Effect of suckler cow breed type on voluntary silage intake, body reserves mobilisation, milk yield and calf performance

1998 ◽  
Vol 1998 ◽  
pp. 81-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. McGee ◽  
M.J. Drennan ◽  
P.J. Caffrey
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Breed Type ◽  
Body Reserves ◽  
Calf Performance ◽  
Voluntary Intake ◽  
Silage Production ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Increased Retention

The increased retention of within herd replacements will inevitably result in an increasing proportion of continental breed (mainly Charolais) in the suckler cow herd. Due to the high costs of silage production, winter feeding of suckler cows is expensive and thus cows are generally allowed to mobilise body reserves in winter. The objective of this study was to compare the voluntary intake of grass silage and performance of spring calving Charolais (CH) and Beef x (Hereford and Limousin) Friesian (BF) suckler cows and their progeny during the winter period.

Effect of suckler cow breed type on voluntary silage intake, body reserves mobilisation, milk yield and calf performance

1998 ◽  
Vol 1998 ◽  
pp. 81-81
Author(s):  
M. McGee ◽  
M.J. Drennan ◽  
P.J. Caffrey
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Breed Type ◽  
Body Reserves ◽  
Calf Performance ◽  
Voluntary Intake ◽  
Silage Production ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Increased Retention

The increased retention of within herd replacements will inevitably result in an increasing proportion of continental breed (mainly Charolais) in the suckler cow herd. Due to the high costs of silage production, winter feeding of suckler cows is expensive and thus cows are generally allowed to mobilise body reserves in winter. The objective of this study was to compare the voluntary intake of grass silage and performance of spring calving Charolais (CH) and Beef x (Hereford and Limousin) Friesian (BF) suckler cows and their progeny during the winter period.

Effects of varying silage quality for dry cows on feed intake, weight change and performance in the subsequent lactation

2000 ◽  
Vol 2000 ◽  
pp. 142-142
Author(s):  
R. J. Dewhurst ◽  
D. W. R. Davies ◽  
W. J. Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Metabolic Activity ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Nutrient Supply ◽  
Current Experiment ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Silage Quality ◽  
Voluntary Intake ◽  
And Performance

Earlier studies (e.g. Dewhurst et al., 1996, 1999) have shown marked declines in forage voluntary intake as calving approaches. The resultant reduction in nutrient supply may compromise performance in the next lactation, because it coincides with a period of intense metabolic activity in preparation for the next lactation. Feeding concentrates to dry cows did not overcome this problem (Dewhurst et al., 1999). The objective of the current experiment was to investigate alternative dry cow strategies, using only high-quality grass silage, to minimise the severity and consequences for subsequent milk production of the reduction in nutrient supply in this period.

The effect of a gradual or rapid dietary changeover from a grazed pasture to a conserved forage-based diet on milk yield, cow condition and rumen pH of late-lactation dairy cows

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 249
Author(s):  
R. P. McDonnell ◽  
M. vH. Staines
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Adaptation Period ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Grazed Pasture ◽  
Rumen Ph ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
And Performance

