The effects of processing at harvest and cutting height of urea-treated whole-crop wheat on performance and digestibility in dairy cows

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 467-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Jackson ◽  
R. J. Readman ◽  
J. A. Huntington ◽  
L. A. Sinclair
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Fat Content ◽  
Apparent Digestibility ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Forage Intake ◽  
Cutting Height

AbstractUrea-treated whole-crop wheat harvested at growth stage (GS) 87 that was either unprocessed (U) or processed (P) by the forage harvester, and cut at one of two heights to produce a long straw (L), or short straw (S) forage, was offered to 44 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows for 14 weeks according to a 2 ✕ 2 factorial design. Whole-crop wheat (WCW) was mixed 2: 1 on a dry-matter (DM) basis with grass silage and all animals received 8·5 kg/day of concentrate and 2 kg/day of rapeseed meal. Increasing the cutting height at harvest increased the starch content in the forage from an average of 356 to 419 g/kg DM and decreased neutral-detergent fibre levels from 422 to 337 g/kg DM. Forage intake (grass silage and WCW) was higher in cows given the unprocessed compared with the processed forages (13·7 v. 12·5 kg DM per day for treatments U v. P respectively; P < 0·05) and tended (P < 0·08) to be higher in cows given the long compared with the short straw forages. Neither processing, nor alteration of cutting height, had a significant effect on milk yield (kg/day). However, milk fat content decreased (P < 0·05) with increasing cutting height (41·9 v. 37·0 g/kg for the main effects of L v. S respectively) whilst body condition score was lower (P < 0·05) in cows given the long compared with the short straw forages (2·6 v. 2·8 respectively). Plasma glucose levels were higher (P < 0·05) in animals receiving the short compared with long straw forages (3·52 v. 3·34 mmol/l respectively) whereas β-hydroxybutyrate decreased (P < 0·01) with increased cutting height. The average digestibility of starch in the total ration was higher (P < 0·001) in cows given the processed compared with the unprocessed WCW (0·96 v. 0·88 respectively). Assuming a constant apparent digestibility of starch in the other food components resulted in a WCW starch apparent digestibility of 0·87, 0·97, 0·80 and 0·96 for forages LU, LP, SU and SP respectively (P < 0·001). The results indicate that processing at harvest significantly increased the digestibility of starch in WCW and that cows responded to this higher nutrient content by decreasing forage intake. Increasing the cutting height at harvest decreased milk fat content (g/kg) and yield (kg/day) and increased body condition score.

Palmitic acid-enriched fat supplementation alleviates negative production responses during early lactation of Holstein dairy cows

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (13) ◽  
pp. 1598
Author(s):  
Hani M. El-Zaiat ◽  
Dyaaeldin Mohamed ◽  
Sobhy M. Sallam
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Palmitic Acid ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Fat Content ◽  
Lactation Period ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Condition Score

Effects of rumen-protected fat (RPF) on suppressing the negative performance responses in early lactation period of Holstein dairy cows were investigated. Three hundred multiparous Holstein cows (647 ± 16 kg bodyweight and 90 days in milk (DIM)) were randomly housed into three free-stall barns (100 cows per barn) and assigned to the treatments for 90 days, as follows: (1) control (CTL) diet without RPF; (2) calcium salt of palm fatty acids (CaFA) 30 g/kg DM, and (3) fractionated fatty acids of palm oil (FFA) 25 g/kg DM. Cows were fed total mixed ration containing 580 g of concentrate and 420 g of roughage per kilogram DM. Cows fed FFA exhibited a higher (P &lt; 0.05) DM intake and body condition score than did those fed CaFA or CTL diets respectively. Moreover, cows fed the FFA diet showed decreased (P &lt; 0.05) changes to bodyweight at 30 DIM and to body condition score at 60 DIM and increased digestibility of ether extract and neutral detergent fibre. Blood concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol and glucose were higher (P &lt; 0.05) for cows fed FFA diet than for those fed the other diets, between 4 and 30 DIM, whereas concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyric acid and urine ketones were lower for cows fed RPF sources (P &lt; 0.05). Relative to CTL diet, CaFA and FFA diets increased (P &lt; 0.05) milk yield and milk fat content at 4–30 DIM. Feeding FFA improved feed efficiency by 8.9% (P = 0.006), between 31 and 60 DIM, compared with CaFA. Inclusion of a palmitic acid-enriched fat supplement in Holstein cow diet increased milk yield and fat content and mitigated the deleterious effects of metabolic disorders during the early lactation period.

