Environmental and physiological measures in the neonatal period as indicators of growth and puberty of Holstein heifers

Abstract

The present study assessed the influence of environmental variables at birth (birth season, temperature, relative humidity, THI-temperature and humidity index) and newborn serum protein level of 450 Holstein heifers on growth (body weight, and mortality rate) and reproductive performance (weight and age at puberty, age at first conception, and conception rate at first artificial insemination). The immune passive transfer was positively related to the weights at 30 and 60, with a trend at 90 days, which consequently affected weight at puberty, age at puberty, and age at conception. Therefore, it reinforces the importance of protocols with newborns that allow the assessment of the passive transfer of immunity. Calves born during the warmer months exhibited 4.2 and 12.28 kg less weight at weaning and puberty, respectively, compared to calves born during winter. Thus, calves born in an environment with higher THI showed changes in development, health, and reproductive efficiency in the short, medium, and long term. These findings reinforce the importance of adopting better colostrum management and welfare conditions, especially in warm season, to allow successful immune passive transfer and increase system efficiency.