Effects of stocking density during the dry period on dairy cow physiology, metabolism and behaviour

AbstractThe effects of high stocking density during the dry period on dairy cow physiology, behaviour and welfare were investigated. Holstein Friesian cows (n = 48, calving over a seven month period) were dried-off 60 ± 4 d before their expected calving date, and allocated to either high (H) or low (L) stocking density groups. Cows were housed in cubicles from dry-off to 21 d before calving and then moved to straw yards until calving. In cubicle pens, H and L cows had 0.5 vs. 1.0 feed yokes/cow and 1.0 vs. 1.5 cubicles/cow, respectively, and in straw yards, 0.3 m vs. 0.6 m linear feed-face space and 6 m2vs. 12 m2 lying space, respectively. Video observations of feeding behaviour during the 3 h after feed delivery (3 d/week) and agonistic interactions at the feed-face during peak feeding (2 d/week) were made. Daily lying proportion was measured using an accelerometer device throughout the dry period. Concentrations of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGCM) at dry-off, d7 and d35 after dry-off and d21 and d7 before calving and the change in energy metabolites (glucose, NEFA, BHB) from dry-off to d7 before calving were measured. H cows were less likely to start feeding within 5 min of feed delivery and spent less time feeding compared to L cows, but they engaged in displacements more frequently and spent more time standing in the feed alley. Irrespective of the treatment groups, FGCM concentrations significantly increased from dry-off to d7 after dry-off and remained higher during the dry period. Stocking density did not affect daily lying proportion, energy metabolites during the dry period and milk yield during subsequent lactation. This study found that whilst high stocking density during the dry period increased competition at the feed-face and altered feeding behaviour, it did not affect stress responses, energy metabolism or subsequent milk yield.

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The effect of space allowance and milk yield level on the performance and behaviour of dairy cattle housed in straw yards

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200597609 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 1998 ◽

pp. 108-108

Author(s):

J. A. Fregonesi ◽

J.D. Leaver

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cattle ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Important Variable ◽

Early Lactation ◽

Ways Of Coping ◽

Yield Level ◽

Face Width ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Friesian Cows

Space allowance could be an important variable affecting production, health, reproductive performance and behaviour of dairy cattle. Also, high and low yielding cows may have different ways of coping with insufficient space allowance. The aim of this experiment was to study the influence of space allowance and milk yield level on the performance and behaviour of strawyard housed dairy cows.The experiment was carried out using 24 Holstein Friesian cows with two groups in early lactation of high (over 30 kg/day milk yield) and two groups in late lactation of low yield (under 25 kg/day milk yield). The groups were allocated to strawyard systems with low stocking density (bed area/cow = 9 m2; pen area/cow = 13.5 m2; feed face width/cow = 1.5 m) or high stocking density (bed area/cow = 4.5 m2; pen area/cow = 6.75 m2; feed face width/cow = 0.75m) conforming to a changeover design with two periods, each of four weeks. The cows were fed a total mixed ration ad libitum and 2kg/cow/day of concentrate in the milking parlour. All animals were milked twice daily.

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Feed intake and production in dairy breeds dependent on the ration.

Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.18174/njas.v32i1.16929 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 59-61

Author(s):

S. Korver

Keyword(s):

Energy Conversion ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Interaction Effects ◽

Dry Period ◽

Carryover Effect ◽

Holstein Friesian

In 2 lactations and the dry period, with a changeover between lactations, Dutch Black Pied (DBP), Holstein-Friesian (HF) and DBP/HF crosses with 50% and 75% HF were offered roughage to appetite and 570 or 2310 kg concentrates per lactation. Energy intakes in the 2 lactations were 21 and 27% lower and roughage intakes 22 and 17% higher for cows given low-concentrates vs. high-concentrates; there was no carryover effect from lactation into the dry period when all cows received the same amount of concentrates. HF cows had higher roughage intakes than DBP by 4-5% but differences were only significant in late lactation. HF cows gave 10.1 and 7.2% (594 and 407 kg) more milk and 7.7 and 3.7% more milk energy than DBP cows in the 2 lactations resp.; this contrasts with a yield superiority of HF cows by 15% (974 kg) in the preceding lactation when concentrates were given according to milk yield. Milk yield was 20% (1250 kg) higher with high- than with low-concentrate; a carryover effect was noted at the beginning of the 2nd lactation. Efficiency of energy conversion to milk yield was significantly affected by ration at the beginning of lactation. Breed x ration interaction effects were not significant for intake or milk yield. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

