Performance and meat quality traits of beef heifers fed with two levels of concentrate and ruminally undegradable protein

The effects of two levels of concentrate and ruminally undegradable protein (RUP) on performance, intake, digestibility, carcass characteristics, meat quality traits, and commercial cuts yield were assessed. Twenty crossbred heifers (240 kg average body weight) were used. At the beginning of the trial, four animals were slaughtered as reference group and the 16 remaining animals were randomly assigned to four treatments, in a 2 × 2 factorial design: two levels of concentrate (40% and 80%, dry matter (DM) basis) and two levels of RUP (48.79% and 27.19% of CP). At the end of the trial, all the animals were slaughtered. There was no interaction (P > 0.05) between concentrate and RUP levels. Dry matter intake and nutrients digestibility was not affected (P > 0.05) by RUP level. Heifers fed the highest RUP level had greater (P < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG). Concentrate level did not affect (P > 0.05) DMI and ADG. Heifers fed diets with 80% concentrate had greater intake of TDN and EE, and lower intake of NDF (P < 0.05). The digestibilities of all nutrients, except the NDF, were greater (P < 0.05) for the 80% concentrate diets. The RUP levels did not affect (P > 0.05) the carcass characteristics and carcass gain composition. Heifers fed 80% concentrate diets had larger (P < 0.05) longissimus muscle area and lower gain of bones (P < 0.05). Concentrate level did not affect (P > 0.05) the composition of carcass gain. There was no effect (P > 0.05) of RUP and concentrate levels on meat quality traits and commercial cut yields.     

Influence of undegraded intake protein on reproductive performance of primiparous beef heifers maintained on stockpiled fescue pasture

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of pre- and postpartum undegraded intake protein (UIP) supplementation on body condition score (BCS), BW, calf weight, milk production, serum IGF-I concentrations, and postpartum interval in primiparous beef heifers (n = 44). Heifers were maintained on endophyte-free stockpiled tall fescue (11.7% CP, 38% ADF) and individually fed supplement daily beginning 60 d prepartum. Pre- and postpartum supplements provided 19.3% CP, 83.4% TDN (UIP); 14.1% CP, 84.1% TDN (Control); 21.5% CP, 81.5% TDN (UIP); and 14.6% CP, 81.4% TDN (Control); respectively. Blood meal (146 g/d) was the source of UIP. Six heifers were removed from the study due to calf loss unrelated to treatment; therefore, postpartum measurements are based on 19 animals per treatment. Statistical analyses using ANOVA and a split-plot design revealed no effects of treatment (P > 0.2) on BCS, BW, calf weight, milk production, or postpartum interval. There tended to be a treatment x time interaction on BCS (P < 0.09) with UIP heifers having higher BCS than Control at wk 5, 7, and 9 postpartum. There was a treatment x time interaction on serum IGF-I (P < 0.06) during the first 35 d postpartum. In UIP heifers, serum IGF-I was greater at calving compared with Control heifers (117.5 vs 92.4 ng/mL, respectively); however, these differences were not related to changes in BCS or BW. Although serum IGF-I concentrations were increased at calving in heifers receiving UIP, there were no treatment effects on postpartum interval (P > 0.7). During the first 30 d postpartum, IGF-I differed (P < 0.01) among heifers with postpartum intervals defined as short, < 50 d (128.9 ng/mL); medium, 51 to 65 d (115.2 ng/mL); and long, 66 to 130 d (52.9 ng/mL). When analyzed as a regression, a 1 ng/mL increase in IGF-I (UIP and Control heifers) at calving (P < 0.05) and throughout the postpartum period (P < 0.01) corresponded to a decrease in postpartum interval of 0.13 d. Based on the results of this study, the inclusion of UIP in diets for primiparous heifers and its effects on postpartum interval warrant further evaluation.     

