The influence of concentrate amount on locomotion and clinical lameness in dairy cattle

1988 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Manson ◽  
J. D. Leaver

ABSTRACTAn experiment with two groups of 24 cows during weeks 3 to 22 of lactation examined the influence of 7 (L) or 11 (H) kg concentrates per day on the prevalence of lameness. Grass silage was offeredad libitum. The cows were scored on a 1 to 5 scale for their locomotion on a weekly basis (1 = normal locomotion; 5 = severely lame). Cows scoring 3 or more were considered to be clinically lame. This allowed the prevalence of lameness, its severity and duration to be measured and statistically analysed. There were significantly more observations of lameness in the H cows than the L cows (0·077 and 0·021 observations per cow week) and the severity and duration of lameness incidents were significantly greater. The major causes of lameness were solar problems in the hind feet. The prevalence declined in both treatments as lactation progressed. The predisposing causes of the higher incidence in treatment H could have been the higher concentrate: forage ratio, the greater daily metabolizable energy intake or the greater daily crude protein intake. For treatments L and H, mean milk yields were 20·5, 23·7 kg/day; milk fat 41·7, 39·0 g/kg; milk protein 31·4, 32·0 g/kg; live-weight change -0·12, +0·11 kg/day; and condition score 2·04, 2·18.

1988 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. K. Sloan ◽  
P. Rowlinson ◽  
D. G. Armstrong

ABSTRACTFollowing a 3-week covariance period, 30 group-housed dairy cows were individually given one of three diets from week 4 to week 13 of lactation to determine any possible advantage in milk yield and production of feeding levels of undegradable protein (+UDP) or rumen-degradable protein (+RDP) above the minimum levels (control) proposed by the Agricultural Research Council (ARC, 1984). The three concentrates given were formulated to be of equivalent metabolizable energy (ME, 13·5 MJ/kg dry matter (DM)) concentration and each consisted of rolled barley plus a protein supplement: control (crude protein (CP), 129 g/kg DM) 0·35 kg DM fish meal per day; +UDP (CP, 167 g7kg DM) 1·0 kg DM fish meal per day; and +RDP (CP, 167 g/kg DM) 1+5 kg DM soya per day. For each group the total ‘concentrate’ allowance per animal per day was 11·6 kg fresh weight and was given in three equal feeds. Grass silage (CP 122 g/kg DM, ME 106 MJ/kg DM) was given ad libitum. For the control, +UDP and +RDP treatments, respectively, mean grass silage intakes were 8·29, 8·62 and 8·65 kg/day and mean milk yields were 26·6, 26·3 and 26·1 kg/day. These were not significantly different (P > 0·05). Milk fat concentration was lower (P < 0·05) for the +UDP treatment (36·4 g/kg) in comparison with the control (38·6 g/kg) or the +RDP treatment (39·7 g/kg) but no other milk constituent was significantly influenced by treatment. There was a trend for a greater live-weight gain with treatment +UDP (0·81 kg/day) compared with the other two treatments (control 0·50, +RDP 0·51 kg/day) but there were no differences in condition-score change between treatments. In this trial there was no advantage to feeding formulated levels of UDP or RDP above those proposed by ARC (1984).


1996 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Zerbini ◽  
A. G. Wold ◽  
T. Gemeda

AbstractThis study examined whether a prolonged anoestrus had any long-term effect on subsequent fertility of cows and estimated the relationship between repletion and resumption of reproductive activity. Twelve low body-condition, non-milking, non-cycling (depletion state) F1 crossbred dairy cows (Friesian × Boron and Simmental × Boran) were stratified to two diets (H: natural grass hay offered ad libitum and mineral lick +3 kg concentrate, and H + P: H + 7 h/day natural pasture grazing) according to parity, body weight, body condition score and calving intervals. Daily dry-matter intake was similar between cows on the two diets, but total intake of nitrogen was proportionately about 0·10 greater for cows with access to pasture. The calculated metabolizable energy intake was more than twice the estimated maintenance requirement for cows on both diets. Live weights increased from depletion to ovulation, to oestrus and to conception, but were not significantly different between cows on both diets. Body condition score increased from depletion time to first oestrus and to repletion and was greater for H + P than for H cows at first oestrus and at conception. After an average of 45 days of repletion, cows were already ovulating with no significant differences between cows on either diet. Days to onset of oestrus were 83 and 44 days for diet H and H + P, respectively. Time to conception was similar between coivs on both diets. Conception occurred when cows on H and H + P diets had recovered proportionately 0·51 and 0·58 of their live-weight and 0·84 and 1·27 of their body condition loss, respectively. Interval to repletion weight was 178 and 139 days for cows on the H and H + P diet, respectively. Cows subjected to an exceptionally long depletion period were able to resume ovarian cyclic activity and to conceive in less than 3 months when given twice maintenance requirements. These results have important management implication for on-farm situations in the tropics where fluctuations of food availability and quality occur.