The effect of a fully-controlled out-of-parlour concentrate dispenser on the production of British Friesian dairy cows

1985 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Rees ◽  
P. Rowlinson
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
To Receive

ABSTRACTIn two experiments the effect of giving concentrates to dairy cows from a fully-controlled out-of-parlour dispenser was compared with giving concentrates twice daily in the milking parlour. In experiment 1, 22 cows were used in a cross-over design during the first 19 weeks of lactation. In experiment 2, 34 cows were used in a continuous trial during the first 18 weeks of lactation. Weeks 1 to 3 of each experiment were used as a standardization period during which all cows were given equal amounts of concentrates twice a day during milking. At the end of this period cows were paired and assigned to receive concentrates either in the milking parlour (group P) or to receive 1·0 kg concentrates per day in the milking parlour and the remainder from an out-of-parlour dispenser (group O). Within pairs, between treatments, cows were offered the same amount of concentrates and allowed access to ad libitum silage. Means for milk yield, fat and solids-not-fat concentrations during experiment 1 were 25·1 v. 23·9 kg/day (P < 0·01), 36·5 v. 38·1 g/kg, 89·9 v. 89·1 g/kg (P < 0·001), and for experiment 2 were 27·1 v. 25·4 kg/day (P < 0·01), 39·8 v. 42·6 g/kg, and 90·9 v. 90·9 g/kg, for groups O and P respectively. Mean concentrate intakes during experiment 1 were 8·3 v. 8·4 kg/day (P < 0·01) and during experiment 2 were 8·9 v. 8·6 kg/day (P < 0·01) for groups O and P respectively. In both experiments, group O had more positive changes in weight and body condition score (P < 0·05). It is concluded that the use of the dispenser improved milk yield, weight and condition-score changes, though milk fat concentration was decreased compared to that of parlour-fed cows.

Evaluation of fasting as a technique for use in feeding experiments in which dairy cows are strip-grazed

1984 ◽  
Vol 24 (127) ◽  
pp. 469
Author(s):  
CR Stockdale ◽  
KR King
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Major Effect ◽  
Feeding Experiment ◽  
Score Change ◽  
Feeding Experiments ◽  
Condition Score

The effects of length of fast (0-72 h) on the productivity, liveweight and body condition of dairy cows in mid-lactation were measured, together with the effects of this treatment on the responses obtained in a subsequent feeding experiment. It was also considered whether fasting reduced the variation and improved the estimates of liveweight change and condition score change between treatments in the feeding experiment. Fasting did not influence the responses to level of feeding in a subsequent feeding experiment, as evidenced by the lack of interaction between length of fast and feeding level. Furthermore, fasting did not improve the precision of estimates of liveweight or condition score change. Although the cows were slow to recover, particularly from the longest fast, the major effect of fasting on the conduct of a subsequent experiment was associated with the possibility of health problems. The responses of milk yield, milk fat content and liveweight to length of fast were curvilinear while those of milk fat yield and body condition score were linear. After a 72 h fast, the reduction in milk yield was approximately 85%, while that of liveweight was 12%. Observers also assigned lower body condition scores to fasted cows; after a 72 h fast, the assigned condition score was 0.56 units lower, on average. In the light of these results, the use of fasting in feeding experiments is discussed.

scholarly journals Effects of Subacute Ruminal Acidosis (SARA) on Epidemiological and Clinicopathological Parameters of Dairy Cattle

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Nawid Mirzad ◽  
Mohammad Hussain Haidary ◽  
M. Nasim Sohail ◽  
Mohammad Nasim Sahab ◽  
Hamidullah Alizada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Subacute Ruminal Acidosis ◽  
Ruminal Acidosis ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
The Mean

Background: Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is one of the most important metabolic disease of dairy cattle which decrease milk production, dry matter intake, productivity and increase culling rate and even cause death.Methods: In this study the epidemiological status of SARA namely age, breed, stage of lactation, lactation number, general health condition, body condition score, daily milk production, milk fat content and biochemical alteration were investigated.Result: Out of 100 cows examined 20 were found to be positive for SARA and the mean age of dairy cows suffering from SARA was found to be 6.53 ±0.68 years. The prevalence of SARA was 70 and 30 per cent in Jersey and HF breed of cows respectively and was high in mid lactation and the lactation number ranged from 2 to 6. 65 per cent. SARA affected cows were in poor body condition score, milk production and milk fat content was significantly low (P≤ 0.05). The mean GGT (Gamma Glutamyl Transferase) and AST (Asparate aminotransferase) values were significantly increased in SARA affected dairy cows. SARA seems to be a common problem in dairy cattle and it has to be considered when dealing with herd level problems like low milk fat, low milk production, poor body condition and appropriate management measures should be implemented to prevent it.

scholarly journals The Capacity of Holstein-Friesian and Simmental Cows to Correct a Negative Energy Balance in Relation to Their Performance Parameters, Course of Lactation, and Selected Milk Components

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1674
Author(s):  
Ilona Strączek ◽  
Krzysztof Młynek ◽  
Agata Danielewicz
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Energy Balance ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Negative Energy ◽  
Negative Energy Balance ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Peak Lactation

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.

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