstein heifer grazed on mixed pasture desighed with association of tall fescue and white clover cultivar (3 treatments = TI : Tall fescue Fawn + White clover Regal + Or