1989 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Manson ◽  
J. D. Leaver

ABSTRACTDuring weeks 3 to 26 of lactation, two groups of 24 cows were offered either a 60:40 (high) or a 40:60 (low) ratio of concentrate dry matter:silage dry matter. The 40:60 diet was restricted to give the same daily metabolizable energy and crude protein intake. The hooves of half the cows on each diet were trimmed prior to the experiment, the other half remaining untrimmed. The high concentrate ratio significantly increased locomotion score (high scores indicating poorer locomotion), and the number and duration of clinical cases of lameness. Trimming of hooves significantly reduced the number and diiration of clinical cases. Hoof growth was significantly increased by trimming. Hoof hardness was significantly reduced by the high concentrate ratio. The low concentrate ratio had 8/24 cows lame for an average of 3·3 weeks compared with 11 cows for 3·9 weeks on the high ratio. There were 7/24 trimmed cows lame for 3·1 weeks compared with 12 untrimmed cows lame for 4·2 weeks. The main hoof lesions were solar ulcers and heel erosion. There was no significant effect on milk yield, but milk protein was signficantly increased by the high concentrate ratio. Condition score was significantly negatively correlated with locomotion score.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arto Kalevi Huuskonen ◽  
Seija Jaakkola ◽  
Katariina Manni

Total mixed rations (TMR) based on grass silage (GS), triticale silage (TS), mixture of GS and TS, barley silage (BS) and mixture of GS and BS were fed to fifty Hereford (HF) and fifty Charolais (CH) bulls. The proportion (g kg-1 dry matter [DM]) of the silages in the TMRs were as follows: (1) GS (600); (2) TS (600); (3) GS (300) and TS (300); (4) BS (600); (5) GS (300) and BS (300). Concentrate proportion was 400 g kg-1 DM. According to feed analyses, the GS had 15 and 8% higher metabolizable energy (ME) concentration as well as 51 and 49% higher crude protein (CP) concentration compared to TS and BS, respectively. Average DM intake (DMI) on TS and BS containing diets was higher compared to GS as a sole forage (p=0.001). Compared to the TS based rations the use of BS rations increased daily DMI by 5% (p<0.05). In CH bulls, DMI decreased 0.8 kg d-1when GS partially replaced TS or BS while in HF bulls the use of silage mixtures slightly increased DMI (0.23 kg d-1). The live weight gain (LWG) and carcass gain of the CH bulls were 5 and 26% higher, respectively, compared to the HF bulls. Inclusion of GS in the diet increased LWG and carcass gain with TS but decreased them with BS (interaction p<0.01). The experiment demonstrated lower feeding value of TS compared to BS in the diet of the bulls. Whole crop silage based rations increased DMI compared to GS as a sole forage in the TMR. When GS partially replaced TS or BS, interactions in LWG and carcass gain results demonstrated higher feeding value for BS and lower for TS compared to GS. Feeding treatments had only minor effects on carcass traits of the bulls.


2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 348 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. MANNINEN ◽  
K. SAARIJÄRVI ◽  
H. HUHTA

