The utilization of wilted and unwilted silages by lactating cows and the influence of changes in the protein and energy concentration of the supplement offered

1986 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 355-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Gordon ◽  
A. C. Peoples

ABSTRACTTwenty-four lactating British Friesian cows were used in a four-period partially balanced change-over design experiment to evaluate eight treatments consisting of two silage types (wilted and unwilted), each offered in addition to supplements containing both two crude protein (CP) levels (160 and 210 g/kg fresh weight) and two energy levels (10·8 and 12·9 MJ metabolizable energy (ME) per kg fresh weight) obtained by including 100 g spray-dried tallow per kg, in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. All supplements were offered at ttie same rate of 6·8 kg/day and total diet digestibility and food utilization studies were carried out on all animals at the end of the final period of the experiment. A separate two-period change-over design expeximent, using two lactating cows fitted with rumen cannulae, was undertaken to determine the influence of the two silages on volatile fatty acid (VFA) proportions in the rumen and to measure the rates of disappearance of dry matter (DM) and nitrogen in the silages and supplements from the rumen.There were no significant interactions between silage and supplement type in terms of animal performance. Animals offered unwilted silage consumed proportionately 003 less DM but produced 0·03 more milk than those offered wilted silage. Although total diet digestibility was not influenced by silage type because of the higher gross energy concentration of the unwilted silage the ME intake with this diet was higher than with the diet based on wilted silage and the ratios of milk energy output to ME available for production (0·54) were similar with both silages. Silage type had no effect on the rumen VFA proportions but influenced the jates of disappearance of DM and nitrogen from the rumen.Increasing the CP concentratioryof the supplement had no effect on the intake of silage DM but resulted in a significant incrase in milk yield (0·55 kg/day) but due to a reduction in milk fat concentration there was np etfect on yield of either fat-corrected milk or milk energy. The use of the higher energy supplement depressed the intake of silage DM by 0·46 kg/day but resulted in an increase in milk yield of 0·74 kg/day. Neither CP nor energy concentration of the supplement had any effect on DM or energy digestibility of the total diet but there were considerable differences between supplements in the patterns of nitrogen and DM disappearance from the rumen.

1989 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. Peoples ◽  
F. J. Gordon

ABSTRACTThis study was designed to examine the influence of pre-wilting and season of harvesting of silage on milk production and food utilization by dairy cattle and also the response to protein and fat concentration of the supplement given with silage. Twenty-four lactating British Friesian cows were used i n a four-period, partially balanced, change-over design experiment to evaluate 12 treatments consisting of three silage types (spring harvest unwilted (lUnW), autumn harvest unwilted (3UnW) and autumn harvest wilted (3W), each offered in addition to supplements containing both two crude protein levels (160 and 210 g/kg fresh weight) and two levels of inclusion of a fat supplement (0 and 100 g/kg fresh weight) in a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. All supplements were offered at the same rate of 6·8 kg/day. Total diet digestibility and food utilization studies were carried out on all animals at the end of the third and fourth experimental periods.The wilted silage (3W) had a higher digestibility than the unwilted (3UnW) material and animals offered 3W silage consumed proportionately 0·18 more silage DM and produced 1·6 MJ/day more milk energy output than those offered 3UnW. The total ration digesibility and food utilization data showed the animals given the 3W silage consumed 13·5 MJ more metabolizable energy (ME) per day than those offered the 3UnW silage and were less efficient at converting the ME available for production into milk energy output than those given the 3UnW silage (efficiencies were 0·58 and 0·53 for 3UnW and 3W silages respectively).There were no differences between the digestibilities of the spring (lUnW) and autumn (3UnW) silages with the concentrations of digestible organic matter in the dry matter (DM) being 650 and 648 g/kg respectively. However, animals offered lUnW silage consumed proportionately 0·12 more DM and produced 1·05 kg/day more fat-corrected milk than those given 3UnW silage. The food utilization data indicated that this milk production difference could be accounted for by the higher ME intake on lUnW and that the efficiencies of conversion of ME available for production to milk energy output were similar with both seasons of harvests (efficiencies were 0·57 and 0·58 for lUnW and 3UnW respectively).Increasing the crude protein concentration of the supplement from 160 to 210 g/kg increased silage DM intake, milk yield and milk energy output by 0·2 kg, 0·66 kg and 1·9 MJ/day respectively with the response being greatest with lUnW and least with 3UnW silage. Increasing the fat concentration of the supplement depressed silage DM intake but increased milk yield by 0·53 kg/day.The effects of the treatments on total diet digestibility, energy and nitrogen utilization, and the volatile fatty acid concentrations of rumen fluid are also given.


