Extrinsic and intrinsic factors, such as dietary intake and
body condition, can have a profound effect on the
endocrine system and may affect fertility [1–5]. For ruminants,
it has been reported that inadequate nutrition (e.g.,
restricted or excess diets) results in delayed puberty
attainment, aberrant estrous cycles, low conception and
pregnancy rates, and/or reduced offspring birth weights
[6,7]. Furthermore, plane of nutrition can affect peripheral
concentrations of various metabolic and reproductive
hormones, such as insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1