In the context of cattle growth, what is considered first in the nutritional priority?

In the context of cattle growth, maintenance is prioritized first in the nutritional hierarchy. Maintenance refers to the energy and nutrients required to sustain the animal's vital functions, such as respiration, circulation, and thermoregulation. This is foundational because an animal must first meet its maintenance needs before allocating nutrients to other physiological processes or activities, such as growth, reproduction, or lactation.

If the maintenance needs are not met, the animal may not be able to sustain growth or reproductive functions effectively, leading to suboptimal health and productivity. Therefore, ensuring that cattle have sufficient nutrition for maintenance is crucial for overall performance and the ability to support other critical aspects like fetal growth, lactation, and breeding later on.