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Effects of underfeeding during the second gestation of Holstein-Friesian heifers. 2. Residual effects on second lactation performance

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200595349 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 1997 ◽

pp. 93-93

Author(s):

J.M. Moorby ◽

R.J. Dewhurst ◽

W.J. Fisher ◽

D.W.R. Davies

Keyword(s):

Live Weight ◽

Residual Effects ◽

Lactation Performance ◽

Dry Period ◽

Treatment Groups ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Lactational Performance ◽

Protein Feeding ◽

Quality Diet ◽

Ad Libitum

Previous work has shown that dry period protein feeding can have important residual effects on the subsequent lactational performance in dairy cows (Moorby et al., 1996), although the results have been variable. This variability may be due to an animals nutrient requirements during late lactation and its ability to compensate during the dry period for previously inadequate supplies. This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of heifer age and level of concentrate offered during the second half of the first lactation on the second lactation performance. The size of the Longissimus dorsi was monitored as a marker of skeletal muscle use for lactation.Thirty-eight Holstein-Friesian heifers were treated as described by Dewhurst et al. (1997). Briefly, animals were divided into 4 treatment groups differing in age at first calving (2 or 3 years old) and level of concentrate feeding for the last 18-20 weeks of their first lactation (2 kg/d, ‘L’, or 7 kg/d, ‘H’; n=11, 11, 9 and 7 for treatments 2L, 2H, 3L and 3H respectively). Six weeks before predicted calving date, animals were dried off and offered a relatively low quality diet of ad libitum access to a grass silage:straw mix (40:60 on a DM basis), designed to offer them little chance to compensate for previous differences in diet. After calving, animals were offered a diet of ad libitum access to grass silage plus 8 kg/d concentrate to day 120 of lactation, and 5 kg/d thereafter. Live weight was recorded weekly. After calving, milk yields were recorded daily, and milk samples taken weekly, to week 20 of lactation.

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Dietary Supplementation of Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) during the Dry Period Improves Redox Balance in Lactating Dairy Cows

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox8020038 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 38 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Olimpia Barbato ◽

Belinda Holmes ◽

Iulia-Elena Filipescu ◽

Pietro Celi

Keyword(s):

Milk Yield ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Redox Balance ◽

Stress Index ◽

Ilex Paraguariensis ◽

Yerba Mate ◽

Dry Period ◽

Yield Data ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Condition Score

Thirty-six pregnant Holstein–Friesian cows were used to study the effect of Yerba Mate (YM) supplementation during the dry period on redox balance. The treatments groups were Control (no YM), YM 250 (250 g/cow/day), and YM 500 (500 g/cow/day). Blood samples were obtained 30 days prepartum, at calving, and monthly postpartum until four months post calving. Liveweight (LW) and body condition score (BCS) were assessed prepartum, at calving, and then postpartum monthly until the end of the trial. Plasma was analyzed for hydroperoxides (d-ROMs), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), and biological antioxidant potential (BAP). The oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated as OSI = ROMs/BAP × 100. Cows were milked twice daily, and milk yield data were recorded daily. Redox balance was improved by YM supplementation, as reflected in the lower OSI values observed in the YM groups. Yerba Mate supplementation significantly affected LW, but did not affect BCS. Milk yield averaged 28.1 ± 0.40, 29.0 ± 0.48, and 29.9 ± 0.46 L/cow/day in the Control, YM 250, and YM 500 groups, respectively, but was not significant. Nutritional manipulation during the dry period with Yerba Mate has demonstrated the potential to improve redox balance and milk yield.

