The effect of fine grinding or sodium hydroxide treatment of wheat, offered as part of a concentrate supplement, on the performance of lactating dairy cows

1996 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. S. Mayne ◽  
J. G. Doherty

AbstractA study was conducted to examine the effect of fine grinding or sodium hydroxide treatment of wheat, and increasing concentrate food level, on milk production. Two concentrates based either on ground wheat (450 g/kg, GW) or sodium hydroxide treated wheat (500 g/kg, SW) were offered at four concentrate levels of 2·5, 5·0, 7·5 and 10·0 kg dry matter (DM) per day to 24 dairy cows in a three-period, change-over design experiment. On average, across all concentrate food levels, silage DM intake was significantly (P < 0·01) higher with the SW concentrates, reflecting a significantly lower silage substitution rate with SW relative to GW concentrates (P < 0·01). Milk yield was also significantly higher with the SW concentrates (P < 0·05), although marginal responses to increased concentrate food level were similar (P > 0·05). Milk protein concentration increased linearly with increasing concentrate food level (P < 0·001), with a significantly greater response with the GW relative to the SW concentrate (0·59 v. 0·24 g/kg (P < 0·05) increase per kg additional concentrate). However, milk protein concentration was also significantly lower with the GW concentrate at low food levels (P < 0·05). Milk fat concentrations were similar with the two concentrate types with significant reductions in milk fat concentration with increasing concentrate food level (P < 0·05). Blood urea (P < 0·001) and β-hydroxybutyrate (P < 0·05) concentrations were significantly lower in animals offered the SW concentrate. Apparent digestibility coefficients were unaffected by either concentrate type or concentrate food level (P > 0·05), although modified acid-detergent fibre apparent digestibility was significantly reduced with increasing concentrate food level (P < 0·001). Results indicate that, at similar levels of concentrate feeding, silage intake and milk yield were significantly greater with SW compared with GW concentrates (P < 0·05 or greater). Increases in milk protein concentration with increasing concentrate food level were significantly greater with GW than with SW concentrates (P < 0·05).

1996 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. W. Agnew ◽  
C. S. Mayne ◽  
J. G. Doherty

AbstractAn experiment was conducted to examine the effect of method and level of concentrate feeding on milk production characteristics in dairy cows offered a grass silage-based diet. Twelve treatments were used with 24 Holstein/Friesian dairy cows in a four-period change-over design experiment. Treatments consisted of three methods of concentrate feeding (twice daily, four times daily or complete diet) and four levels of concentrate feeding (2, 4, 6 or 8 kg/day). Offering a complete diet significantly reduced silage substitution rate (0·28 kg silage dry matter (DM) per kg concentrate DM) compared with concentrates offered twice daily (0·50 kg silage DM per kg concentrate DM; P < 0·01). Method of concentrate feeding had no significant effect on milk yield or milk fat concentration (P > 0·05), although the response in milk protein concentration to increased concentrate food level was significantly greater with twice and four times daily concentrate feeding than with complete diet feeding (0·59, 0·56 and 0·44 g/kg per kg increase in concentrate food level; P < 0·05). Increasing concentrate inclusion level significantly reduced silage DM intake (P < 0·001) but significantly increased (P < 0·001) total DM intake. Milk yield and milk protein concentration were significantly increased (P < 0·001) and milk fat concentration significantly reduced (P < 0·02) with increasing concentrate inclusion level. Total ration apparent digestibility coefficients were unaffected (P > 0·05) by either method of feeding or concentrate inclusion level. However, modified acid-detergent fibre apparent digestibility decreased significantly with increasing concentrate inclusion (P < 0·01). Results suggested that offering complete diets, with concentrates comprising on average 0·33 of total DM intake, increased both silage and total DM intake although this was not reflected in either increased milk yield or improvements in milk composition.


1996 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Garnsworthy

AbstractTwenty-eight Holstein/Friesian dairy cows were divided into four groups of seven. From weeks 4 to 15 of lactation they were given a basal diet consisting of 8 kg hay, 2 kg sugar-beet feed and 2 kg grass nuts, together with a concentrate allowance of 8 kg/day. Concentrates for group A were based on cereals and soya (control). Concentrate B contained 60 g protected fat supplement per kg; concentrate C contained 100 g lactose per kg; concentrate D contained 60 g fat supplement and 100 g lactose per kg. Milk yields were 24·6, 27·7, 25·6 and 26·5 kg/day and milk protein concentrations were 32·3, 30·7, 32·7 and 31·9 g/kg for groups A, B, C and D respectively. The effect of fat supplementation on milk yield and protein concentration was significant (P < 0·05) but the effect of lactose was not significant. Milk fat concentration was not significantly affected by treatment. It is concluded that lactose can partially alleviate the depression in milk protein concentration often observed when cows are given protected fat.