不同精料补饲水平对放牧肉牛生长性能的影响

试验选用健康的三江平原放牧肉牛50头,体重在320 kg左右,随机分成5组,每组10个重复,每个重复1头牛。肉牛放牧采食的同时,试验各组按牛重的0.6%、0.8%、1.0%、1.2%和1.4%每头每天分别饲喂1.9(A组)、2.5(B组)、3.3(C组)、3.8 kg(D组)和4.5 kg(E组)的精料补充料,预试期10 d,试验期60 d。旨在研究冬季放牧条件下,不同精料补饲量对放牧肉牛生长性能的影响。结果表明:(1)随着精料补饲量的增加,肉牛的平均日增重逐渐增加,B组显著高于A组(P<0.05),C、D、E组极显著高于A组和B组(P<0.01);(2)饲料转化率以C组最高,为35.63%,显著高于其他各组(P<0.05),并呈现先增加后降低的规律;(3)经济效益C组最高,C组60 d育肥收入较A组极显著提高176.42%,较B组显著提高80.12%,与C组和D、E组相比略有增加,但差异均不显著(P>0.05)。结果说明,按牛体重的1.0%补饲精料效果最好。     

Production from first-calf beef heifers fed a maintenance or low level of prepartum nutrition and ruminally undegradable or degradable protein postpartum.

Two experiments were conducted in consecutive years to determine the effects of prepartum nutrient level and postpartum ruminally undegraded protein intake on nutrient status, milk production, subsequent calf production, and reproductive performance of 126 crossbred, primiparous beef heifers. Prepartum treatments were low nutrient intake (LN) (approximately 2.5 kg of TDN, .5 kg of CP animal-1.d-1 and maintenance nutrient intake (MN) (5 kg of TDN, 1 kg of CP animal-1.d-1), which were fed for 75 d before parturition. Two postpartum protein supplements were formulated to provide 250 g/d of ruminally degradable protein (RD) and one to supply ruminally undegraded protein (UD) at 250 g/d of additional UD CP compared to the RD supplement. Cholesterol was lower (P less than .01) in heifers given UD than in heifers given RD. Blood urea nitrogen was higher (P less than .01) for UD-fed heifers than for RD-fed heifers and was higher in LN heifers (P less than .06) than in MN heifers. Milk production did not differ (P greater than .11) as a result of LN, MN, UD, or RD. Postpartum cow weight gain was greatest (P less than .01) for UD and LN heifers. The percentage of heifers bred during the first estrous cycle of the breeding season was greater (P less than .02) for UD than for RD. Overall, prepartum nutrition did not interact with postpartum protein supplement, nor did it have any effect on postpartum interval, whereas UD increased cow weight gain postpartum and reduced postpartum interval.     

Digestibility of prairie hay diets supplemented with different levels of magnesium-mica by beef heifers

Four ruminally fistulated, nonpregnant, nonlactating heifers (515 +/- 7.9 kg) were offered chopped (10-cm screen size) prairie hay for ad libitum consumption with 1.8 kg/d of supplements to provide 0, 45, 113, or 181 g/d of magnesium-mica (MM) in a 4 x 4 Latin square design experiment. Heifers were adapted to diets for 7 d in drylot followed by a 19-d confinement period in individual stalls within a metabolism facility. Total feces and urine were collected for 5 d, daily intake and water consumption were monitored for 16 d, and in situ disappearance of fiber (prairie hay) and CP (soybean meal) were determined during the confinement period. Ruminal samples for fermentation product analyses were collected at feeding and every 2 h thereafter for 12 h on d 18, and rumens were evacuated at 1100 on d 19 to determine rumen fill. Cubic responses (P < .05) to MM level were observed for DM, OM, NDF, and ADF digestion and were characterized by a tendency for improved digestion with 45 g/d compared with the control diet, followed by a suppressive effect on digestion with 113 g/d, then little effect with 181 g/d MM. In situ NDF disappearance at 72 and 96 h tended (P < . 10) to be influenced quadratically by level of MM, but MM level had no apparent effect on ruminal fill and passage rate, ciliated protozoa counts, in situ rate of disappearance of fiber or CP, or nitrogen balance. Therefore, feeding MM at low levels to heifers consuming a prairie hay diet with a 20% CP supplement seemed to be beneficial for feed digestion with no measurable negative impact on intake or ruminal protein or fiber digestion.     

