The value of reproductive tract scoring as a predictor of fertility and production outcomes in beef heifers

dc.contributor.authorHolm, Dietmar Erik
dc.contributor.authorThompson, P.N. (Peter N.)
dc.contributor.authorIrons, Pete Charles
dc.date.accessioned2010-01-21T07:42:41Z
dc.date.available2010-01-21T07:42:41Z
dc.date.issued2009-03
dc.description.abstractIn this study, 272 beef heifers were studied from just before their first breeding season (October 15, 2003), through their second breeding season, and until just after they had weaned their first calves in March, 2005. This study was performed concurrently with another study testing the economic effects of an estrous synchronization protocol using PG. Reproductive tract scoring (RTS) by rectal palpation was performed on the group of heifers 1 d before the onset of their first breeding season. The effect of RTS on several fertility and production outcomes was tested, and the association of RTS with the outcomes was compared with that of other input variables such as BW, age, BCS, and Kleiber ratio using multiple or univariable linear, logistic, or Cox regression. Area under the curve for receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to compare the ability of different input variables to predict pregnancy outcome. After adjustment for BW and age, RTS was positively associated with pregnancy rate to the 50-d AI season (P < 0.01), calf weaning weight (r = 0.22, P < 0.01), and pregnancy rate to the subsequent breeding season (P < 0.01), and negatively associated with days to calving (r = 0.28, P < 0.01). Reproductive tract scoring was a better predictor of fertility than was Kleiber ratio and similar in its prediction of calf weaning weight. It was concluded from this study that RTS is a predictor of heifer fertility, compares well with other traits used as a predictor of production outcomes, and is likely to be a good predictor of lifetime production of the cow.en
dc.description.urihttp://jas.fass.org/cgi/content/full/87/6/1934en
dc.identifier.citationHolm, DE, Thompson, PN & Irons, PC 2009, 'The value of reproductive tract scoring as a predictor of fertility and production outcomes in beef heifers', Journal of Animal Science, vol. 87, no. 6, pp. 1934-1940. [http://jas.fass.org/]en
dc.identifier.issn0021-8812
dc.identifier.other6603165622
dc.identifier.other7403220452
dc.identifier.otherO-6401-2014
dc.identifier.otherJ-2534-2013
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/12679
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherAmerican Society of Animal Scienceen
dc.relation.requiresAdobe Acrobat Readeren
dc.rightsAmerican Society of Animal Scienceen
dc.subjectAge at pubertyen
dc.subjectBeef heifersen
dc.subjectKleiber ratioen
dc.subjectPregnancy rateen
dc.subjectReproductive tract scoreen
dc.subjectWeaning weighten
dc.subjectRTS
dc.subject.lcshHeifersen
dc.subject.lcshCattle -- Fertilityen
dc.subject.lcshCows -- Productivityen
dc.titleThe value of reproductive tract scoring as a predictor of fertility and production outcomes in beef heifersen
dc.typeArticleen

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