1992 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Garnsworthy ◽  
C. D. Huggett

AbstractTwenty-four Friesian dairy cows were divided into two groups of 12 between 12 and 18 weeks prior to calving and fed to achieve condition scores at calving of 3·2 (F) or 2·3 (T). For the first 11 weeks of lactation, six cows from each group (H) were given daily 9 kg of a high-fat compound (acid ether extract (AEE) 96 g/kg dry matter (DM)), 3 kg molassed sugar-beet pulp and hay ad libitum. The other six cows in each group (L) were given 10 kg of a low-fat compound (AEE 29 g/kg DM), 2 kg sugar-beet pulp and hay ad libitum. Allowances of compound and sugar-beet pulp were designed to provide equal amounts of energy, neutral-detergent fibre and protein. The fat source used in compound H was a calcium salt of palm acid oil (Megalac®).DM intake was not affected by treatment but fat intake was significantly higher on diet H (P < 0·001). Group TH had higher intakes of digestible energy (DE) than group FH (249 v. 229 MJ/day; P < 0·05), but condition at calving did not affect DE intake with diet L (FL = 230, TL = 233 MJ/day). Milk yield was not significantly affected by treatment, although cows in group TL tended to yield less milk than other groups (28·3, 27·3, 28·0 and 24·3 kg/day for FH, FL, TH and TL respectively). The concentration of milk fat was higher and of milk protein lower with diet H compared with diet L (milk fat 48·1, 42·2, 42·9 and 39·6; milk protein 28·0, 31·0, 28·4 and 30·5 g/kg for FH, FL, TH and TL respectively). Loss of condition score was greater for cows in group F (0·65 units) than for those in group T (0·04 units). Within group F, loss of condition tended to be greater with diet L.It is concluded that the increased intake of fat with diet H tended to decrease loss of condition in cows that were fat at calving but increase milk yield in cows that were thin at calving. It also tended to increase milk fat concentration but decreased milk protein concentration.


1991 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Bruckental ◽  
I. Ascarelli ◽  
B. Yosif ◽  
E. Alumot

AbstractFour Israeli-Friesian cows, two at peak and two at mid lactation, were fitted with duodenal cannulas. They were given proline or water infusions for 8-day periods to evaluate the effect of duodenal infusion of proline on arginine uptake by the mammary gland and on milk yield and composition of dairy cows. Milk fat content and 40 g/kg fat-corrected milk yield increased for all cows due to proline infusion. Milk protein concentration during either early or mid lactation and milk protein yield during early lactation, were not affected by proline infusion. Milk protein yield during mid lactation was increased due to proline infusion. Arginine uptake by the udder dropped by one-half during proline infusion. Results suggest that post-ruminal administration of supplemental proline reduced requirements for arginine by the udder and improved efficiency of dietary energy utilization.


1999 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 763-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. W. J. Keady ◽  
C. S. Mayne ◽  
D. A. Fitzpatrick ◽  
M. Marsden

