Production characteristics of high-yielding dairy cows

1983 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Neilson ◽  
C. T. Whittemore ◽  
M. Lewis ◽  
J. C. Alliston ◽  
D. J. Roberts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Energy Intake ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Gross Efficiency

ABSTRACTUnderstanding the relationships between food intake, milk output and body condition in high-yielding dairy cows is crucial in determining suitable management strategies. During two winter feeding periods 38 and 37 cows were individually fed, to appetite, complete diets which on average contained 11·7 MJ metabolizable energy per kg dry matter and comprised grass silage, concentrate meal and brewers' grains (draff). The groups' mean 305-day yield was 7 240 kg (s.d. 1 281) with 42 g (s.d. 4·3) fat per kg. Regression analysis was carried out to describe dry-matter intake both for 26 weeks post calving and for four successive 6-week periods from calving. The final equations, which had a residual s.d. of 0·07 to 0·10 of the observed intake, included milk yield, cow size and a measure of body-condition change. The cows were divided into three groups (high, medium and low) on two criteria: (1) mean milk yield (MJ/day) during the first 26 weeks of lactation and (2) post-calving backfat index determined ultrasonically. Differences were found between milk-yield groups from gross efficiency (milk yield (MJ)/energy intake (MJ metabolizable energy)) (P < 0·001), mean metabolizable energy intake (MJ/day) (P < 0·01), dry-matter intake as a proportion of live weight (P < 0·05), and post calving live weight (kg) (P < 0·05). Differences were found between backfat-index groups for maximum backfat loss and loss to day 42 (P < 0·001); also for mean live weight during the 26 weeks and post calving live weight (P < 0·001), dry-matter intake as a proportion of live weight (P < 0·05) and lactation number (P < 0·05). Interactions were found between the milk yield groups and backfat groups for milk yield (P < 0·01) and gross efficiency (P < 0·05) with the fattest group containing the highest and lowest yields and efficiencies.

scholarly journals Non-structural carbohydrates in the nutrition of high-yielding dairy cows during a transition period

2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 11) ◽  
pp. 468-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Poláková ◽  
V. Kudrna ◽  
A. Kodeš ◽  
B. Hučko ◽  
Z. Mudřík
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Maize Starch ◽  
Milk Performance

The main aim of this study was to investigate experimentally the effect of different composition of non-structural carbohydrates (NFC) in prepartum feed rations administered to high-yielding dairy cows at a high concentration of NFC in the diet on dry matter intake both before and after parturition and on subsequent milk performance, body condition and physiological traits of rumen fluid and blood. Thirty-six high-yielding dairy cows were allocated into one of the three well-balanced groups (K, O, and C), and each group received a different feeding rations. Feeding rations differed in non-structural carbohydrate (NFC) structure. The "K" (control) group received a feeding ration with NFC in the form of maize starch in particular, while the feeding rations of the other two (experimental) groups contained either (besides maize starch) saccharose from dried sugar beet (the "O" group) or a dominant amount of NFC was in the form of saccharose (the "C" group). After calving, all dairy cows were given the same feeding ration from the first day after parturition. The experiment was conducted for 21 days before and 50 days after calving. FR in the form of total mixed ration was offered ad libitum. Dry matter intake, milk performance, body condition, live weight, and blood and rumen parameters were recorded for the duration of the experiment. Average daily dry matter intake before calving was highest in the "K" group (14.32 kg per head). Differences among groups were statistically significant (P &lt; 0.05). Prepartum dry matter consumption dropped as the rate of saccharose in the diet of cows increased. Dry matter consumption levelled off after calving. Milk yield was also highest in the "K" group (43.71 kg/head/day), but fatness of milk and thus the production of fat corrected milk were lowest in this group. The highest milk fat content (4.10%) and fat corrected milk production (44.03 kg/head/day) were recorded in the "C" group, whereas the highest milk protein concentration was found in the milk of the "O" group. The composition of NFC affected dry matter intake before parturition, but these concentrations did not significantly affect dry matter intake, milk yield, milk composition, live weight, body condition or blood serum and rumen fluid parameters after calving

scholarly journals Non-structural carbohydrates in the nutrition of high-yielding dairy cows during a transition period

2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 468-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Poláková ◽  
V. Kudrna ◽  
A. Kodeš ◽  
B. Hučko ◽  
Z. Mudřík
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Maize Starch ◽  
Milk Performance