A 40-day experiment was conducted to determine the effect of a gradual versus rapid changeover from grazed pasture to grass silage on production and performance in late-lactation Holstein–Friesian cows. Eighty cows were assigned to one of the following two treatments (two groups of 20 cows each): (1) gradual changeover from grazed pasture to grass silage over a 10-day adaptation period (GRAD), or (2) immediate changeover from grazed pasture to grass silage, with no adaptation period (RAPID). In addition to grazed pasture and grass silage, cows also received equal daily amounts of supplementary concentrates throughout the 40 days (ranging from 6.6 to 7.5 kg DM/cow). The experiment was divided into three periods. In Period 1 (Days 1–12), all cows received a generous pasture allowance and no grass silage was offered. In Period 2 (Days 13–22), GRAD cows were gradually introduced to grass silage on a stepwise basis, while still consuming grazed pasture, while RAPID cows received grazed pasture until Day 17, before switching to ad libitum grass silage from Day 18 onward. In Period 3 (Days 23–40), all cows received ad libitum pasture silage and no grazed pasture. Feed intake, milk volume and composition, and rumen pH were measured. Treatment did not affect estimated dry-matter intake of grazed pasture or measured dry-matter intake of silage. Milk yield did not differ between treatments from Day 1 to Day 18 (mean 29.3 L/cow; P > 0.05), but was greater in GRAD cows from Day 19 to Day 27 (mean 25.6 vs 22.1 L/cow; P < 0.001). From Day 28 onward, no effect of treatment was detected apart from a 3-day juncture from Day 34 to Day 36, where milk yield in the GRAD treatment was greater (mean 22.8 vs 21.0 L/cow; P = 0.02). Milk fat and protein concentrations were unaffected by treatment throughout (mean 4.15% for milk fat, 3.37% for milk protein; P > 0.05). Mean rumen pH was also unaffected by treatment in periods 1 and 2 (mean 6.27; P > 0.05), but were greater in Period 3 in GRAD cows (6.34 vs 6.26 for GRAD vs RAPID; P < 0.001), while the amount of time spent under pH 6.0 did not differ between treatments (mean 2.45 h/day; P > 0.05). Changing the dietary forage source from grazed pasture to grass silage over a 10-day period increased milk yield, compared with having no dietary adaptation period, and the cumulative difference for the duration of this experiment amounted to 37 L/cow.

Effects of ratio of white clover to grass in silage and concentrate supplementation on intake and performance of ewes in late pregnancy

1987 ◽  
Vol 1987 ◽  
pp. 76-76
Author(s):  
R.J. Orr ◽  
T.T. Treacher
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Trifolium Repens ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Crude Protein Content ◽  
Fresh Weight ◽  
Concentrate Supplementation ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Voluntary Intake ◽  
And Performance

Widespread adoption of sheep systems based on mixed swards of white clover and grass may result in conservation cuts with a high proportion of clover, which will affect the intake of the silage or hay. The effect of proportion of clover in silage on voluntary intake was measured by offering mixtures of clover and grass silage with clover proportions of 0, 0.20, 0.40 and 0.60 with (S) and without (U) a ration of 600 g fresh weight per day of a barley, soya and fishmeal concentrate to 78 Finn Dorset ewes. The concentrate was formulated to have a crude protein content (CP) of 160 g per kg DM with 30 g per kg DM derived from fishmeal. The silages were made separately in 1984, with formic acid added at approximately 3.51 per tonne, from uninterrupted spring growths of perennial ryegass (Loliua perenre cv. Melle) cut on 16 June and white clover (Trifolium repens cv. Blanca) cut on 17 July and both were chopped. Mixtures of the two silages were made for each individual ewe separately each day, immediately prior to feeding.

The Effect of Concentrate Supplementation and Prolificacy on Hay Intake and Performance of Pregnant Manchega Ewes

1994 ◽  
Vol 1994 ◽  
pp. 223-223
Author(s):  
J. Gasa ◽  
P. Prio ◽  
A. Ferret ◽  
G. Caja
Keyword(s):  
Factorial Design ◽  
Present Experiment ◽  
Pregnancy Diagnosis ◽  
Concentrate Supplementation ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Body Reserves ◽  
Behavioural Interactions ◽  
Forage Intake ◽  
Voluntary Intake ◽  
And Performance

Factors influencing voluntary forage intake in ewes during the last two months of gestation are not sufficiently documented. The effects of hay quality and level of concentrate were studied by Orr and Treacher (1984) but other factors such as prolificacy or level of body reserves are poorly understood (Theriez et al., 1987). Furthermore most of the results come from animals kept in individual pens abolishing the effect of behavioural interactions. The purpose of the present experiment was to examine the effect of the number of gestated lambs and level of concentrate on voluntary intake of hay by ewes kept in a group.A flock of 120 multiparous Manchega dairy ewes were synchronised using intravaginal progestagen and injected with 400 IU of PMSG (Chronogest, Intervet). After ultrasonic pregnancy diagnosis at 60 d after mating (Toshiba Sonolayer, Mod.Sad-32B, 5.0 MHz), two groups of 30 twin or single pregnant ewes were selected and distributed in a factorial design 2x2x3. Factors were number of foetus (S = l, T=2) and level of concentrate (H=600 g/d, L=300 g/d) with 3 replicates of 5 ewes each.