1980 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. D. P. Wood ◽  
J. O. L. King ◽  
P. G. Youdan

ABSTRACTLive weight, milk yield, fat, protein and lactose percentage of 236 cows and heifers of four breeds of dairy cattle were recorded at 2-week intervals, starting within a week after calving, during the winter and spring of 1972/73. Lactation curves of the form X(n) = Xnb ecn were fitted to each animal's records, where X, b, c are constants, e the base of natural logarithms and X(n) the value of the character at the nth 2-week interval. Correlations between the curves, and between deviations from the curves, showed that the production of milk, fat, protein and lactose was negatively correlated with live-weight change in the long term, but that deviations from the curves were not correlated. There were significant positive correlations between milk yield and size, and between potential compositional quality and size (the values of × in the model). Of the four breeds studied, Friesian, Ayrshire, Guernsey and Jersey, adult Friesian cows required less dietary energy per kg of total solids produced than any other group, according to the principles of the metabolizable energy system of calculating energy requirements. During the period of negative energy balance, an average 10% to 15% of energy output in the form of milk was derived from the mobilization of body reserves.


1999 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 231-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Goodchild ◽  
A. I. El-Awad ◽  
O. Gürsoy

AbstractIn west Asia, it is traditional for sheep to gain body condition when low-cost native pastures are available and to mobilize reserves thus built up at other times. With diminishing shares of native pasture, crop by-products and food grains are increasing in sheep diets, and facilitate feeding for constant body condition.In a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment, 48 Awassi ewes were individually fed indoors, nursed single lambs for 42 days, and were hand-milked from day 29 after lambing. Dietary treatments were imposed at different times: level of feeding (i) in the last 24 days of pregnancy (Lconstv. Lmob), (ii) in days 18 to 60 after lambing (Lconstv. Lmob), and (iii) level of fibre in days 60 to 102 after lambing (Fhighv. Flow). RationsPconst, Lconst, Flowand Fhighwere calculated to maintain body condition. Fhighprovided the calculated maximum ingestible quantity of barley straw and Flowprovided 0·08 kg barley straw per kg diet. Live weights (M) of ewes and lambs, milk yield and milk quality were recorded.WithPconst, andPmob(0·51 and 0·33 MJ metabolizable energy (ME) per kg M0.75per day), M gains were 140 and 23 g/day (P< 0·001). Lamb birth mass and subsequent maternal milk yield were not affected. WithLconstandLmob(0·81 and 0·61 MJ ME per kg M0.75 per day), M changes were -28 and -70 g/day (P< 0·001) and milk yields (calculated in part from lamb growth) were 1042 and 892 g/day (P < 0·01). Fhighand Flow(385 and 170 g acid-detergent fibre per kg dry matter) were compared in a two-period change-over design experiment. Milk yields were similar (414 and 427 g/day), milk fat concentrations were 64·8 and 72·9 g/kg (P < 0·001) and milk fat yields were 26·5 and 31·1 g/day (P < 0·001) but solids-not-fat and protein yields were not affected.There were benefits and costs in manipulating body reserves in Awassi sheep. M at lambing affects milk yield and body condition around mating is known to improve lambing rate. The existence of body reserves also allows body condition to be lost in late pregnancy and early lactation without affecting health or apparent welfare, which simplifies management of pregnant ewes, permits feeding of milk-fat-increasing high-fibre diets but the ME to maintain increased body reserves must not be ignored.


