The effect of feeding in early lactation on feed intake, yields of milk, fat and protein and on live-weight change over one lactation cycle in dairy cows

1984 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 629-637 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Johnson

SummaryAn experiment has been made to study the effect of level of feeding in early lactation on the feed intake, yields of milk, fat and protein and on live-weight change over one lactation cycle. Adult British Friesian cows of high potential yield were randomly allocated to high (HP) or moderate (MP) levels of feeding for 20 weeks. They were then randomly allocated within treatments to controlled or ad libitum levels of feeding for the rest of the lactation.There were significant effects of feeding in the early part of lactation on the yields of milk, protein and lactose but not on milk fat or live-weight change. Cows on the MP treatment produced about 450 kg milk from body energy reserves but were unable to supplement fully the dietary energy deficiency. There was no significant response to feeding ad libitum in the second part of lactation and the differences in yields established in the first part were maintained in the second. There was no relationship between feed intake and milk yield for cows fed ad libitum nor did the level of feeding in early lactation influence the level of intake in the later part.There was little agreement between calculated energy balance and the live-weight changes but there was more between live-weight change and condition score.

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 351-359
Author(s):  
H. I. Finangwai ◽  
C. J. Orisakwe ◽  
P. Joshua ◽  
E. D. Udoh ◽  
B. S. Dafur

A 60 day study was carried out to determine the effect of protein supplement in Kano brown bucks. Twenty four bucks with initial weight of 10.25-12.33 kg were grouped into three of eight bucks each and were randomly assigned to the three treatment diets in a completely randomized design. Prior to this, concentrate diets were formulated to contain 15%, 30% and 45% cottonseed cake (CSC) as the protein supplement in the dietary treatments. Crop residues formed the basal diet and were fed ad libitum. Alongside, fresh clean water was provided to goats ad libitum. Parameters determined during the experiment were feed intake, daily weight changes, Feed cost and and haematological parameters. Result showed that protein, EE, lysine, methionine and fibre contents increased with increasing levels of CSC in diet, whereas ME in kcal/kg reduced as CSC in diet increased. Feed intake significantly (P<0.05) decreased with increasing levels of CSC in diet across treatment. Final weight gain, average daily live weight and feed to gain ratio significantly (P<0.05) increased when CSC in diet increased from 15% to 45%. Feed cost (N/kg) increased with increased in CSC. However, cost of concentrate intake and feed cost/gain were better for animal fed 45%. Although, varying levels of CSC in diet significantly (P<0.05) influenced the haematological values of WBC, PVC and were within acceptable regions. The distribution of neutrophils, lymptrocytes, monocytes, basophils and eosinophils reduced with increasing levels of CSC in diet, though were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by variation of levels of CSC in diets. It is concluded that including protein supplement such as cottonseed cake in buck diets at 45% can be beneficial to Kano brown bucks.  


1980 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. T. Cowan ◽  
J. J. Robinson ◽  
I. McDonald ◽  
R. Smart

SUMMARYThirty-six mature Finnish Landrace × Dorset Horn ewes, each suckling two lambs, were used in a comparative slaughter experiment to measure changes in body tissues during early lactation. Two levels of body fatness at lambing were established by giving ewes a complete diet containing 10 MJ metabolizable energy (ME) and 139 g crude protein (CP)/kg d.m. either close to requirements or ad libitum during the second half of pregnancy. In lactation half the ewes in each group were given a complete diet containing either 90 (diet A) or 60 (diet B) % milled hay ad libitum. These diets contained 7·9 and 9·2 MJ ME and 121 and 132 g CP/kg d.m. respectively.Ewes fed at the two levels in pregnancy contained 8·4 and 19·6 kg chemically determined fat 5 days after lambing but had similar amounts of body protein, ash and water. Over 6 weeks of lactation ewes given diet A lost 60 and 69% of these weights of fat respectively, while ewes given diet B gained 5% and lost 30% respectively. Up to 26 g of body protein was lost daily from ewes given diet A but none from ewes on diet B. During early lactation the weight of the empty digestive tract increased while the weights of most other body components, particularly the carcass, decreased. The ratio of body energy change to live-weight change varied from 24 to 90 MJ/kg. Thus live-weight change did not accurately reflect relative or absolute changes in body energy.Voluntary food intake was greater for ewes given the high-energy diet (B) than for those given diet A and was depressed in the fatter ewes. Differences in intake could be explained by the effects of body fatness and diet on the weight of gut contents. Milk yield was not significantly affected by body fat reserves but was higher on diet B than A. Fat content of milk was higher and protein content lower for ewes with the higher fat reserves at lambing.As the contribution of fat loss to energy available for milk synthesis increased there appeared to be a reduction in the energetic efficiency of milk synthesis. A number of possible reasons for this are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-98
Author(s):  
H. I. Finangwai ◽  
C. J. Orisakwe ◽  
P. Joshua ◽  
E. D. Udoh ◽  
B. S. Dafur