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An observational study of the dry period length and its relation to milk yield, health, and fertility in two dairy cow breeds

Preventive Veterinary Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.prevetmed.2019.104876 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 175 ◽

pp. 104876 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Elisabeth Andrée O’Hara ◽

Kjell Holtenius ◽

Renée Båge ◽

Claudia von Brömssen ◽

Ulf Emanuelson

Keyword(s):

Observational Study ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Dairy Cow ◽

Period Length ◽

Dry Period

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The effect of space allowance and milk yield level on the performance and behaviour of dairy cattle housed in straw yards

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0308229600033213 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 1998 ◽

pp. 108-108

Author(s):

J. A. Fregonesi ◽

J.D. Leaver

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cattle ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Important Variable ◽

Early Lactation ◽

Ways Of Coping ◽

Yield Level ◽

Face Width ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Friesian Cows

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Relationship of diet, hoof type and locomotion score with lesions of the sole and white line in dairy cattle

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0003356100007650 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 59 (2) ◽

pp. 173-181 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

D. N. Logue ◽

J. E. Offer ◽

J. J. Hyslop

Keyword(s):

Milk Yield ◽

Weight Bearing ◽

Live Weight ◽

Dietary Treatment ◽

Lesion Score ◽

White Line ◽

Treatment Groups ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Relationship Of ◽

Locomotion Score

AbstractThree groups of 16 cattle each comprising three multiparous Jersey cross Holstein-Friesian cows, seven primiparous and six multiparous Holstein-Friesian cattle were offered, ad libitum, a silage-based complete diet with different concentrate ingredients following an initial 3-week covariate period. The relationship between these three diets and other parameters with lesions of the weight-bearing surface of the hoof was studied by scoring mobility weekly (locomotion score) and examining all the feet of all cows for visual lesions particularly those involving the horn of the foot. In addition hoof angle, hardness and growth and wear were also recorded. The mean locomotion score during the initial 3-week covariate period was a significant covariate for the subsequent locomotion score, milk yield, and live weight (P< 0·001). Furthermore weekly locomotion score also proved a significant covariate for weekly milk yield (P< 0·05). There were no significant differences between dietary treatment groups for locomotion score, overall lesion score (despite significantly fewer ulcers of the sole in one dietary group:P< 0·001) but a significant (P< 0·05) difference between cow ‘type’ and there was also a significant (P< 0·05) diet × breed interaction for locomotion score and milk yield. It was concluded first that initial mobility was an important factor in subsequent mobility of the cow and so experimental design; secondly that while nutrition and genotype interacted to influence mobility, visual lesions of the hoof and lameness, the mechanisms involved were far from clear; and thirdly that the simple lesion score used required some adjustment or correction factor(s) to ensure that more severe lesions were given a greater weight than a simple unitary increase.

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Zum Glukosetoleranztest beim Rind 1. – Mitteilung: Beziehungen zum Laktationsabschnitt und zur Milchleistung

Archives Animal Breeding ◽

10.5194/aab-42-45-1999 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 45-56

Author(s):

R. Staufenbiel ◽

U. Reinicke ◽

L. Panicke

Keyword(s):

Glucose Tolerance ◽

Dairy Cattle ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Glucose Tolerance Test ◽

Post Partum ◽

Tolerance Test ◽

Test Results ◽

Dry Period ◽

Stage Of Lactation ◽

Holstein Friesian

Abstract. Titel of the paper: Investigations into glucose tolerance test in cattle. I. Relations to stage of lactation and milk yield. Intravenous glucose tolerance test was used in 104 randomly selected milk cows to proove the influence of stage of lactation on test results. The test period enclosed the time from 8 weeks ante partum ( begin of dry period) to 36 weeks post partum. In another trial the glucose tolerance test was applied in 68 first lactation cows in the time from 2 to 7 days post partum. The test results were correlated to parameters of milk yield of the following lactation. The probands belong to two breeds (Friesian Dairy Cattle, SMR and Holstein-Friesian HF) The Parameters of glucose tolerance test show significant changes in the time from the dry period to the lactation cycle, which can be seen as a mean for supporting milk production. The glucose and insulin related parameters differ in their reaction in dependence on time of lactation. Back fat thickness as an parameter for body fat content shows a similar behaviour as insulin related parameters. In this context their were prooved significant correlation coefficients between parameters of milk yield and insulin function in the range from 0 3 to 0 6 But there were seen no relevant relations between glucose related parameters and milk yield datas. No substantial differences were established between the Friesian Dairy Cattle and Holstein-Friesian cows.