Effect of increasing levels of undegradable intake protein on metabolic and endocrine factors in estrous cycling beef heifers

To determine the influence of three levels of undegradable intake protein (UIP) supplementation on metabolic and endocrine factors that influence reproduction, 23 yearling crossbred heifers (body condition score = 4.5 +/- 0.5; initial BW = 362 +/- 12 kg) were stratified by BW and assigned randomly to one of three supplements: 1) low UIP (1,135 g x heifer(-1) x d(-1); 30% CP, 115 g UIP, n = 7); 2) mid UIP (1,135 g x heifer(-1) x d(-1); 38% CP, 216 g UIP, n = 8); or 3) high UIP (1,135 g x heifer(-1) x d(-1); 46% CP, 321 g UIP, n = 8). Heifers were estrually synchronized before initiation of supplementation. Supplement was individually fed daily for 30 to 32 d, at which time heifers were slaughtered (d 12 to 14 of the estrous cycle) and tissues collected. Heifers were fed a basal diet of sudan grass hay (6.0% CP) ad libitum. On d 28 of supplementation (d 10 of the estrous cycle), no differences were observed (P > 0.10) in serum insulin or IGF-I among treatments. At slaughter (d 10 to 12 of the estrous cycle), treatments did not influence corpus luteum weight, cerebral spinal fluid leptin, or IGFBP; serum estradiol-17beta, progesterone, leptin, IGF-I, and IGFBP; or anterior pituitary content of IGFBP (P > 0.10). Follicular fluid IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-4 were greater in high-UIP heifers than low- or mid-UIP heifers on d 12 to 14 of the estrous cycle (P < 0.05). Basal serum LH concentrations and LH area under the curve (every 15 min for 240 min) did not differ (P > 0.10) following 28 d of supplementation (d 10 of the estrous cycle); however, basal serum FSH concentrations were greater (P = 0.06) in low- and mid- vs. high-UIP heifers (5.2 and 5.2 vs. 4.6 ng/mL, respectively), and FSH area under the curve was greater (P = 0.03) in low- vs. high-UIP heifers. At slaughter (d 12 to 14 of the estrous cycle), anterior pituitary LH and FSH content and steady-state mRNA encoding alpha, LHbeta, and GnRH receptor did not differ (P > 0.10) among treatments. However, FSHbeta mRNA was increased approximately twofold (P = 0.03) in mid vs. low UIP. In summary, low and mid levels of UIP supplements fed to estrous cycling beef heifers seemed to enhance pituitary expression and/or secretion of FSH relative to high levels of UIP. Moreover, high-UIP supplementation was associated with increased low-molecular-weight IGFBP compared with supplementation of low and mid levels of UIP. These data suggest that differing levels of UIP supplementation may alter pituitary and ovarian function, thereby influencing reproductive performance in beef heifers.     

The effect of concentrate level and concentrate composition on the performance of growing dairy heifers reared and finished for beef production

Abstract

The objectives of the study with growing dairy heifers were to determine the effects on animal performance of (1) concentrate level and (2) the concentrate composition in the grass silage-based diet. Animals (30 heifers) were randomly assigned to three feeding treatments: (1) low level (1.75 kg dry matter (DM)/d) of rolled barley (LB); (2) low level (1.75 kg DM/d) of commercial pelleted concentrate (LC); and (3) medium level (3.5 kg DM/d) of commercial pelleted concentrate (MC). All animals were also offered grass silage and hay. The commercial concentrate contained more crude protein than barley grain (135 g/kg DM vs. 205 g/kg DM). The data were analysed using analysis of variance and differences between the treatments were tested by orthogonal contrasts: LC vs. MC and LB vs. LC. The growth of the heifers increased and carcass conformation improved with increasing concentrate level. Commercial concentrate did not improve animal performance compared with barley grain.     

Influence of biostimulation by mature bulls on occurrence of puberty in beef heifers

The objective of this study was to determine if biostimulation of prepuberal beef heifers by mature bulls would alter proportions of heifers exhibiting puberty, or age or weight at puberty. Angus (A), A X Hereford (H) and Tarentaise X HA heifers (n = 103) were stratified by age and weight within breed-type and location of birth and allotted randomly to the following treatments: 1) heifers exposed to mature bulls (T1; n = 52) or 2) heifers isolated from bulls (T2; n = 51). At the start of the experiment, heifers in T1 and T2 were 287 +/- 2 and 286 +/- 2 d of age, respectively. Male-to-female ratio for T1 was 1:26. Heifers in T1 and T2 were maintained in drylots separated by .5 km. Heifers were observed for estrus twice daily for 152 d. Puberty was characterized by the following criteria: 1) behavioral estrus, 2) presence of a palpable corpus luteum (d 9; estrus = d 0) and 3) a rise in serum progesterone above 1 ng/ml (d 9). Proportions of heifers reaching puberty by 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 mo of age did not differ (P greater than .10) between treatments. Percentages of heifers reaching puberty by the end of the experiment were 84 and 89% for T1 and T2, respectively. Age and weight at puberty did not differ (P greater than .10) between treatments and averaged 370 +/- 7 d and 293 +/- 4 kg, respectively. Results from this experiment indicated that presence of mature bulls did not alter proportions of beef heifers reaching puberty, or age and weight at puberty.     

