Effects of dietary rice bran, lasalocid, and sex of calf on postpartum reproduction in Brahman cows.

To determine the effects of dietary lasalocid and increased dietary fat on reproduction, multiparous Brahman cows (n = 68), body condition score (BCS) of 6.2 +/- 0.7 and BW of 500.9 +/- 42.6 kg, were randomly assigned within sex of calf to receive one of four rations. All treatment groups grazed Coastal bermudagrass overseeded with rye-ryegrass and were given ad libitum access to hay and water. The control (n = 17) group received 4.17 kg x d(-1) x cow(-1) of 4:1 corn:soybean meal. The rice bran (n = 17) group received 4.35 kg x d(-1) x cow(-1) of 3:1:1 corn:soybean meal:rice bran (5.2% dietary fat). The lasalocid (n = 17) group received the Control diet with the addition of 200 mg of lasalocid x d(-1) x cow(-1). The rice bran-lasalocid (n = 17) group received the rice bran diet with the addition of 200 mg of lasalocid x d(-1) x cow(-1). Diets were fed once daily from d 1 after parturition through the detection of first estrus. Weight and BCS of cows and BW of calves were recorded at 14-d intervals from d 1 after parturition through detection of first estrus and at weaning. Cows were bled on d 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 and at weekly intervals until estrus and on d 7 and d 10 after estrus. Ovarian follicular populations were monitored by transrectal ultrasonography weekly from d 14 after parturition through detection of first estrus. Plasma 13-14-dihydro-15-ketoprostaglandin-F2alpha (PGFM) and progesterone (P4) concentrations were quantified using RIA. Concentrations of PGFM from d 1 to 7 and P4 concentrations on d 7 and 10 after estrus were not influenced (P > 0.10) by diet or sex of calf. Changes in BW and BCS were not affected (P > 0.10) by diet. The number of medium-sized follicles tended to be greater (P < 0.06) in Controls than in cows on lasalocid or rice bran + lasalocid treatments on d 21. Cumulative return to estrus with a functional corpus luteum by d 60 postpartum was greater (P < 0.02) in the rice bran (70.6%) and lasalocid groups (76.5%) than in Controls (52.9%) or the group given rice bran + lasalocid (25.0%). Normal first estrous cycles were less likely (P < 0.07) to be exhibited in cows given rice bran + lasalocid than in other groups. Intervals from calving to corpus luteum formation, functional corpus luteum, and first P4 > or = 1 ng/mL were longer (P < 0.02) in cows given rice bran + lasalocid than in other cows. Combining increased dietary fat (5.2%) with lasalocid lengthened the time to reproductively important events.