Nutrition and Puberty in Tropical Heifers: A Systematic Review of Reproductive Performance and Endocrine Regulation

Resumen

This review article examines the effects of nutrition on puberty onset and reproductive performance in beef cattle raised under tropical and subtropical production systems. A systematic review of the scientific literature was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify studies focused on nutrition, puberty, and reproductive efficiency in cattle. The findings indicate that an appropriate nutritional strategy, particularly energy supplementation during critical stages of growth, can reduce the age at puberty by up to 22% and advance the age at first calving. This is especially relevant for addressing the reproductive delay characteristic of Bos taurus × Bos indicus crosses, in which puberty may occur as late as 30 months of age. In conclusion, adequate nutritional management enhances reproductive efficiency and fosters the sustainability of tropical livestock production systems.