不同水平DL-蛋氨酸铜对肉牛瘤胃纤维代谢的影响

选用4头平均体质量（420±20）kg,年龄2.5岁的中国西门塔尔阉牛,采用4×4拉丁方设计,以混合精料和风干玉米秸秆为基础日粮,研究1.3倍维持水平下,日粮中添加不同水平（0、8、16和24mg/kg干物质）铜（以DL-蛋氨酸螯合铜形式添加）对玉米秸瘤胃降解率的影响。结果表明,日粮中添加铜均降低了玉米秸干物质（DM）、中性洗涤纤维（NDF）和酸性洗涤纤维（ADF）的瘤胃降解率及动态降解率,并且都达到显著水平。研究结果表明,试验中添加任何剂量的铜都降低了玉米秸的瘤胃降解率。     

Influence of concentrate composition and forage type on retail packaged beef quality

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of type of conserved forage and concentrate composition on the quality of beef held in overwrapped (aerobic) or modified atmosphere packaging under simulated retail display for 17 d. Friesian steers (n = 45) were assigned randomly to one of five dietary treatments: 1) extensively fermented grass silage plus silage concentrate (EFS); 2) restricted fermented grass silage plus silage concentrate (RFS); 3) starch-based concentrate plus wheat straw (SC); 4) nonstarch-based concentrate plus wheat straw (NSC); or 5) zero-grazed perennial ryegrass plus grass concentrate (RYE). Meat quality was determined by measuring color, lipid oxidation (TBARS), alpha-tocopherol concentrations, and fatty acid composition. In aerobically packaged beef, there was a display x diet interactive effect (P < 0.001) on Hunter a* values, with steaks from the EFS group having higher (P < 0.05) a* values than all other dietary groups from d 6 through d 17. Moreover, during the last 12 d of display, beef from the EFS group had the lowest (P < 0.01) proportion of metmyoglobin (display day x diet; P < 0.001). Under aerobic packaging, the SC and NSC groups produced steaks with higher (P < 0.05) TBARS values than RFS, EFS, and RYE groups, which did not differ from each other (display day x diet; P < 0.01). The SC and NSC groups had higher (P < 0.05) oxidation levels than RFS, EFS, and RYE groups, which did not differ from each other. Beef from the EFS group had (P < 0.05) higher concentrations of alpha-tocopherol than from the SC, NSC, and RYE groups. Beef from EFS-fed steers had a higher (P < 0.05) proportion of saturated fatty acids than the SC and NSC groups. It was concluded that the method of grass conservation influenced beef color, whereas concentrate composition did not. Color of aerobically packaged beef was improved by feeding animals silage that had undergone extensive fermentation. Conversely, oxidative stability was decreased by feeding animals starch- and nonstarch-based concentrate diets.     

不同蛋白能量水平日粮对肉牛生产性能和肉品质的影响

采用单因素随机区组设计,选择体重相近的健康肉牛40头,随机分成4组,分别饲喂低(Ⅰ)、中(Ⅱ)、较高(Ⅲ)和高(Ⅳ)能量蛋白水平日粮,研究不同能量蛋白水平对肉牛生长性能、屠宰性能、肉品质和血液指标的影响。结果表明:随着日粮能量蛋白水平的增加,试验牛的日增重不断提高,由959 g/d提高到1 181 g/d,提高21.88%(P0.05);各试验组屠宰率和净肉率差异显著(P0.05),Ⅳ组最高,分别为60.84%和49.21%;背膘厚度试验各组差异显著(P0.05),Ⅲ组最高,达到106.5 mm;各组间肉的剪切力无显著差异(P0.05);各试验组牛肉中饱和脂肪酸和单不饱和脂肪酸含量无显著差异(P0.05),但多不饱和脂肪酸存在显著差异(P0.05),其中Ⅲ组多不饱和脂肪酸含量最高,为6.7%,Ⅰ组最低为5.31%,相对提高26.18%(P0.05);每日每头经济效益最高达6.91元,最低为3.14元,相对多收入3.77元。因此,本试验条件下,在BMY育肥过程中,200~350 kg体重阶段以Ⅲ组能量和蛋白质水平较为适宜,经济效益最高。     

