Document Type
Report
Report Number
2013-6
Publication Date
2013
Summary
Research has shown that heifers moved from a drylot to grass after AI have decreased weight gains and pregnancy success compared to heifers developed on range. This effect could potentially be due to inexperience in a specific grazing environment, which could result in greater time spent exploring a new environment. In this study beef heifers were moved from a drylot to spring grass at two different times and their activity compared. Heifers in a drylot walked less than heifers grazing spring forage. However, following being moved to spring forage heifers that had been adjusted to grass for about a month took fewer steps during their first four days of grazing then did the heifers that did not have previous grazing experience. Heifers without prior grazing experience also lost weight during this period. In summary, moving drylot developed heifers to spring forage affected performance and activity.
Number of Pages
5
Format
application/pdf
Language
en
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Rights
Copyright © 2013 South Dakota State University
Recommended Citation
Perry, G.A.; Larimore, E.L.; and Walker, J.A., "Walking Distance and Performance of Drylot Developed Beef Heifers
Following Being Moved to a Grazing Situation" (2013). South Dakota Beef Report, 2013. 7.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/sd_beefreport_2013/7