1988 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. K. Sloan ◽  
P. Rowlinson ◽  
D. G. Armstrong

ABSTRACTThere is increasing interest in how the raw material make-up of concentrates can influence the milk performance of dairy cows. Thus, over two consecutive winters, 54 dairy cows were used to investigate the effects on dry matter (DM) intake, milk yield and its composition of feeding concentrates of diverse energy source (LNDF — 131 g neutral-detergent fibre per kg DM, 492 g starch plus sugars per kg DM; HNDF — 244 g neutral-detergent fibre per kg DM, 293 g starch plus sugar per kg DM) at two formulated crude protein (CP) levels (157v.187 g/kg DM) and three levels of concentrate allowance (9, 11, 13 kg DM). The concentrates were formulated to be of equivalent metabolizable energy concentration (MJ/kg DM) and were offered with silagead libitumfor a 10-week period (weeks 4 to 13 of lactation).Silage intakes were variable but not significantly influenced by concentrate energy source or formulated CP level, except in the 1st year where animals consuming the high CP concentrate ate more silage. Silage DM intake decreased as concentrate allowance was increased with the substitution rate (kg silage DM per kg concentrate DM) increasing as concentrate allowance was increased.Increasing the concentrate allowance effected the expected increases in milk yield. Concentrate energy source did not influence milk yield but the higher CP levels effected a 2-kg increase in milk yield. Feeding of LNDF concentrates depressed milk fat concentration and its yield, the depression being accentuated with each increase in concentrate allowance. The depression in milk fat concentration was negatively correlated with the forage: concentrate ratio of the diet consumed. Furthermore, dietary NDF proportion was shown to account for greater than half of the variation in milk fat concentration. In contrast to the observations made for milk fat, feeding the LNDF concentrates effected an increase in milk protein concentration but only at the lower CP level of the concentrate.


1971 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Gordon ◽  
T. J. Forbes

SummaryThirty-six lactating cows were used in a 3×2 factorial design experiment to study the effects of level of energy and fibre intake on milk yield and composition over an 8-week experimental period. Three levels of fibre intake — 1g of crude fibre per 25, 17·5 and 10 kcal of estimated metabolizable energy (ME) requirements — were given in diets supplying both 80 and 100% of energy requirements. The level of energy intake significantly affected milk yield, milk energy output and the percentage solids-not-fat (SNF) and protein in the milk. The effects of fibre intake on both milk yield and milk energy output were marked but not significant. Fibre intake had a significant curvilinear effect on both the SNF and protein in the milk with the highest fibre intake resulting in a significant decrease in both fractions. A significant linear decrease was obtained in the lactose fraction as the fibre intake increased.The total volatile fatty acid (VFA) level in the rumen was significantly affected by both energy and fibre intake. The level of energy intake only significantly affected the proportion of propionic acid. Fibre intake significantly affected the proportion of both acetic and butyric acids resulting in mean proportions of acetic acid of 66, 70 and 72 at the low, medium and high fibre intakes. The correlations between the rumen acids and lactation efficiencies are also presented.Multiple regression analysis within each fibre level has been used to partition the ME available for production between that used for milk energy output and liveweight change. The results showed efficiencies of utilization of ME for milk output of 66, 65 and 56 on the low, medium and high fibre diets respectively.Nitrogen balance data are presented.


Author(s):  
Ni Nyoman Suryani ◽  
I Wayan Suarna ◽  
Ni Putu Sarini ◽  
I Gede Mahardika

