Effects of weaning programs on metabolic profiles and hepatic IGF-1 mRNA of first-calf heifers and mature cows, and effects of diet for early-weaned steers on response to an infectious bovine herpesvirus-1 challenge

Abstract

Effects of weaning on metabolic profiles and hepatic IGF-1 mRNA of beef dams (Trial 1), and diet effects for early-weaned (EW) steers on response to an infectious bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) challenge (Trial 2) were investigated. Trial 1 treatments were arranged in a 2 x 2 factorial and included 14 heifers and 14 cows assigned randomly to one of two treatment regimens: EW (average age of 114 ± 13 d) or normal-weaned (NW, average age of 197 d). Heifers with calves EW experienced a greater increase (parity x weaning; P = 0.02) in BW over heifers with calves NW, but no change in BW due to weaning was observed for cows (P > 0.71). Early weaning (vs. NW) increased (P < 0.05) body condition (BC) and change in BC of all dams. No parity x weaning or parity x weaning x d interactions (P > 0.14) were observed for serum IGF-1, NEFA, or urea nitrogen (SUN). A parity x d interaction (P < 0.05) for hepatic IGF-1 mRNA, serum IGF-1, and SUN was observed, but no differences (P > 0.10) were detected between heifers and cows within d. For Trial 2, backgrounding treatments included a bermudagrass hay diet (CTRL); bermudagrass hay plus soybean meal (SBM) fed at 0.175% of BW (as-fed); bermudagrass hay plus SBM at 0.35% of BW; or a 70% concentrate (CONC) diet. During the receiving phase, all steers were fed CONC and intranasally challenged with BHV-1. Treatment x d interactions (P < 0.01) were observed for serum NEFA, total protein, SUN, glucose, immunoglobulin G (IgG), insulin, and rectal temperature. Three d after the BHV-1 challenge, IgG was greater (P < 0.05) for forage-fed steers vs. CONC. Three and 4 d after the challenge, rectal temperature was greater (P < 0.01) for protein supplemented steers vs. CTRL. Therefore, EW can increase BW and BC of first-calf heifers and decrease SUN in first-calf heifers and mature cows, and a higher quality diet fed to EW steers during a backgrounding phase enhances ADG and G:F, and increases febrile response (measured by rectal temperature) to an infectious BHV-1 respiratory challenge.