The effects of genotype and management on lactation persistency in dairy cows

1996 ◽  
Vol 1996 ◽  
pp. 2-2
Author(s):  
B J McGuirk ◽  
J A Woolliams ◽  
V Olori

The MOET open herd operated by Genus is an open-nucleus breeding programme, designed to identify superior families and individual females. The herd of 250 cows was established over the period 1987-1990, with embryos from high genetic merit dams in North America. Subsequently, replacement heifers have been bred both from donors selected within the nucleus herd, and from external donors. The herd is milked three times a day, and fed a high-quality complete diet, to maximise production and so facilitate selection. Average NMR 305 day production figures for 440 heifers were 8995 kg, at 3.88% and 3.41% protein. A relatively high proportion of the herd is kept open for embryo production, with 40% of these heifers milking beyond 400 days and 13% for over 500 days. Data from the MOET project are currently being used to model production up to and beyond 305 days, and to establish correlations between performance in early and extended lactations and between lactation length and subsequent performance. These results will be discussed in the context of options for calving interval available to high production-high genetic potential Holstein Friesian herds.

Author(s):  
A. Walsh ◽  
J. D. Sutton ◽  
D. E. Beever

In early lactation dairy cows use stored body fat to provide an additional source of energy to support milk production and these reserves are replaced when energy requirements for milk synthesis are reduced. The extent to which body fat is mobilized depends on the nutritional state of the animal and its genetic potential. These changes are accompanied by substantial alterations in the intermediary metabolism of adipose tissue. The aim of this work was to investigate the timing and magnitude of changes in synthetic and lipolytic pathways in adipose tissue from dairy cows during a lactation cycle and at three levels of energy intake.Fifty four cows were fed grass silagead libitumand a concentrate ration at 3(L), 6(M) or 9(H) kg DM/day (Sutton et al 1992). An initial group of six cows was slaughtered at 2 to 4 dayspost partum(week 0) followed by two cows from each treatment at weeks 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 19, 24 and 29.


2022 ◽  
Vol 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Bostanova ◽  
D. Aitmukhanbetov ◽  
K. Bayazitova ◽  
D. Zhantleuov ◽  
Y. Il

Abstract This article presents the results of the level of feeding and the health status of dairy cows in a commercial dairy farm on the content of the main components in milk (fat, protein, urea). The aim of the research was to study the milk productivity and composition of milk of cows, to analyze the level of feeding and the content of basic nutrients in the diet of the farm. The farm breeds purebred Holstein cattle with a high genetic potential for productivity. The milking herd was formed in 2009 on the basis of 600 heads of Holstein-Friesian heifers imported from Hungary, as well as 65 heads of Holsteinized heifers of Ukrainian selection from Ukraine in 2015. Today the livestock numbers about 1,500 head of cattle, of which there are about 900 breeders. On the territory of the farm there are: 3 cowsheds for keeping cows, an insemination room, a milking parlor with a parallel installation of the Delaval company, in which 48 cows are milked for one milking, the ABK, where the manager's office, livestock technician, accounting is located, and a mini-hotel with dining room and lounges. Dairy bases are equipped with auto-drinkers, ventilation, plumbing, electric lighting, manure removal mechanisms, and a milking installation. The object of the research was Holstein cows in the amount of 483 heads of Aina Dairy Farm LLP. The studies were carried out according to generally accepted zootechnical methods using modern equipment for conducting analyzes and interstate and state standards. The research results showed that the milk productivity of cows averaged 19.5 kg per day, the fat content 4.3%, the protein 3.9%, the number of somatic cells 230.5 thousand units / ml, urea 45.3 mg / 100 ml respectively. Analyzing the level of urea in milk can suggest a high crude protein content in the diet. The ration of feeding dairy cows on the farm is concentrate-silage-haylage and there is an excess of dry matter by 16.2%, crude protein by 9.8%, starch by 29.4%, respectively.


2000 ◽  
Vol 135 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. GARCÍA ◽  
C. W. HOLMES ◽  
J. HODGSON ◽  
A. MACDONALD

Two studies were conducted at Massey University in 1998. Expt 1 investigated the combined use of n-alkanes and 13C techniques for the estimation of individual proportions and total intakes of herbage (H) and maize silage (MS) by dairy cows. Expt 2 measured the variation in the amount of MS consumed by individual cows fed as a group. In Expt 1, six dry Holstein–Friesian cows were kept indoors and fed a diet containing one of the following H[ratio ]MS ratios (dry matter basis)[ratio ]100[ratio ]0, 80[ratio ]20, 60[ratio ]40, 40[ratio ]60, 20[ratio ]80 or 10[ratio ]90 for 25 days. Cows were dosed with a slow-release capsule containing 8 g of dotriacontane (C32) and 8 g of hexatriacontane (C36). Intake estimates were based on individual faecal samples collected twice daily during two 5-day periods. In Expt 2 (grazing trial), 12 early-lactation cows were selected from a commercial herd of 48 autumn-calving cows and blocked into pairs according to milk yield, lactation length and lactation number in a complete block randomized design. Within each pair, cows were randomly assigned to two treatments: supplemented, S (4 kg MS DM per cow after the morning milking in feed troughs) or not supplemented, NS. Another eight cows were randomly selected from the rest of the herd to increase the number of individual estimations of H and MS intakes. Cows grazed perennial ryegrass-white clover pasture during the rest of the day. In Expt 1, H[ratio ]MS ratios were not accurately predicted by the odd-chained n-alkanes, but there was a strong linear relationship between the concentration of 13C in faeces and actual H: MS ratios in the diet. The 13C method was therefore combined with the n-alkanes, resulting in accurate estimations of H and MS intakes. In Expt 2, a large variation was observed among individual cows in their daily intakes of MS (range 0·94 to 5·09 kg DM per cow, coefficient of variation = 36%), but this variation in MS intake was not associated with milk yield (P > 0·05). The results indicate that the n-alkane and 13C techniques can be successfully combined to estimate the intake of MS and H of grazing cows supplemented as a group. Under the conditions of the present study, individual cows differ considerably in the amount of maize silage consumed per day, although the reasons for this are not clear.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1061-1079
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Adamczyk ◽  
Wojciech Jagusiak ◽  
Joanna Makulska