To determine the effect of energy levels on digestible nutrient, milk production and milk quality of 7 months pregnant Bali cattle, was the purpose of this study. The study was conducted in Bali, Province of Indonesia on 12 pregnant breeding phase of pre-calving (2 months before the birth) with the parent body weight 329-340 kg/head. The treatment given is four types of Metabolizable Energy (ME) levels: 2000, 2100, 2200 and 2300/kg respectively as treatment A, B, C, and D. All ration contain 10% of crude protein. Variables measured: energy intake, digestible nutrient, milk yield, and milk quality. This research is a randomized block design. The results showed that increase energy ration until 2300 kcal ME/kg would significantly (P<0.05) increase energy intake and highest at cattle consumed ratio D is 22239.55 kcal/day. However, digestible nutrient was not affected. Milk production increased with increasing energy rations and highest (P<0.05) at cattle received treatment D is 2179.83 ml/day compared to treatment A 936.67 ml/day. Milk fat and milk lactose also highest (P<0.05) in treatment D are 8.56% and 4.76% respectively. Based on these results, it can be concluded that increase energy ration will increase energy intake, milk yield and milk fat and milk lactose of Bali cattle. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
RATNESH K CHOUDHARY ◽  
A Saran ROY ◽  
N K SINGH3 ◽  
SANJAY KUMAR ◽  
RAUSHAN K SINGH

An On-Farm Trial was conducted on 24 lactating crossbred cows for assessment of feeding formaldehyde treated mustard cake (bypass protein) on milk production and economic analysis of lactating cow. Cows were divided into three groups having 8 cows each, treatments were farmers’ practice (FP); (Control): The lactating animals under this group were fedas per the feeding schedule of the farmers (5 kg. dry roughage as rice straw + 6 hrs grazing as local grass and 4 kg. commercial concentrates), T1: The lactating animals under this group were fed as per farmers practicewith 12% mustard cake of total diet was provided to the cow by replacing the same amount of commercial concentrates andT2: The lactating animals under this group were fed as per farmers practicewith 12% formaldehyde treated mustard cake of total diet was provided to the cow by replacing same amount of commercial concentrates. The average daily milk yield of lactating cows under FP, T1 and T2 was 8.58, 8.82 and 9.85 kg per cow, respectively. Differences between FP and T2 were significant. The daily increase in milk yield was 1.27 kg and 1.03 kg in cows fed T2diet over the cows fed FP and T1diet, respectively. The B: C ratios for FP, T1 and T2 groups were 2.6, 3.0 and 3.3, respectively. The feed cost reduced in T2 group by Rs. 8.64 and increased milk production by 1.27 kg in respect to FP group.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 722
Author(s):  
Jang-Hoon Jo ◽  
Jalil Ghassemi Nejad ◽  
Dong-Qiao Peng ◽  
Hye-Ran Kim ◽  
Sang-Ho Kim ◽  
...  

This study aims to characterize the influence of short-term heat stress (HS; 4 day) in early lactating Holstein dairy cows, in terms of triggering blood metabolomics and parameters, milk yield and composition, and milk microRNA expression. Eight cows (milk yield = 30 ± 1.5 kg/day, parity = 1.09 ± 0.05) were homogeneously housed in environmentally controlled chambers, assigned into two groups with respect to the temperature humidity index (THI) at two distinct levels: approximately ~71 (low-temperature, low-humidity; LTLH) and ~86 (high-temperature, high-humidity; HTHH). Average feed intake (FI) dropped about 10 kg in the HTHH group, compared with the LTLH group (p = 0.001), whereas water intake was only numerically higher (p = 0.183) in the HTHH group than in the LTLH group. Physiological parameters, including rectal temperature (p = 0.001) and heart rate (p = 0.038), were significantly higher in the HTHH group than in the LTLH group. Plasma cortisol and haptoglobin were higher (p < 0.05) in the HTHH group, compared to the LTLH group. Milk yield, milk fat yield, 3.5% fat-corrected milk (FCM), and energy-corrected milk (ECM) were lower (p < 0.05) in the HTHH group than in the LTLH group. Higher relative expression of milk miRNA-216 was observed in the HTHH group (p < 0.05). Valine, isoleucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, lactic acid, 3-phenylpropionic acid, 1,5-anhydro-D-sorbitol, myo-inositol, and urea were decreased (p < 0.05). These results suggest that early lactating cows are more vulnerable to short-term (4 day) high THI levels—that is, HTHH conditions—compared with LTLH, considering the enormous negative effects observed in measured blood metabolomics and parameters, milk yield and compositions, and milk miRNA-216 expression.