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Ontogeny of suckling behaviour in cattle - a model for several mammalian species?

Archives Animal Breeding ◽

10.5194/aab-50-549-2007 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 50 (6) ◽

pp. 549-561

Author(s):

M. Mayntz ◽

G. Sender

Keyword(s):

Milk Yield ◽

Dairy Cow ◽

Post Partum ◽

Mammalian Species ◽

Relative Number ◽

Beef Cow ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Cow Calf ◽

First Contact ◽

Dairy Breed

Abstract. Suckling behaviour of nine beef cow-calf-pairs (Hereford and Charolais) and five dairy cow-calf-pair's (Polish Holstein-Friesian) was video-recorded from day one pp to day 70 (beef) or 82 (dairy) post partum (pp) regularly. Cows were only suckled during that time and milk yield could not be recorded. Bout was defined as all activities of the calf from the first contact between the mouth of the calf at a specific teat and the last contact at this teat, i.e., as a small sub-unit of a meal. Number of suckled teats, uniformity of relative shares of suckled teats, number of bouts, average bout and relative number of bout-teat-repetitions described the course of ontogeny of suckling behaviour. The first model included the effects breed, cow (breed), and day pp as regression. The analysis revealed the following: (i) number of teats, uniformity of relative shares between suckled teats, and number of bouts increased with increasing day pp. (ii) Average bout, relative number of bout-teat repetitions and mealbout- relationship decreased with increasing day pp. (iii) The same developments could be observed in both breeds, however, significantly slower in the dairy breed. The second model included the effects breed, cow (breed) and average bout as regression, representing milk yield. Breed changed from a very powerful into an almost negligible effect in that second analysis. The implications of the results for a wider group of mammalian species are discussed.

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The effects of treading by two breeds of dairy cow with different live weights on soil physical properties, poaching damage and herbage production on a poorly drained clay-loam soil

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859614001099 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 153 (8) ◽

pp. 1424-1436 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

P. TUOHY ◽

O. FENTON ◽

N. M. HOLDEN ◽

J. HUMPHREYS

Keyword(s):

Physical Properties ◽

Milk Production ◽

Dairy Cow ◽

Surface Deformation ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Live Weight ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Soil Physical Properties ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

The Impact

SUMMARYThere is little empirical evidence to indicate that dairy cow live weight affects the extent of soil damage at the hoof-soil interface during grazing on poorly drained permanent grassland. In the present study the impact of Holstein-Friesian (HF) dairy cows with a mean (±standard deviation) live weight of 570 (±61) kg were compared with Jersey × Holstein-Friesian (JX) with a mean live weight of 499 (±52) kg each at two stocking densities: mean 2·42 ± (0·062) and 2·66 (±0·079) cows/ha. Soil physical properties (bulk density, macroporosity, gravimetric water content, air-filled porosity, penetration resistance and shear strength), poaching damage (post-grazing soil surface deformation and hoof-print depth), herbage yield and milk production were measured throughout 2011 and 2012. Soil physical properties, post-grazing soil surface deformation and herbage production were not affected by dairy cow breed or by interactions between breed and stocking density. Hoof-print depth was higher in the HF treatments (39 v. 37 mm, s.e. 0·5 mm). Loading pressure imposed at the soil surface was the same for both breeds due to a direct correlation between live weight and hoof size. Poaching damage was greater at higher stocking density. Using the lighter JX cow offered little advantage in terms of lowering the negative impact of treading on soil physical properties or reducing poaching damage and no advantage in terms of herbage or milk production compared with the heavier HF cow.

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