IMPAIRED FERTILITY AND WEAK CALF SYNDROME DUE TO INADEQUATE NUTRITION

The herd described in this column exhibited excess calf mortality and low pregnancy rates as a result of copper deficiency and protein/calor ie malnutrition due to a combination of overstocking, inadequate weed control, lack of pasture and hay fertilization, and inadequate protein and energy supplementation during the winter. We originally recommend ed that the owner divide the cows in this herd into two groups on the basis of body condition score. The owner followed. our recommendations for supplemental feeding for the group of thin cows but not for the c ows in goad body condition. Because of differences in nutritional mana gement, the body condition of the previously thin cows improved, where as the cows that had been in good body condition became thin. After th e owner followed our nutritional recommendations for all of the cows, calf health and cow pregnancy rate improved dramatically.