What happens early in a cow’s pregnancy can have a lifelong impact on her offspring. Purina Director of Beef Technical Innovation Ron Scott cites work done at North Dakota State University, evaluating the importance of quality nutrition early in gestation. “That first trimester sets up the building blocks for growth, development and outcomes when that calf becomes an adult.” Calves born to cows getting no mineral supplementation during gestation were never able to catch up to those receiving proper vitamin and mineral nutrition. The calf birthweights were not different, but the cows fed the supplements weaned heavier calves. Scott says the NDSU study is groundbreaking research. “Scientifically, it is some of the work done at that level for fetal nutrition; I think it will be the basis for a lot of knowledge in the future.” Listen to the interview.
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