Supplementing Ca salts of soybean oil via low-moisture molasses-based blocks to improve reproductive performance and overall productivity of beef cows.
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This experiment evaluated reproductive and productive responses of beef cows receiving self-fed low-moisture blocks (LMB) enriched or not with Ca salts of soybean oil (CSSO) throughout the breeding season. Non-pregnant, suckled multiparous Angus-influenced cows were assigned to a fixed-time artificial insemination (AI) protocol (day -10 to 0) followed by natural service (day 15-70). Cows were managed in 12 groups (464 cows/group) maintained in individual pastures, and groups received LMB enriched with 25 % (as-fed basis) of CSSO or ground corn (CON) from day -10 to 100. Both treatments were designed to yield a daily LMB intake of 0.454kg/cow (as-fed basis). Cows receiving CSSO had greater (P<0.01) mean concentrations of -6 fatty acids in plasma samples collected on days 0 and 55. Cows receiving CSSO had greater (P=0.05) pregnancy rate to fixed-time AI (67.2 vs. 59.3 %), whereas final pregnancy rate did not differ (P=0.92) between treatments. Pregnancy loss was less (P=0.03) in CSSO cows (4.50 vs. 9.04 %), which also calved earlier during the calving season (treatment week; P=0.04). Weaning rate tended to be greater (P=0.09) in CSSO (84.8 vs. 79.4 %), although calf weaning age and weight did not differ (P0.72) between treatments. Kilos of calf weaned/cow exposed was greater (P=0.04) in CSSO cows (234 vs. 215kg). Therefore, supplementing CSSO to beef cows via LMB during the breeding season improved their reproductive and overall productivity during a cow-calf cycle.