Effect of increasing pre-pubertal concentrate levels on reproductive and lactation performance of Nili-Ravi Buffalo heifers

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of increasing total nutrient supply by increasing level of concentrate supplementation in forage-based diet of growing Nili-Ravi buffalo replacement heifers on pre-pubertal growth rate and its impact on age at puberty and post-pubertal productive and reproductive performance. Twenty-eight Nili-Ravi buffalo heifers of 7 ± 1 month age were divided into 3 groups. The treatments were 3 levels of concentrate (crude protein (CP) = 17.9%, metabolisable energy (ME) = 2.66 Mcal/kg), i.e. 0.5, 1, and 1.5% of the body weight referred as low, medium, and high treatments, respectively. Irrespective of pre-pubertal treatment, all the heifers received similar feed after puberty up to completion of their first lactation. The results of the study showed a similar response across the treatments in age, weight, and condition at puberty, weight at calving, lactation length, and yield. The medium and high treatments resulted in poor reproductive performance because of higher services per conception and less number of heifers confirmed conceived compared with low treatment. The low treatment resulted in less mortality compared with medium and high treatments. The feeding cost per animal at puberty, conception, and calving was lowest for treatment low as compared with medium and high. In conclusion, the results of the study showed that Nili-Ravi buffalo heifers achieved puberty at 23 months with feeding of concentrate (CP = 17.9%, ME = 2.66 Mcal/kg) during pre-pubertal stage at the rate of 0.5% of the body weight with better reproductive performance.

     

Effects of different levels of methionine and ruminally undegradable protein on the amino acid profile of effluent from continuous culture fermenters

Eight dual-flow continuous culture fermenters were used to study the effects of feeding different levels of methionine and ruminally undegradable protein (RUP) on the amino acid (AA) profile of protein residue after microbial fermentation. Four isocaloric (1.76 Mcal/kg of NE(l)) and isonitrogenous (17.7% CP) diets were formulated based on NRC recommendations for a 630-kg cow producing 42 kg/d of milk. Two dietary treatments, diets HmLr (high methionine, low RUP) and HmHr (high methionine, high RUP), were formulated to meet, but not exceed, more than 140% of each estimated individual AA requirement for milk production. Diets LmLr (low methionine, low RUP) and LmHr (low methionine, high RUP) were formulated to meet the estimated individual AA requirement except for methionine. Diets HmLr and LmLr contained 35% RUP, and diets HmHr and LmHr contained 43% RUP. Digestion of DM, OM, and NDF was not affected (P>.05) by treatments. Tyrosine, cystine, and threonine ranked as the most resistant AA to microbial fermentation, whereas methionine and lysine ranked among the most degradable. In general, microbial degradation of individual AA followed the same pattern as CP degradation, being higher in diets HmLr and LmLr and lower in diets HmHr and LmHr. Because true microbial digestion of methionine, cystine, tyrosine, and isoleucine was reduced in the presence of high levels of methionine, we concluded that supplementation of dietary methionine could increase flows of these amino acids to the duodenum.     

Milk production in Holstein cows supplemented with different levels of ruminally protected methionine

Forty multiparous cows (599 kg ± 18 kg BW) were fed with a basal diet (19.6% CP, 35% RUP, and 1.7 Mcal kg^− 1 NEl) with alfalfa, corn silage and concentrate (49% forage: 52% concentrate). After calving, cows were randomly assigned to the treatments, which consisted in four levels of ruminally protected methionine (RPM): 0, 8, 16 and 24 g d^− 1 of Mepron®M85 (Degussa Co.). Experiment was conducted for 120 days with measurements of milk production, composition, body weight, body condition score and DM intake every 15 days (3 consecutive days) starting on day 5 postpartum. Data were analyzed with the repeated measures model (four treatments in 8 periods through lactation). No treatment effects were detected on DM intake (20.38 ± 2.51 kg d^− 1), body weight (599.78 ± 19.78 kg), body condition score (2.51 ± 0.19 units) and milk fat. However, milk production and protein yield were increased with addition of RPM (P < 0.01). Milk production responded quadratically to methionine level. Holstein cows with a mean production of 35 kg d^− 1 milk require addition of ruminally protected methionine (16 g d⁻¹) to improve milk production.     

Effects of bovine somatotropin and ruminally undegraded protein on feed intake, live weight gain, and mohair production by yearling Angora wethers.