A 60 day study was carried out to determine the effect of protein supplement in Kano brown bucks. Twenty four bucks with initial weight of 10.25-12.33 kg were grouped into three of eight bucks each and were randomly assigned to the three treatment diets in a completely randomized design. Prior to this, concentrate diets were formulated to contain 15%, 30% and 45% cottonseed cake (CSC) as the protein supplement in the dietary treatments. Crop residues formed the basal diet and were fed ad libitum. Alongside, fresh clean water was provided to goats ad libitum. Parameters determined during the experiment were feed intake, daily weight changes, Feed cost and and haematological parameters. Result showed that protein, EE, lysine, methionine and fibre contents increased with increasing levels of CSC in diet, whereas ME in kcal/kg reduced as CSC in diet increased. Feed intake significantly (P<0.05) decreased with increasing levels of CSC in diet across treatment. Final weight gain, average daily live weight and feed to gain ratio significantly (P<0.05) increased when CSC in diet increased from 15% to 45%. Feed cost (N/kg) increased with increased in CSC. However, cost of concentrate intake and feed cost/gain were better for animal fed 45%. Although, varying levels of CSC in diet significantly (P<0.05) influenced the haematological values of WBC, PVC and were within acceptable regions. The distribution of neutrophils, lymptrocytes, monocytes, basophils and eosinophils reduced with increasing levels of CSC in diet, though were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by variation of levels of CSC in diets. It is concluded that including protein supplement such as cottonseed cake in buck diets at 45% can be beneficial to Kano brown bucks.


1985 ◽  
Vol 104 (3) ◽  
pp. 535-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. H. Broster ◽  
J. D. Sutton ◽  
J. A. Bines ◽  
Valerie J. Broster ◽  
T. Smith ◽  
...  

SummarySeventy-six first-calf cows (heifers), 32 second·calf cows and 39 adult cows participated in a trial in which three diets composed of 60:40, 75:25, 90:10 proportions of compound to hay (hay dry-matter digestibility 0·6) were given for the first 36 weeks of lactation in amounts to provide daily an estimated 125, 156 MJ and ad libitum digestible energy (DE) for heifers, and 156, 187 MJ and ad libitum DE for the other parities. The ad libitum intakes were 150 and 200 MJ DE daily for heifers and for older cows respectively. Greater compound content of the diet and larger daily allowance of DE were associated with increased occurrence of mastitis and lameness but not digestive upsets. Dry·matter (D.M.) digestibility was increased with a greater proportion of compound in the diet but was not affected by the amount consumed or stage of lactation. Milk yield and live·weight change were increased linearly and additively by a greater intake of digestible dry matter and by a greater proportion of compound in the diet, throughout the lactation save for no effect of diet composition on live·weight change in early lactation. On equal feed intakes older cows gave more milk and lost more live weight than heifers in early lactation but not thereafter; responses to additional feed were equal for all parities studied. Milk fat concentration was reduced both by increased allowance and by the high compound diet. Milk solids·not·fat (SNF) concentration was not affected by the treatments. Yield of milk fat was not affected by amount eaten and was reduced by the 90:10 diet. Yields of SNF and milk energy were increased by amount eaten and by increased compound in the diet. Thirty-two primiparous cows continued on their experimental treatments without interruption to the end of the second lactation. In the second lactation the effects on yields of milk, milk energy, and SNF were magnified indicating a cumulative effect from lactation to lactation. Little cumulative effect was observed on either milk fat yield, or concentrations of fat and SNF in milk. More generous feeding was associated with reduced milk output/unit D.M. consumed in the first but not the second lactation. More generous feeding improved live·weight change less in the second than in the first lactation. No cumulative effects over two lactations were observed consequent upon variation in diet composition.


