Table 4.
Performance and reproductive variables in beef cows supplemented with Ca salts of soybean oil (CSSO; n = 11) or prilled saturated fat (CON; n = 11) in Exp. 11,2
| Item | CSSO | CON | SEM | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cow variable | ||||
| Age, yr | 5.8 | 5.9 | 0.7 | 0.94 |
| Days postpartum, d | 66 | 67 | 3 | 0.86 |
| BCS3 | ||||
| Day −10 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 0.1 | 0.78 |
| Day 30 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 0.2 | 0.81 |
| Change | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.99 |
| Reproductive variables | ||||
| Estrus detection patch, % | ||||
| Activated | 43.9 (169/383) | 40.9 (157/388) | 3.7 | 0.59 |
| Nonactivated | 42.9 (165/383) | 45.1 (176/388) | 3.3 | 0.63 |
| Lost | 13.2 (49/383) | 14.0 (55/388) | 2.0 | 0.71 |
| Pregnancy rate,4 % | 60.2 (226/383) | 51.7 (193/388) | 4.2 | 0.01 |
1Cows were enrolled in an estrus-synchronization + fixed-time AI protocol (Larson et al., 2006) from day −10 to 0. Estrus detection aids (Estrotect; Rockway Inc., Spring Valley, WI) were applied on day −7 to all cows, and occurrence of estrus was recorded at timed AI (day 0).
2CSSO = daily supplementation (per cow) with 100 g of a soybean meal + 100 g of ground corn + 100 g of Ca salts of soybean oil (Essentiom, Church and Dwight Co., Inc., Princeton, NJ); CON = daily supplementation (per cow) with 100 g of a soybean meal + 100 g of ground corn + 87 g of prilled saturated fat (Energy Booster 100, Milk Specialties, Eden Prairie, MN) + 13 g of limestone. Treatments were offered from day 0 (timed AI) to 21 of the experiment.
3According to Wagner et al. (1988).
4Values are least square means covariately adjusted to estrus detection patch status. Values within parenthesis represent number of pregnant cows divided by number total cows within each treatment. Pregnancy was determined by the presence of a viable fetus via transrectal ultrasonography (5.0 MHz linear transducer, Ibex Pro, E.I. Medical Imaging, Loveland, CO) between days 45 and 55 of gestation.