Yearling Angora wethers (n = 24; 24+/-1.0 kg BW) were used in an experiment with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to investigate effects of bovine somatotropin (bST) treatment and dietary level of ruminally undegraded protein on DMI, ADG, and mohair production. Untreated casein (UC) or casein treated with formaldehyde (TC) was included at 7% DM of a diet containing 11% CP and 46% concentrate. A slow-release bST form was administered weekly to deliver 0 (Control) or 100 microg/ (kg BW.d) of bST. Plasma concentrations of bST and IGF-I were increased (P < .05) during the 7-d period following bST injection. Ruminal fluid ammonia N concentration was lower (P < .01) for TC than for UC before feeding (6.6 vs 7.5 mg/dL) and 4 h later (8.2 vs 12.2 mg/dL), and total VFA concentration was lower (P < .01) for TC than for UC. Treatment with bST decreased (P = .08) DMI with UC (1.15 vs .91 kg/d) and increased (P = .08) DMI with TC (.95 vs 1.06 kg/d). Formaldehyde treatment of casein increased ADG (65, 74, 55, and 91 g/d; P = .03) and clean fleece production (P < .01; 14.1, 17.3, 15.0, and 18.4 g/d for UC-Control, TC-Control, UC-bST, and TC-bST, respectively), with no effect of bST during the 8-wk period of treatment or for the 8 wk thereafter (P > .10). In conclusion, with yearling Angora wethers, bST does not seem useful to enhance mohair production and may not alter effects of dietary level of ruminally undegradable protein on mohair production.     

Supplementation of suckling beef calves with different levels of crude protein on tropical pasture

The effects of supplementation with different levels of crude protein on performance, intake and nutrient digestibility and efficiency of microbial protein synthesis in suckling beef calves on pasture were assessed. Fifty-five calves, with an average age of 100 days and an initial average body weight of 110?±?7.5 kg and their respective dams, were used. The experimental design was completely randomised with five treatments and 11 replications. The experimental treatments for calves were as follows: control = calves received only mineral mixture; supplementation levels = calves received supplement containing 8, 19, 30 or 41 % of crude protein (CP, at a rate of 0.5 % of body weight (BW)). The cows received only mineral mixture ad libitum. Supplemented calves had higher (P?<?0.1) average daily gain (ADG). Protein levels showed a quadratic effect (P?<?0.1) on average daily gain (ADG) of calves. There was no difference in total dry matter (DM) intake (P?>?0.1). However, intake of dry matter forage (DMF) presented cubic profiles (P?<?0.1), with CP levels in the supplements. Supplementation increased (P?<?0.1) the digestibility of nutrients, except for the digestibility of neutral detergent fibre. Supplementation increased (P?<?0.1) the production of microbial nitrogen and N losses in urine. It can be concluded that multiple supplementations optimise the performance of beef calves on creep feeding. The intake of supplements with CP levels between 8 and 30 % partially replaces of the pasture ingested by calves and increases the digestibility of the diet.     

Influence of growth rate and exposure to bulls on age at puberty in beef heifers

Two experiments were conducted to test the following hypotheses: 1) exposure of beef heifers to sterile bulls increases the proportion of heifers attaining puberty by 14 mo of age and 2) rate of growth interacts with bull exposure to influence age at puberty in beef heifers. In Exp. I, heifers were assigned to one of two treatments: 1) heifers were exposed to bulls (BE; approximately 70-d period of exposure) or 2) heifers were isolated from bulls (NE) and served as controls. In Exp. II, heifers were assigned to either BE or NE treatments (175-d period of exposure to bulls) and were fed to gain at a moderate (MG; .6 kg/d) or high (HG; .8 kg/d) growth rate. Blood samples were collected twice weekly to determine concentrations of progesterone indicative of onset of corpus luteum function and puberty. In Exp. I a greater (P less than .05) proportion of heifers receiving the BE treatment than of heifers receiving the NE treatment initiated corpus luteum function by 14 mo of age. In Exp. II, there was a bull exposure x growth rate interaction (P less than .05). The effect of bull exposure was greater within the HG groups than within the MG groups. However, heifers fed to attain a moderate or high growth rate and exposed to bulls attained puberty at younger ages than heifers not exposed to bulls and fed to attain a moderate or high growth rate. Mean ages at puberty were 375, 422, 428, and 449 (pooled SEM = 8.6) d for heifers in the BE-HG, BE-MG, NE-HG, and NE-MG groups, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)