The present study evaluated the effects of feeding strategies with alternative feeds on the performance of mature suckler cows and their progeny during indoor feeding and subsequent grazing. In both experiments, a 2 × 2 factorially arranged design consisted of two feeding strategies (Step-up, Sas offered on Strategy S, but at a constant daily level. In Experiment 1, cows on Diet C were offered grass silage and straw and on Diet A grass silage and a fl our-mill industry by-product. On Strategy S, feeding was stepped with barley (0, 1.5 and 3.5 kg d-1). On Strategy F, barley was offered 1.43 kg per head daily. In Experiment 2, cows were offered either grass silage (C) or whole-crop barley silage (A) as a sole feed. Strategy S was carried out by offering 68, 95 and 119 MJ metabolizable energy (ME) per cow daily. On Strategy F, roughage was given daily 97 MJ ME. In both experiments, there were no signifi cant differences between treatments in the cow live weight, body condition score, calf pre-weaning live weight gain and cow reproduction. Strategy F can be practised in the nutrition of mature suckler cows in marginal circumstances. Flour-mill industry by-product can partly replace grass silage and straw in the winter diet. Wholecrop barley silage can be offered as a sole feed to suckler cows with good body condition score in autumn.;


1984 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Chalmers ◽  
F. R. Moisey ◽  
J. D. Leaver

ABSTRACTIn two experiments cows with access to self-feed grass silage were offered concentrates either twice daily in the milking parlour at a fixed level (controls) or in addition given free-access to a concentrate dispenser sited in the self-feed area (dispenser). A time-lapse mechanism on the dispenser limited successive 1 kg feeds to a minimum of 10 min in experiment 1 and 5 min in experiment 2. The ‘dispenser’ cows had significantly greater total concentrate intakes than had the controls (10·4 v. 7·1 kg/day in experiment 1, 13·4 v. 7·3 kg/day in experiment 2), but there was a large variation in intake between individuals. Access to the dispenser increased milk yields only slightly, reduced milk fat concentration and increased milk protein concentration and live-weight gain. Following turnout to grass in the spring, there was evidence that the cows that had been on the dispenser treatment showed a faster rate of decline in milk yield than did the controls, and this was supported by lower lactation yields in the dispenser group.


1984 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 323-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. Phipps ◽  
J. A. Bines ◽  
R. F. Weller ◽  
Joanne Thomas

SUMMARYNinety-two British Friesians (56 cows and 36 heifers) were divided into two groups during weeks 3–10 of lactation and received ad libitum either complete diet H (65% concentrates, 35% grass silage, 11·7 MJ ME/kg D.M.) or diet M (50% concentrates, 50% grass silage, 11·2 MJ ME/kg D.M.). In weeks 11· 20 half the animals of each group continued to receive the same diet (HH or MM) while the other half were changed from diet H to M (HM) or from diet M to L (ML). Diet L contained 35% concentrates, 65% grass silage and 10·7 MJ ME/kg D.M. The crude protein concentration of all diets was maintained at about 157 g/kg D.M. by the addition of soya-bean meal to diets M and L.During weeks 3–10 the mean D.M. intake (kg/day), milk yield (kg/day), milk protein (g/kg) and live-weight change (kg/day) for animals on diets H and M were 15·0, 21·7, 33·3, 0·50 and 12·9, 20·2, 31·5, 0·35 respectively. Differences were significant for D.M. intake, milk yield and milk protein concentration. Although milk-fat concentration of cows given diet H (40·2 g/kg) was similar to that of cows given diet M (39·9 g/kg), heifers receiving diet H had a significantly lower value (37·0 g/kg) than those given diet M (39·8 g/kg).When animals were changed from diet H to M or from M to L at week 11, D.M. intake, milk yield and milk-protein concentration decreased. However, milk-fat concentration and live-weight change were generally unaffected.During the complete experimental period, weeks 3–20, animals on treatments HH, HM, MM and ML had mean D.M. intakes and milk yields of 15·3, 14·2, 13·2, 12·4 kg/day and 19·7, 18·5, 17·8, 17·0 kg/day. Milk-protein concentration, was closely related to D.M. intake, but only with heifers did diet H significantly depress milk-fat concentration. The highest live-weight gain was recorded on treatment HH (0·40 kg/day) and the lowost on treatment ML (0·29 kg/day) with intermediate values for treatments HM and MM.In vivodigestibility coefficients of D.M. and organic matter for diet H (0·731, 0·757) were significantly higher than those of diet L (0·707, 0·734) with intermediate values for diet M. However, for acid-detergent fibre the digestibility coefficient for diet H was significantly lower (0·562) than for diet L (0·662). The digestibility coefficients for nitrogen in all three diets were similar.Estimates of mean efficiency of utilization of ME for lactation were made on a weekly basis and were 0·56 and 0·64 for animals on diets H and M in weeks 3·10. During weeks 11·20 the mean values for animals on treatments HH, HM, MM and ML were 0·46, 0·53, 0·51 and 0·59, respectively.


