Late onset of puberty in Bos indicus cattle is believed to be partly environmental …show more content…
The effects of biostimulation originate from bodily responses to pheromones through olfaction, auditory, tactile, and visual stimulation. This is directly associated with the fact that pheromones interact with the hypothalamus to generate pulses of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. However, it is not clear how these cues are transmitted from male to female (Rekwot et al., 2001). Prepubertal heifers kept in the presence of a mature bull results in a significantly lower age at puberty and, as a result, a lower age at conception. This finding was indicated in a study where biostimulated females reached puberty earlier than non-biostimulated females, even compared to a group of non-biostimulated females that were nutritionally supplemented. (Oliveira et al., 2009). 58% of heifers kept in the presence of bulls while receiving improved nutrition reached puberty by 540 days, while only 33% of non-biostimulated heifers receiving improved nutrition reached puberty by 540 days (Oliveira et al., 2009). This finding is extremely beneficial for environments where it may be impossible to provide supplemental …show more content…
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