The main aim of this study was to investigate experimentally the effect of different composition of non-structural carbohydrates (NFC) in prepartum feed rations administered to high-yielding dairy cows at a high concentration of NFC in the diet on dry matter intake both before and after parturition and on subsequent milk performance, body condition and physiological traits of rumen fluid and blood. Thirty-six high-yielding dairy cows were allocated into one of the three well-balanced groups (K, O, and C), and each group received a different feeding rations. Feeding rations differed in non-structural carbohydrate (NFC) structure. The "K" (control) group received a feeding ration with NFC in the form of maize starch in particular, while the feeding rations of the other two (experimental) groups contained either (besides maize starch) saccharose from dried sugar beet (the "O" group) or a dominant amount of NFC was in the form of saccharose (the "C" group). After calving, all dairy cows were given the same feeding ration from the first day after parturition. The experiment was conducted for 21 days before and 50 days after calving. FR in the form of total mixed ration was offered ad libitum. Dry matter intake, milk performance, body condition, live weight, and blood and rumen parameters were recorded for the duration of the experiment. Average daily dry matter intake before calving was highest in the "K" group (14.32 kg per head). Differences among groups were statistically significant (P &lt; 0.05). Prepartum dry matter consumption dropped as the rate of saccharose in the diet of cows increased. Dry matter consumption levelled off after calving. Milk yield was also highest in the "K" group (43.71 kg/head/day), but fatness of milk and thus the production of fat corrected milk were lowest in this group. The highest milk fat content (4.10%) and fat corrected milk production (44.03 kg/head/day) were recorded in the "C" group, whereas the highest milk protein concentration was found in the milk of the "O" group. The composition of NFC affected dry matter intake before parturition, but these concentrations did not significantly affect dry matter intake, milk yield, milk composition, live weight, body condition or blood serum and rumen fluid parameters after calving.

Complete diets for dairy cows: comparisons of feeding to appetite with rationing according to milk yield

1980 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 715-726 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. D. Greenhalgh ◽  
G. W. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Energy Requirement ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Under Nutrition

SummaryTwo experiments were made, each with 35 autumn-calving cows fed on complete diets containing 40–70% hay and 60–30% concentrates. In both experiments, cows fed to appetite on a diet containing 11 MJ metabolizable energy/kg D.M. for weeks 7–24 of lactation ate about 20% more than cows rationed according to yield, but produced only about 3% more milk. The cows fed to appetite gained more in live weight, but lost their weight advantage during the subsequent grazing season.In Expt 1, a further group of cows were fed to appetite on diets progressively reduced in metabolizable energy content from 11·0 to 9·2 MJ/kg. Dry-matter intake decreased by about 1·2 kg/day per 1 MJ reduction in energy content. The lower dry-matter and energy intakes of cows on this treatment did not significantly reduce their milk yield, but their response when turned out to grass suggested under-nutrition in late winter. In Expt 2, increasing the energy content of the diet in early lactation (weeks 7–12) and reducing it thereafter had no significant effect on milk yield.Within each treatment group there were reasonably close relationships between energy intake and energy requirement. Nevertheless, it seems likely that the efficiency of feed utilization of cows fed on complete diets will be low unless intake is controlled by energy dilution.

Nutrition of the early-weaned calf. XI. Intake of diets differing in energy concentration

1970 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 413-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kay ◽  
N. A. MacLeod ◽  
Margaret McLaren
Keyword(s):  
Energy Intake ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Energy Ratio ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Energy Concentration ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Low Energy Diet

SUMMARY1. A growth and digestibility trial was carried out with 27 British Friesian calves given diets having either 3·1, 2·8 or 2·4 Meal metabolizable energy per kg dry matter and either the same concentration of protein or the same protein-to-energy ratio.2. Daily dry-matter intake and rate of gain in live weight increased significantly as the energy concentration of the diet was reduced. There were no significant differences in digestible-energy intake between calves given the different diets, although the trend was the same as for dry-matter intake.3. Both dry-matter digestibility and energy digestibility were lowest for the low-energy diet.

The efficiency of utilization of metabolizable energy for milk production: a comparison of Holstein with F1 Montbeliarde × Holstein cows

2006 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Aharoni ◽  
A. Brosh ◽  
E. Kafchuk
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Heat Production ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Heart Beat ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Body Retention

AbstractThe objectives were to demonstrate the potential of heat production measurements to characterize the gross and net efficiencies of dairy cows under commercial conditions and to compare the efficiencies of purebred Holstein and Montbeliarde × Holstein F1 dairy cows. The heat productions of seven Holstein (H) and seven Montbeliarde × Holstein (MH) cows were measured over two 10-day periods separated by a 75-day interval, during the summer of 2004, in a commercial high-yielding dairy herd in Israel. Energy expenditure was measured by monitoring heart rates and oxygen consumption per heart beat. Milk yield and composition were recorded for these cows and their investment of energy in the milk was calculated from the milk yield and composition. Live weight and body condition score were also recorded in parallel with these measurements. Metabolizable energy (ME) intake was estimated as the sum of heat production, energy in milk and body energy balance. The MH cows were heavier by 90 kg, had higher body condition scores by 0·9 units and secreted proportionately 0·19 and 0·38 less energy in their milk than H cows in the first and second periods, respectively. The gross energy efficiencies, expressed as the percentage of milk production plus body retention in ME intake were 48·3 and 43·4% in the first period and 45·6 and 32·8% in the second period, for H and MH cows, respectively. The milk production of MH cows in this study was lower than the potential of this cross, however, MH cows that expressed this potential would still be expected to require proportionately 0·10 greater intake of ME than H cows, per unit of energy in milk.