1979 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Gordon

ABSTRACTGrass silage with a dry-matter (DM) content of 253 g/kg and containing 142 g crude protein and 670 g digestible organic matter/kg DM was offeredad libitumto 56 first- and second-lactation British Friesian cows during the first 75 days post-calving. In addition the animals received supplementary concentrates containing either 95 (T1), 137 (T2), 174 (T3) or 209 (T4) g crude protein per kg fresh weight, with extracted soya bean meal being used as the protein source. All concentrates were offered at equal levels across treatments, the amounts being 8 kg for first- and 10 kg per day for second-lactation animals. The silage DM intakes recorded over the period were 514, 524, 548 and 545 ± 19·9 kg and milk outputs were 1349, 1451, 1533 and 1628 ±40·2 kg for treatments Tl to T4 respectively. The rate of live-weight change and the milk fat, solids-not-fat, protein, lactose and ash contents of the milk were not affected significantly by any of the treatments. Diet digestibilities were determined using three animals per treatment. The digestibility coefficients were for DM 0·738, 0·746, 0·776 and 0·772 ± 0·0088 and nitrogen 0·597, 0·641, 0·707 and 0·727 ±0·0126 for treatments T1 to T4 respectively.


1988 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Manson ◽  
J. D. Leaver

ABSTRACTIn an experiment during weeks 3 to 26 of lactation, two groups of 12 cows were offered a mixed concentrate/grass silage diet containing 161 g crude protein per kg dry matter, and two similar groups a diet containing 198 g crude protein per kg dry matter. The concentrate: forage ratios and the daily metabolizable energy intakes were the same for all four groups. The cows in one of the two groups at each crude protein level had their hooves trimmed prior to parturition, the other group remaining untrimmed. The high protein diet significantly increased locomotion score (higher scores indicate poorer locomotion), the number and duration of clinical cases of lameness and outer toe length. Trimming of hooves reduced locomotion scores and the number and duration of clinical cases. Hoof growth was significantly increased by trimming. Mid-sole hardness was negatively correlated with locomotion score. At the two extremes, the low protein trimmed group had five cows lame for an average of 1·0 weeks, whereas the high protein untrimmed group had nine cows lame for an average of 4-2 weeks. Condition score and live-weight change were negatively correlated with locomotion score. There were no significant differences between treatments in milk solids yield.


1980 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. W. Holmes ◽  
J. R. Carr ◽  
G. Pearson

ABSTRACTFour diets which varied in crude protein concentration from 140 to 240 g crude protein per kg dry matter were given to gilts in experiment 1, and two diets containing 140 and 200 g crude protein per kg dry matter were given t o boars and barrows in experiment 2. Two levels of feeding were offered in both experiments and energy and nitrogen balances were measured at 30 and 90 kg live weight in both experiments, and also at 50 kg in experiment 1. Nitrogen intake had a small negative influence on energy retention by pigs of all sexes, an effect which was independent of the large positive effect of metabolizable energy intake. The ratio of metabolizable energy concentration to digestible energy concentration decreased in association with increases in crude protein concentration of the diets. The results show that comparisons of feeds on the basis of their digestible energy concentrations would lead to overestimation of the energy values of those containing high protein concentrations. Live weight (or age) and metabolizable energy intake exerted positive influences on the amount of energy retained per kg live-weight gain, whereas nitrogen intake exerted a negative influence. Values for energy retained per kg live-weight gain predicted from multiple regression equations, together with calculated values for maintenance and net efficiency, were used to predict the energy retention and growth rate of pigs in various circumstances.Nitrogen retention increased in association with increases in nitrogen intake for pigs of all sexes at 30 kg live weight; there was also a corresponding increase for boars at 90kg live weight, but not for gilts or barrows at this weight. Boars retained more nitrogen than did barrows at 30 and 90 kg live weight only if given the diet with the higher concentration of protein.Metabolizable energy intake appeared to exert a small positive influence on the nitrogen retention by pigs of all sexes at 90kg live weight; however, it appeared to have no influence on nitrogen retention by pigs at 30kg live weight.


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