In the current study, blood samples from 319 cows and heifers were studied. Antibodies against BVDV infections in serum samples and BVDV antigens in leukocytes were present in 203 (148 cows and 55 heifers) and 56 (28 cows and 28 heifers) samples, respectively. Although no significant difference was detected between seropositive ŠBVDV (Ag-/Ab+)1 and uninfected ŠBVDV (Ag-/Ab-)1 cows and heifers a...

The effects of superovulatory treatment (follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] versus human menopausal gonadotropin [HMG]) and of route of administration (intramuscular versus intravenous) of prostaglandin F2a (PGF2a) on hormonal profiles were determined in 32 Angus x Hereford heifers for breeding and subsequent embryo collection and transfer. Heifers were superstimulated either with FSH (total of...

Thirty-two beef heifers were used to examine the effect of dietary copper depletion and repletion on neutrophil and lymphocyte functions. Heifers allotted to the control group (C+; n = 8) were fed a basal roughage/concentrate diet with Cu-sulfate supplementation (Cu > or = 8 ppm). To induce a Cu deficiency (depletion phase d 0 to 60), treated (T; n = 24) heifers received a diet supplemented wit...

The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of precocious puberty and effect of exposure to a bull on the incidence of precocious puberty in beef heifers. The experiment was conducted using 120 heifers during 1990 and 1991. Heifer calves were randomly assigned to be pastured in the presence (n = 30 heifers/yr) or absence (n = 30 heifers/yr) of a bull starting at 140 +/- 14 d of...

Four ruminally cannulated Holstein heifers (287 +/- 26 kg) in a 4 x 4 Latin square were used to evaluate the effects of naloxone injection and forage level on dietary intake, ruminal fermentation characteristics, digestibility, and plasma hormone and metabolite concentrations. Treatments were arranged in a 2 x 2 factorial with naloxone injection (0 vs .3 mg/kg; saline vs naloxone, respectively)...

The working hypotheses in this experiment were: that ovarian estradiol would inhibit luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in heifers that were anestrus as a result of restricted dietary energy intake and the responsiveness of LH secretion to estradiol negative feedback would decrease during the period when restoration of estrous cycles occurred following feeding of diets adequate in energy. Fifte...

Forty-two heifers were allotted randomly to six treatment groups: intact controls, intact heifers implanted with trenbolone acetate, ovariectomized heifers, ovariectomized heifers implanted with trenbolone acetate, intact heifers immunized against estradiol and intact heifers immunized against estradiol and implanted with trenbolone acetate. Blood titers of estradiol-17 beta were increased over...

Zeranol implants were administered to 250 crossbred heifer calves at 1, 6 or 9 mo of age to evaluate growth, reproduction and calving performance. Heifers were assigned to eight treatment groups with 25 animals per group. Two additional groups of 25 heifers each were used to study the effects of multiple implants at two levels of nutrition on heifer performance. Implants at 1 mo of age (brandin...

Data included pubertal, reproductive and lactation records of primiparous females produced in a diallel of Angus, Brahman, Hereford, Holstein and Jersey. Brahman heifers were oldest, tallest and heaviest at puberty, while Jersey heifers were youngest, shortest and lightest. Crossbred heifers were 22 d younger (P less than .01) at puberty than straightbred heifers; no significant differences wer...

The goal with sexed semen is to produce a calf of a specific sex. Sexed semen is widely available now and many dairy producers are using it to obtain more (and better) heifer calves. Because of its higher cost per dose of semen, combined with a reduced conception risk, sexed semen is primarily recommended for use in virgin heifers. The use of sexed semen varies widely among dairy producers. Som...