AbstractThe effect of crossbreeding Holstein-Friesian cows with other breeds is usually improved genetic potential of crossbreds in terms of longevity. However, culling decisions, which in practice determine the longevity in dairy cows, are contingent on many environmental and economic factors. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate longevity in relation to culling reasons in Holstein-Friesian cows of the Black-and-White strain (HO) and crossbreds, taking genotype, age at first calving, herd size, culling season, culling reason and milking temperament into consideration. The data analysed concerned 154,256 dairy cows culled in Poland in 2015. It was found that all studied factors significantly affected cow lifetime performance. The mean age at culling in dairy cows of HO strain exceeded 6 years, with mean lifetime energy-corrected milk (LECM) yield of 28,933 kg and mean lifetime energy-corrected milk yield per milking day (DECM) of 20.2 kg. Crossbreds, on the other hand, tended to have shorter lifespans, with mean LECM yield amounting to less than 25,000 kg. Mean LECM yield of cows surviving for the longest period (9.2 years), amounted to 47,771 kg, and reproduction problems were unquestionably the most common (40%) reason for cows’ culling. A suggestion was made to take milking temperament into account in breeding practice, as this trait proves to be closely related to the longevity characteristics of dairy cows. It was also proposed that the culling reasons be subjected to a more comprehensive analysis, considering the “life history” of cows as well as the interactions between different reasons for their removal from the herd.


Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 722
Author(s):  
Bethan Cavendish ◽  
John McDonagh ◽  
Georgios Tzimiropoulos ◽  
Kimberley R. Slinger ◽  
Zoë J. Huggett ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to characterize calving behavior of dairy cows and to compare the duration and frequency of behaviors for assisted and unassisted dairy cows at calving. Behavioral data from nine hours prior to calving were collected for 35 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. Cows were continuously monitored under 24 h video surveillance. The behaviors of standing, lying, walking, shuffle, eating, drinking and contractions were recorded for each cow until birth. A generalized linear mixed model was used to assess differences in the duration and frequency of behaviors prior to calving for assisted and unassisted cows. The nine hours prior to calving was assessed in three-hour time periods. The study found that the cows spent a large proportion of their time either lying (0.49) or standing (0.35), with a higher frequency of standing (0.36) and shuffle (0.26) bouts than other behaviors during the study. There were no differences in behavior between assisted and unassisted cows. During the three-hours prior to calving, the duration and bouts of lying, including contractions, were higher than during other time periods. While changes in behavior failed to identify an association with calving assistance, the monitoring of behavioral patterns could be used as an alert to the progress of parturition.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1674
Author(s):  
Ilona Strączek ◽  
Krzysztof Młynek ◽  
Agata Danielewicz

A significant factor in improving the performance of dairy cows is their physiological ability to correct a negative energy balance (NEB). This study, using Simmental (SIM) and Holstein-Friesian (HF) cows, aimed to assess changes in NEB (non-esterified fatty acid; body condition score; and C16:0, C18:0, and C18:1) and its effect on the metabolic efficiency of the liver (β-hydroxybutyrate and urea). The effects of NEB on daily yield, production at peak lactation and its duration, and changes in selected milk components were assessed during complete lactation. Up to peak lactation, the loss of the body condition score was similar in both breeds. Subsequently, SIM cows more efficiently restored their BCS. HF cows reached peak lactation faster and with a higher milk yield, but they were less able to correct NEB. During lactation, their non-esterified fatty acid, β-hydroxybutyrate, C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, and urea levels were persistently higher, which may indicate less efficient liver function during NEB. The dynamics of NEB were linked to levels of leptin, which has anorectic effects. Its content was usually higher in HF cows and during intensive lactogenesis. An effective response to NEB may be exploited to improve the production and nutritional properties of milk. In the long term, it may extend dairy cows’ productive life and increase lifetime yield.


1995 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Roden

AbstractStochastic simulation was used to compare the results of alternative breeding systems in a sheep population divided into 10 flocks of 120 ewes. The breeding systems compared were selection within closed flocks (CF), a closed nucleus system (CNS), an open nucleus system (ONS) and open nucleus systems with the selection of nucleus replacements being restricted to either nucleus born males (ONSRm) or nucleus born females (ONSRf). Selection was for a best linear unbiased prediction of breeding value for lamb live weight which had a heritability of 0·17. The open nucleus breeding systems (ONS, ONSRm, ONSRf) resulted in higher rates of genetic gain, more predictable selection responses and lower rates of inbreeding than either the closed nucleus system (CNS) or selection within closed flocks (CF). Initial genetic differences between flocks resulted in higher rates of genetic gain in the nucleus breeding systems due to the use of between flock genetic variance. In the ONS system up to 25% of nucleus sires and approximately 50% of nucleus dams were born in base flocks. Nevertheless if selection of either nucleus sires or dams was restricted to nucleus born animals there was very little change in genetic gain or rate of inbreeding.


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