AbstractThe effects of energy source and level of digestible undegraded protein (DUP) in concentrates on silage intake and performance of lactating dairy cows, offered one of a range of grass silages differing in digestibility and intake characteristics, were evaluated in a partially balanced change-over design experiment involving 48 cows. Four silages were prepared using differing management practices prior to and during ensiling. All silages were treated with an inoculant additive. For silages A, В, С and D, dry matter (DM) concentrations were 199, 320, 313 and 223 (s.e. 4.6) g/kg, pH values 3.82, 4.03, 4·03 and 5·27 (s.e. 0.056), ammonia nitrogen (N) concentrations 58, 122, 66 and 356 (s.e. 13.2) g/kg total N and in vivo DM apparent digestibilities 077, 0.75 , 0.60 and 0.60 (s.e. 0·013) respectively. When offered as the sole diet to 12 dairy cows in a partially balanced change-over design experiment, silage DM intakes were 14.7, 14.7, 12.7 and 10.5 (s.e. 0·36) kg/day respectively for silages А, В, С and D. Six concentrates containing three starch concentrations, each at two levels of DUP, were formulated to have similar concentrations of crude protein, metabolizable energy (ME) and fermentable ME. For the low and high starch concentrates and low and high levels of DUP, starch concentrations were 22·5 and 273 g/kg DM and DUP levels were 44 and 60 g/kg DM respectively. Silages were offered ad libitum supplemented with 10 kg fresh concentrate per head per day. For silages А, В, С and D, DM intakes were 10.8, 11.2, 10·7 and 9·1 (s.e. 0·26) kg/day and milk yields 29.0, 27.6, 27.1 and 25.7 (s.e. 0.69) kg/day respectively. With the exception of milk protein concentration there were no significant (P> 0.05) silage type by concentrate energy source and/or level of DUP interactions on silage intake, milk output or composition. Concentrate energy source had no effect (P> 0.05) on silage DM intake, the yields of milk, fat, protein or fat plus protein or milk fat concentration. However, increasing starch concentration increased milk protein concentration (P< 0·001), urinary allantoin concentration (P< 0·01) and diet apparent digestibility (P< 0·001). Altering concentrate DUP level had no effect (P> 0·05) on silage DM intake, yields of milk, protein, fat or fat plus protein, milk f at concentrations or diet apparent digestibility. Increasing the level of DUP decreased milk protein (P< 0·05) concentration. It is concluded that with silages of varying digestibility, fermentation and intake characteristics, there were no concentrate energy source and/or level of DUP by silage type interactions on silage intake, milk yield or composition, or diet apparent digestibility with the exception of a silage type by concentrate level of DUP interaction on milk protein concentration. With out-of-parlour feeding of concentrates the results of the present study suggest that there is no evidence to justify the formulation of concentrates differing in energy source or level of DUP to complement individual silage types.


1984 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 323-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. Phipps ◽  
J. A. Bines ◽  
R. F. Weller ◽  
Joanne Thomas

SUMMARYNinety-two British Friesians (56 cows and 36 heifers) were divided into two groups during weeks 3–10 of lactation and received ad libitum either complete diet H (65% concentrates, 35% grass silage, 11·7 MJ ME/kg D.M.) or diet M (50% concentrates, 50% grass silage, 11·2 MJ ME/kg D.M.). In weeks 11· 20 half the animals of each group continued to receive the same diet (HH or MM) while the other half were changed from diet H to M (HM) or from diet M to L (ML). Diet L contained 35% concentrates, 65% grass silage and 10·7 MJ ME/kg D.M. The crude protein concentration of all diets was maintained at about 157 g/kg D.M. by the addition of soya-bean meal to diets M and L.During weeks 3–10 the mean D.M. intake (kg/day), milk yield (kg/day), milk protein (g/kg) and live-weight change (kg/day) for animals on diets H and M were 15·0, 21·7, 33·3, 0·50 and 12·9, 20·2, 31·5, 0·35 respectively. Differences were significant for D.M. intake, milk yield and milk protein concentration. Although milk-fat concentration of cows given diet H (40·2 g/kg) was similar to that of cows given diet M (39·9 g/kg), heifers receiving diet H had a significantly lower value (37·0 g/kg) than those given diet M (39·8 g/kg).When animals were changed from diet H to M or from M to L at week 11, D.M. intake, milk yield and milk-protein concentration decreased. However, milk-fat concentration and live-weight change were generally unaffected.During the complete experimental period, weeks 3–20, animals on treatments HH, HM, MM and ML had mean D.M. intakes and milk yields of 15·3, 14·2, 13·2, 12·4 kg/day and 19·7, 18·5, 17·8, 17·0 kg/day. Milk-protein concentration, was closely related to D.M. intake, but only with heifers did diet H significantly depress milk-fat concentration. The highest live-weight gain was recorded on treatment HH (0·40 kg/day) and the lowost on treatment ML (0·29 kg/day) with intermediate values for treatments HM and MM.In vivodigestibility coefficients of D.M. and organic matter for diet H (0·731, 0·757) were significantly higher than those of diet L (0·707, 0·734) with intermediate values for diet M. However, for acid-detergent fibre the digestibility coefficient for diet H was significantly lower (0·562) than for diet L (0·662). The digestibility coefficients for nitrogen in all three diets were similar.Estimates of mean efficiency of utilization of ME for lactation were made on a weekly basis and were 0·56 and 0·64 for animals on diets H and M in weeks 3·10. During weeks 11·20 the mean values for animals on treatments HH, HM, MM and ML were 0·46, 0·53, 0·51 and 0·59, respectively.