The effects of feeding high concentrations of molasses and supplementing with nitrogen and unprotected tallow on intake and performance of dairy cows

1997 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Yan ◽  
D. J. Roberts ◽  
J. Higginbotham
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Soya Bean ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Bean Meal ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Soya Bean Meal

AbstractA series of three replicated 3 × 3 Latin-square design experiments was carried out with lactating dairy cows (15 in experiments 1 and 3, and 18 in experiment 2). The objectives of these experiments were to investigate if the feeding of high concentrations of molasses would be detrimental to the performance or health of cows, and if the strategic supplementation of nitrogen or unprotected fat could enhance the efficiency of molasses feeding. In experiment 1, complete diets were based on grass silage with three inclusion rates of a liquid molasses-based supplement (Molaferm 20) to supply molasses dry matter (DM) of 125, 250 and 375 g/kg DM respectively. In experiment 2, the control diet contained (g/kg DM) 460 grass silage, 310 'molaferm 20' and 192 barley and 22 soya-bean meal, and was then supplemented with urea (12 g/kg DM) or soya-bean meal (177 g/kg DM). In experiment 3, the control diet was based on (g/kg DM) grass silage (460), molaferm 20 (310), barley (130), soya-bean meal (65) and oatfeed (20). Two concentrations, low and high, of unprotected tallow were added to the control diet (12·5 and 25·8 g/kg DM, respectively).In experiment 1, cows suffered from some scouring on the highest molasses treatment, but recovered when changed to either the medium or low molasses treatment. However, there were no clinical symptoms of ill health observed during experiments 2 and 3. In experiment 1, animal intake and performance on the diets containing molasses DM of 125, 250 and 375 g/kg DM respectively were: total DM intake, 12·8, 16·2 and 18·6 kg/day (s.e.d. 1·03, P < 0·001); milk yield, 15·5,17·4 and 17·6 kg/day (s.e.d. 0·53, low v. medium or high, P < 0·01); fat concentration, 39·6, 39·7 and 40·0g/kg (s.e.d. 0·70, P>0·05); protein concentration, 31·6, 32·7 and 33·6g/kg (s.e.d. 0·22, P < 0·05). In experiment 2, supplementation of the control diet both with urea and soya-bean meal significantly increased DM intake (P < 0·01); milk yield (P < 0·01) and protein concentration in milk (P < 0·05), but had no significant effects on fat concentration in milk (P > 0·05). In experiment 3, there were no significant differences in DM intake between the three treatments. However, supplementation with both low and high concentrations of unprotected tallow significantly increased milk yield (P < 0·01) and significantly decreased fat (P < 0·01) and protein (P < 0·001) concentrations in milk.It is concluded that lactating dairy cows could be given molasses up to 250 g/kg DM in grass silage-based complete diets without adverse effects on milk production or health. When a diet contained a high concentration of molasses (248 g/kg DM), supplementation with urea and soya-bean meal increased intake and milk production, and supplementation with unprotected tallow also increased milk yield, but fat and protein concentrations in milk were decreased.

scholarly journals Pre-Weaned Calf Rearing on Northern Irish Dairy Farms: Part 1. A Description of Calf Management and Housing Design

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1954
Author(s):  
Aaron J Brown ◽  
Gillian Scoley ◽  
Niamh O’Connell ◽  
Jamie Robertson ◽  
Amanda Browne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Key Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Healthcare Management ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Housing Design ◽  
Hygiene Management ◽  
Calf Performance ◽  
And Performance