1971 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 721-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. FISHER ◽  
J. D. ERFLE ◽  
F. D. SAUER

Glutamate, succinate, propylene glycol, or glycerol were added to a basic concentrate at 3.3% of air-dry feed. Each concentrate was fed both ad libitum and in restricted amounts to four cows in early lactation. Dietary intake, milk yield and composition, molar proportions of rumen volatile fatty acids and blood glucose, ketones and plasma free fatty acids were used as criteria of effect of these supplements. Propylene glycol in the diet resulted in a lower intake of concentrate compared with glycerol (11.44 versus 14.30 kg/day) and significantly decreased (P < 0.05) rumen butyrate and plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate. Glutamate supplementation prevented the fall in milk fat content which occurred when the other three supplemented concentrates were fed ad libitum, and this effect may have been related to the constancy in the ratio of acetate to propionate in the rumen fluid.


1991 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Jackson ◽  
C. L. Johnson ◽  
J. M. Forbes

ABSTRACTAn experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of compound composition and silage characteristics on silage intake, feeding behaviour and productive performance of dairy cows during the first 25 weeks of lactation. Over a period of 3 years, 36 lactating British Friesian cows (12 per year), in their third or later lactations, were divided into two groups. The cows in each group received either compound S, in which the principal energy source was cereal starch, or compound F containing a mixture of high quality digestible fibre. Cows given compound F ate 2·2 kg more silage dry matter per day (P < 0·05). The type of compound had no effect on the frequency of silage feeding and the time spent eating was significantly different only over weeks 10 to 25 of lactation (P < 0·05), with cows on compound F spending on average 20 min longer feeding per day. Cows on compound F produced 1·7 kg more milk per day than cows on compound S. Although there were no significant differences in the concentration of milk constituents, compound F was associated with higher yields of milk constituents. Significant differences were found between the years of experiment in the frequency of feeding (P < 0·05) and also in the concentration of milk protein and milk fat. There were no significant differences in the magnitude of live-weight change between treatments or year of experiment.


1970 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. T. Treacher

SUMMARY1. Scottish Half-bred ewes carrying twin foetuses were fed individually to make live-weight gains in the last six weeks of pregnancy of (1) 20%, (2) 10% and (3) 0% of their live weight in week 14 of pregnancy. In lactation the ewes were fed ad libitum. The lambs were removed 12 to 16 hr after parturition and the ewes were machine-milked twice daily for the first six weeks of lactation.2. Total birth weights per ewe of twin lambs from the treatments were (1) 10·10 kg, (2) 9·44 kg and (3) 8·18 kg and differed significantly.3. The level and pattern of voluntary intake in lactation did not differ significantly between the treatments. Total dry-matter intakes in the six weeks of lactation were (1) 121·9 kg (2) 105·9 kg and (3) 109·5 kg.4. The pregnancy treatments affected the level of milk production and the shape of lactation curves. The total yields in the first six weeks of lactation were (1) 58·8 kg, (2) 43·5 kg and (3) 26·9 kg. Higher contents of fat and protein and the lower content of lactose in the milk from treatment-3 ewes on days 1 and 3 of lactation indicated a slower onset of lactation in these ewes. Between days 7 and 35 of lactation the contents of fat and SNF were lowest on treatment 3 but the differences were not significant.5. The live-weight changes in lactation, which were in inverse order to the gains in late pregnancy, were (1) 3·4 kg, (2) 5·5 kg and (3) 9·5 kg.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-71
Author(s):  
B. A. ADEBIYI ◽  
J. A. ADENEYE

Nine weaned White Fulani Calves aged between 3 - 13 months, weighing between 28 - 71kg werte fed on ratios consisting of basal Guinea grass hay and 0, 15, 30% Albizia saman replacement for cassava waste in a concentrate ration and each period lasting 28 days feed intake and live weight changes of White Fulani Calves were determined. The DM intake increased with increased level of Albizia saman in the ration, the highest liveweight changes was recorded when the animals were fed 30% Albizia saman whole pod. The result showed that Albizia saman whole pod promotes intake and live weight changes of White Fulani calves, thus can be fed without any adverse effect on calves.