Observations on the relationships between the nutrition, milk yield, live weight and reproductive performance of dairy cows

1984 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Ducker ◽  
S. V. Morant
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Dietary Treatment ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Expected Time ◽  
Rate Of Increase

ABSTRACTOver a 2-year period, 80 dairy cows were used to investigate the relationship between nutrition and fertility. The plane of nutrition of half the cows was raised for a 9-week period around the expected time of artificial insemination in both breeding seasons. The net effect was that the high-plane cows received 15% extra metabolizable energy during the 9-week period. This was achieved by giving these cows a high-energy concentrate (calculated value 13·1 MJ metabolizable energy per kg dry matter), whereas the control cows received a concentrate with a calculated energy density of 12·5 MJ metabolizable energy per kg dry matter. All cows received a basal ration that supplied an average of 75 and 80 MJ metabolizable energy per cow per day in the 2 years, respectively. Control cows received their calculated amount of dry matter using the control concentrate, whereas the high-plane cows received their calculated dry matter using the high-energy concentrate. The high-plane cows also received an additional 0·5 kg dry matter per head per day of their concentrate. They also received additional concentrates (2 kg per head per day) for 8 weeks, commencing 12 weeks before the second calving.There was no effect of dietary treatment on the reproductive performance of the cows, although some measures of milk yield, live weight and body condition were affected significantly.Analysis of data from all cows, regardless of treatment group, showed that the probability of pregnancy to an insemination was most strongly associated with milk yield on day 21 of lactation. Only the cumulative yield to day 21 was related to the probability of pregnancy after accounting for the trend with yield on day 21. The chance of pregnancy was lower in cows whose milk yields on day 21 were high but, among cows with similar yields on day 21, those with the higher cumulative yields at that time tended to become pregnant more readily. Thus both yield per se and rate of increase in yield in early lactation were associated with subsequent reproductive performance.

Association of leptin polymorphisms with milk yield, dry matter intake, energy balance, luteal activity and serum leptin levels during lactation in HF dairy cows

2002 ◽  
Vol 2002 ◽  
pp. 45-45
Author(s):  
S.C. Liefers ◽  
R.F. Veerkamp ◽  
M.F.W. te Pas ◽  
C. Delavaud ◽  
Y. Chilliard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Gene Locus ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Plasma Leptin

Since evidence is present that genetic correlations between start of luteal activity and energy balance, milk yield and live weight exist (Veerkamp et al., 2000), it could be hypothesised that polymorphisms at the leptin gene locus might play a role. The first objective of this study was to associate plasma leptin levels during late pregnancy with genetic differences in the leptin gene. The second objective was to relate these polymorphisms with variations in energy balance, milk production, dry matter intake and fertility.

scholarly journals Predicting Daily Dry Matter Intake Using Feed Intake of First Two Hours after Feeding in Mid and Late Lactation Dairy Cows with Fed Ration Three Times Per Day

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 104
Author(s):  
Shulin Liang ◽  
Chaoqun Wu ◽  
Wenchao Peng ◽  
Jian-Xin Liu ◽  
Hui-Zeng Sun
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Prediction Equation ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Validation Dataset ◽  
Nutrient Requirements ◽  
Independent Dataset ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Proposed Model

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using the dry matter intake of first 2 h after feeding (DMI-2h), body weight (BW), and milk yield to estimate daily DMI in mid and late lactating dairy cows with fed ration three times per day. Our dataset included 2840 individual observations from 76 cows enrolled in two studies, of which 2259 observations served as development dataset (DDS) from 54 cows and 581 observations acted as the validation dataset (VDS) from 22 cows. The descriptive statistics of these variables were 26.0 ± 2.77 kg/day (mean ± standard deviation) of DMI, 14.9 ± 3.68 kg/day of DMI-2h, 35.0 ± 5.48 kg/day of milk yield, and 636 ± 82.6 kg/day of BW in DDS and 23.2 ± 4.72 kg/day of DMI, 12.6 ± 4.08 kg/day of DMI-2h, 30.4 ± 5.85 kg/day of milk yield, and 597 ± 63.7 kg/day of BW in VDS, respectively. A multiple regression analysis was conducted using the REG procedure of SAS to develop the forecasting models for DMI. The proposed prediction equation was: DMI (kg/day) = 8.499 + 0.2725 × DMI-2h (kg/day) + 0.2132 × Milk yield (kg/day) + 0.0095 × BW (kg/day) (R2 = 0.46, mean bias = 0 kg/day, RMSPE = 1.26 kg/day). Moreover, when compared with the prediction equation for DMI in Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle (2001) using the independent dataset (VDS), our proposed model shows higher R2 (0.22 vs. 0.07) and smaller mean bias (−0.10 vs. 1.52 kg/day) and RMSPE (1.77 vs. 2.34 kg/day). Overall, we constructed a feasible forecasting model with better precision and accuracy in predicting daily DMI of dairy cows in mid and late lactation when fed ration three times per day.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document