Author(s):  
S.L. Harris ◽  
D.A. Clark ◽  
P.J. Laboyrie

Two grazing trials conducted with Friesian cows in mid lactation showed milk yields were higher on birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)-dominant pasture (19.8 and 16.7 l/cow/day) than on white clover-dominant (17.8 and 15.4 l/cow/day) or ryegrass-dominant (13.0 and 11.7 l/cow/day) pastures. Increased milk production on the Lotus and clover was attributed to the higher nutritive value of the legume-based pasture compared with the ryegrass, and to higher dry matter intakes. Cows grazing Lotus also had improved feed conversion efficiency compared with those grazing either ryegrass or clover, indicating that the presence of condensed tannins in the Lotus may have contributed to the improved efficiency. Milk protein concentration was consistently higher on the Lotus (3.36 and 3.35%) than on the ryegrass (3.15 and 3.21%) or clover (3.30 and 3.21%) in both experiments, while milk fat levels were lower in Experiment 1. While Lotus increased milk yield and milk protein concentration, its potential as a forage legume for dairy cows also depends on annual herbage production and the determination of how best to utilise it in a farm system. Keywords: birdsfoot trefoil, dairy cows, dry matter intake, Lotus corniculatus, milk composition, milk yield, perennial ryegrass, white clover


Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Dunshea ◽  
Kehinde Oluboyede ◽  
Kristy DiGiacomo ◽  
Brian Leury ◽  
Jeremy Cottrell

Betaine is an organic osmolyte sourced from sugar beet that accumulates in plant cells undergoing osmotic stress. Since the accumulation of betaine lowers the energy requirements of animals and, therefore, metabolic heat production, the aim of this experiment was to investigate if betaine supplementation improved milk yield in grazing dairy cows in summer. One hundred and eighteen Friesian × Holstein cows were paired on days in milk and, within each pair, randomly allocated to a containing treatment of either 0 or 2 g/kg natural betaine in their concentrate ration for approximately 3 weeks during February/March 2015 (summer in Australia). The mean maximum February temperature was 30 °C. Cows were allocated approximately 14 kg dry matter pasture and 7.5 kg of concentrate pellets (fed in the milking shed) per cow per day and were milked through an automatic milking system three times per day. Betaine supplementation increased average daily milk yield by over 6% (22.0 vs. 23.4 kg/day, p < 0.001) with the response increasing as the study progressed as indicated by the interaction (p < 0.001) between betaine and day. Milk fat % (p = 0.87), milk protein % (p = 0.90), and milk somatic cell count (p = 0.81) were unchanged by dietary betaine. However, betaine supplementation increased milk protein yield (677 vs. 719 g/day, p < 0.001) and fat yield (874 vs. 922 g/day, p < 0.001) with responses again being more pronounced as the study progressed. In conclusion, dietary betaine supplementation increased milk and component yield during summer in grazing dairy cows.


2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 ◽  
pp. 192-192
Author(s):  
R.E. Lawson ◽  
A.R. Moss ◽  
C. Rymer ◽  
J.S. Blake

Mansbridge (1995) reported that replacing ground wheat with a mix of ground wheat and maize grain increased milk protein concentration, which led the authors to speculate that increased inclusion of maize grain increased rumen by-pass starch. Indeed, de Visseret al(1990) reported that feeding less rapidly degradable starches has led to increased milk protein concentration.The objective of this study was to examine the effects of starch concentration and source on feed intake, milk yield and milk composition of dairy cows.


Author(s):  
A Gavelis ◽  
V. Þilaitis ◽  
A Juozaitis ◽  
V. Juozaitienë ◽  
G. Urbonavièius ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to evaluate relationship between milk progesterone concentration (P4) and milk traits at the start of estrus time and 12h after start of the estrus in dairy cows. The 96 milk samples of 48 Lithuanian dairy cows without reproduction disorders and 90–100 days after calving were evaluated. Cows were classified into two groups based on milk yield per day: less than 30 kg (n=20) and e”30 kg (n=28). Data were categorized by milk fat and protein content at the start estrus and 12h after start of estrus to evaluate relationship between P4 and milk traits examined. P4 at estrus time in dairy cows was significantly positively correlated with milk yield (P less than 0.001), whereas it was negatively correlated with milk protein (P less than 0.05-P less than 0.01) and fat at 12h after start of estrus. Dairy cows with F/P from 1.0 to 1.5 had the lowest P4 in milk. Results of the pregnancy in dairy cows were related with lower P4 and milk yield level (P less than 0.001), higher milk fat (P less than 0.05) and milk protein content (P less than 0.001). These cows had 1.90 times lower prevalence of the signs of subclinical ketosis (P less than 0.05) at estrus time when compared with non-pregnant cows. As a result, it was clearly demonstrated that P4 in dairy cows can help to evaluate and improve the reproductive properties of cows.


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