1987 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 375-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Sutton ◽  
J. A. Bines ◽  
S. V. Morant ◽  
D. J. Napper ◽  
D. J. Givens

SummaryTwenty-four Friesian cows were allocated to one of four diets for weeks 3–14 of lactation following 2 weeks on a common diet. The diets (kg air-dry feed/day) were 7–2 kg hay and 10·8 kg either starchy or fibrous concentrates (60S and 60F) or 3·5 kg hay and 14·0 kg either starchy or fibrous concentrates (80S and 80F). Rumen samples were taken by stomach tube in weeks 10 and 12 of lactation and the digestibility of the diets was measured with four cows per treatment during weeks 13 and 14. The digestibility of the same feeds was also measured in sheep at maintenance.The principal carbohydrate constituents of the concentrates were barley, wheat and cassava in the starchy concentrates and citrus pulp, sugar-beet pulp and wheat feed in the fibrous concentrates. The concentrates were designed to have similar concentrations of metabolizable energy (ME) and the diets were planned to provide similar intakes of digestible energy and crude protein.Milk yield and composition were very similar for treatments 60S and 60F. With the higher proportion of starchy concentrates (80S), milk yield was about 20% greater than on 60S, fat concentration fell severely but protein and lactose concentrations were unaffected. With the higher proportion of fibrous concentrates (80F), milk yield and the protein and lactose concentration were similar to values on 60F but fat concentration was lower, though not nearly so low as on 80S. Milk energy yield was reduced by the higher proportion of concentrates but was unaffected by type of carbohydrates. Live-weight changes were small.In both the sheep, consuming at maintenance, and the lactating cows consuming at about 3 times maintenance, digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and energy was higher with the higher concentrate diets but was unaffected by type of concentrate. The digestibility of fibre was greater with the fibrous concentrates but the effect of level of concentrate inclusion was inconsistent. Digestibility coefficients were consistently lower for the lactating cows than for the sheep.The proportion of acetic acid in the rumen volatile fatty acids in the cows was higher and the proportion of propionic acid was lower with the fibrous concentrates. The differences were much greater with the higher proportion of concentrates.During weeks 15–22 of lactation the cows were reallocated to concentrate treatments and given hay ad libitum. Hay intake was about 1 kg/day higher with the fibrous concentrates but the difference was not significant. Hay intake fell by about 0·6 kg/kg concentrate intake for both concentrate types. No significant differences in milk yield or composition were established, probably because of incomplete adaptation even after 8 weeks.It is concluded that at concentrate intakes of about 10 kg/day, the source of carbohydrate in the concentrates has little effect on milk production when the concentrates are of similar ME concentration. However, at higher levels of concentrate inclusion, although the diets may have similar ME concentrations, important differences in the yields of fat, protein and lactose occur due to carbohydrate source and these can be related to differences in rumen fermentation.


1979 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 707-712 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. FISHER

Thirty-six lactating cows, after their first week on spring pasture, were subdivided into three groups of 12 cows each and assigned to one of three pelleted grain mixtures containing 0, 5 or 10% protected lipid. These grain mixtures were fed in the milking parlor at the rate of 1.0 kg/4.0 kg of milk yield for a period of 14 days and then the cows were switched to the next ration in the sequence. Milk yield and grain intake were recorded daily. Milk samples for fat, protein and lactose determinations were taken during the last week of the drylot feeding period, during the preliminary pasture period and on the last 2 days of each experimental period. The change in feeding system from drylot to pasture resulted in an average decrease of 0.65 and 0.10 percentage units in milk fat and lactose contents, respectively, and an increase of 0.27 of a percentage unit in protein content. Refusals of the grain mixture were greater (P < 0.05) but milk yields per kilogram of grain intake were higher (P < 0.05) for grain mixtures containing 10% protected lipid than for the control ration. Protected lipid was not effective in countering the milk fat depression caused by the onset of the spring grazing season. The feeding of protected lipid at the rate of 5 and 10% resulted in only a 10 and 27% recovery in total fat yield compared to cows fed the control ration.


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