The first few months of life are of great importance to the longevity and lifetime performance of dairy cows. The nutrition, environment and healthcare management of heifer calves must be sufficient to minimise exposure to stress and disease and enable them to perform to their genetic potential. Lack of reporting of farm management practices in Northern Ireland (NI) makes it difficult to understand where issues impacting health, welfare and performance may occur in the rearing process. The objective of this study was to investigate housing design and management practices of calves on 66 dairy farms across NI over a 3-month period and also identify areas that may cause high risk of poor health and performance in dairy calves. An initial survey was used to detail housing and management practices, with two subsequent visits to each farm used to collect animal and housing-based measurements linked to hygiene management, animal health and performance. Large variations in key elements such as weaning criteria and method, calf grouping method used, nutritional feed plane, and routine hygiene management were identified. The specification of housing, in particular ventilation and stocking density, was highlighted as a potential limiting factor for calf health and performance. Lack of measurement of nutritional inputs, hygiene management practices and calf performance was observed. This poses a risk to farmers’ ability to ensure the effectiveness of key management strategies and recognise poor calf performance and health.

Reasons for keeping dairy goats in Tanzania, and possible goals for a sustainable breeding program

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. C. Nziku ◽  
G. C. Kifaro ◽  
L. O. Eik ◽  
T. Steine ◽  
T. Ådnøy
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Breeding Program ◽  
Dairy Goat ◽  
Dairy Goats ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Research ◽  
Animal Identification ◽  
Breeding Goals ◽  
And Performance

This research aimed at describing reasons for keeping dairy goats in Tanzania, and possible goals for a sustainable breeding program. Three districts, each representing a unique dairy goat breed population, were selected for the study. The Saanen, Toggenburg and Norwegian were the main dairy goat breeds in Arumeru, Babati, and Mvomero districts, respectively. A total of 125 dairy goat farmers were interviewed. A holistic approach of both quantitative and qualitative research methods was used to study the perceptions of farmers. More milk yield, sale of breeding stock and manure were the highest ranked reasons for keeping dairy goats. The reasons were coherent to the production systems. The three most preferred traits for improvement were milk yield, adaptability and twinning ability. These preferences were absolutely important in the context of the referred production system. Selection of replacement stock, animal identification and performance recording were the main challenges emphasised by farmers. The present study views these challenges as a result of knowledge gaps in animal breeding that require solutions. Based on result findings it is suggested that the milk yield and survival traits should be the primary dairy goat breeding goals. Generally, there are possibilities for developing sustainable dairy goat breeding programs in the surveyed areas given relevant breeding goals are incorporated. The design of simple and manageable dairy goat breeding schemes is necessary.

The control of appetite in lactating cows

1972 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. S. Monteiro
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Loop System ◽  
Closed Loop System ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Body Reserves ◽  
Lactation Curve ◽  
Rate Of Increase

SUMMARYA closed-loop system is proposed for the control of voluntary food intake in lactating cows, and an expression is deduced relating the response of food intake to changes in milk yield and body-weight gain.A closed-loop system necessarily involves a delay in the response to changes in production. The rate of increase of food intake is there- fore slower than the rate of increase in milk yield. The consequent deficit in energy during the rising part of the lactation curve is met by the mobilization of body reserves, which are partly accounted for by losses in body weight. During the declining part of the lactation the delay effect leads to an excess of energy intake and to the replacement of body reserves and, consequently, of body weight.The expression deduced from the model was fitted to four different types of lactation curve corresponding to long and short lactations of Friesians and Jerseys fed ad libitum on a complete diet. The expected food intake based on the control model was contrasted with a linear regression model. The former gave a better account of the variation in food intake in all four types of lactation.The total change in body weight during lactation was partitioned between changes in weight due to the mobilization and replacement of reserves and gain directly attributable to food intake. There was, in general, good agreement between the observed losses in weight occurring at the beginning of lactation and those predicted from the mobilization of reserves for milk production.The physiological implications of the model and the values estimated for the parameters are discussed.

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