Effects of Body Condition on Reproductive Performance of Beef Cows

Cows were fed differing nutritional levels before and after calving to create a wide range of cow body condition or fleshiness prior t o calving and at the beginning of the breeding season. Cows that were fleshier prior t o calving and when turned on pasture in early May (30 days prior t o the beginning of the breeding season) had a higher cycling rate in early May, June and July. Cows maintaining or increasing slightly in body condition (precalving to early May) tended to have a higher cycling rate during the breeding season than cows which lost body condition regardless of precalving body condition. Cows that were fleshier prior to the breeding season calved earlier the following year. Body condition prior to calving and change in body condition (precalving to early May) did not affect calving date the following year