1976 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Tayler ◽  
K. Aston

SUMMARY1. Young adult and adult British Friesian female cattle (heifers and cows) which were lactating were individually fed on diets of grass silage ad libitum with supplements of dried grass, dried grass/barley or barley/groundnut in two randomized block experiments.2. In Experiment I, equal quantities of dry matter (DM) as dried grass in the form of a wafer (W), cob (C) or pellet (P) were given with the silage during weeks 8 to 18 of lactation, to three groups of 12 heifers. Silage DM intakes were respectively 14·2, 14·3 and 15·8 ± 0·43 g/kg live weight per day (P<0·05). Milk yields were 14·0, 15·6, 16·7 ± 0·35 kg/day (P< 0·001). Milk composition and live-weight change did not differ significantly.3. In Experiment II, five treatment groups of heifers and cows were offered silage with equal amounts of a supplement of either dried grass pellets (treatment 1) or dried grass/barley in the ratios of 2: 1 (treatment 2), 1: 2 (treatment 3), or a barley/groundnut supplement (treatment 4). In treatment 5 the cattle received the same supplement as in treatment 4, but at a 10% higher level. Silage DM intakes for treatments 1 to 5 during lactation weeks 6 to 22 were 8·64, 8·94, 7·96, 6·96, 7·63 kg/day (1, 2>4, P<0·01; 2>5, P<0·05). The intake of digestible organic matter, milk yields and live-weight changes over the whole experimental period were not influenced significantly by treatments 1 to 4, but in treatment 5 the milk was significantly higher in fat, protein and energy content than in treatments 1 to 4. Blood composition was normal and did not differ markedly between treatments.


1981 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 677-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Strickland ◽  
W. H. Broster

SUMMARYOver the 4 years 1965–8, a total of 105 mature Friesian cows and 84 Friesian heifers were fed various levels of nutrition at two stages of the lactation to study the effect on milk production. The experiments were carried out over a whole lactation at four Experimental Husbandry Farms, Boxworth, Bridget's, Great House and Trawsgoed. There were three treatment levels in early lactation (weeks 3–10) comprising 5·9, 7·8 or 9·8 kg D.M./day of concentrates for mature cows and 1·6 kg D.M./day less at each level for the heifers. In mid-lactation (weeks 12–18) the two lower levels of concentrates were fed arranged factorially with early-lactation levels. A basal forage ration usually of hay was fed to provide 85% of the basal maintenance requirements. During the remainder of the lactation all animals received the same level of nutrition. In addition to the pre-determined feed treatments, one further group of animals in each block was fed according to the milk production in the preceding week.Overall an increase in level of nutrition in early lactation produced a regular increase in milk production from successive increments with adult cows but only for the first increment with heifers. Raising feed level in mid-lactation increased milk production for all animals. There were considerable residual effects from early-lactation feeding but these were less with mid-lactation feeding. These same effects were also noted with yields of solids-not-fat and to a less extent in milk fat production.The experimental results indicated not only the mean effects of treatments but more important the interaction with individual animals. Study of the response of individual animals indicated that the effects of level of feeding varied in proportion to the potential of the cow. The presentation of mean results can therefore be misleading. The potential of a cow was indicated by milk production in the immediate post-calving period. This period could be used both in experimental designs for selecting animals in the allocation to experimental treatments and also in the practical context for rationing individuals or groups of cattle.The absolute plane of nutrition related to the potential of the animal was the most important factor in determining the efficiency of utilization of feed for milk production.


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