The effect of rearing regime on the development of the mammary gland and claw abnormalities in high genetic merit Holstein-Friesian dairy herd replacements

2002 ◽  
Vol 2002 ◽  
pp. 75-75
Author(s):  
A.F. Carson ◽  
L.E.R. Dawson ◽  
A.R.G Wylie ◽  
F.J. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Mammary Gland ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Dairy Herd ◽  
Major Effect ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
Target Weight ◽  
Subsequent Performance ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Primary Driver

Feeding and management during the rearing period has a major effect on the subsequent performance and welfare of dairy herd replacements. Recently, Carson et al. (2000) found that increasing the live weight of high genetic merit Holstein Friesian heifers from 540 to 620 kg at first calving increased first lactation milk yield by 11%. Mammary growth is a major determinant of milk yield capacity and longevity of lactation and may be the primary driver behind the observed increases in milk production with larger heifers. The first objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of rearing regime, in terms of diet offered and target weight at 18 months of age, on mammary gland development of high genetic merit Holstein-Friesian heifers. The second objective of this study was to investigate the effect of rearing regime on solear haemorrhages and heel erosions in Holstein-Friesian heifers.

The effect of rearing regime on the development of the mammary gland and claw abnormalities in high genetic merit Holstein-Friesian dairy herd replacements

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. Carson ◽  
L. E. R. Dawson ◽  
A. R. G. Wylie ◽  
F. J. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Mammary Gland ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Dairy Herd ◽  
White Line ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Heel Height ◽  
Reduced Fat ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Winter Diets

AbstractOne hundred and eight high genetic merit Holstein-Friesian heifers were used to determine the effects of rearing regime on the development of the mammary gland and claw abnormalities. Heifers were allocated to one of four rearing regimes at 7 weeks of age and slaughtered at 18 (s.d.0.7) months of age; mating commenced at 14 months of age. Treatment 1 heifers were reared to calve at 540 kg and treatments 2, 3 and 4 heifers reared to calve at 620 kg. Treatment 1 and 2 heifers were offered grass silage-based diets during the winter and grass-based diets during the summer; treatment 2 heifers received additional concentrates. Treatment 3 heifers were offered a straw/concentrate diet during the winter and a grass-based diet during the summer. Treatment 4 heifers received the same winter diets as treatment 3 but were housed and offered a straw/concentrate diet in summer. Increasing plane of nutrition increased the weight of dissected udder fat (P < 0.01), but had no effect on the weight or chemical composition of dissected udder parenchyma. Offering straw- compared with silage-based diets reduced fat deposition in the udder (P < 0.01) and increased the proportion of parenchyma in the udder (P < 0.01). Keeping heifers housed during the first summer and offering straw-based diets relative to those turned out to grass had no effect on weight of fat although there was a tendency towards a reduction in the proportion of parenchyma in the udder (P < 0.06). Heifers reared on a low plane of nutrition had lower values for heel height (P < 0.001), lateral claw length (P < 0.001) and heel erosion scores (P < 0.01). A higher plane of nutrition also increased live weight/sole area although this was only significantly higher for treatment 3 (P < 0.05) compared with treatment 1 heifers. Housing heifers in the first summer increased the incidence of feet lesions in the white line area and solear area relative to turning heifers out to grass in the first summer (P < 0.05).

Reproductive performance in Holstein-Friesian cows in relation to genetic merit and level of feeding when grazing pasture

2001 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 397-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Fulkerson ◽  
J. Wilkins ◽  
R. C. Dobos ◽  
G. M. Hough ◽  
M. E. Goddard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnancy Rate ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
The Other ◽  
Breeding Value ◽  
Mating Period ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Friesian Cows

AbstractOne hundred and eight Holstein-Friesian cows in six herds were run on six separate farmlets over a 5-year period from 1995 to 1999 at Wollongbar Agricultural Institute, on the subtropical north coast of New South Wales, Australia. Three of the herds comprised high genetic merit (HGM) cows — Australian breeding value (ABV) of +49·1 kg for milk fat (F) plus protein (Pr) and three herds comprised low genetic merit (LGM) cows-ABV of 2·3 kg. Within genetic merit groupings, one herd was given 0·34 t (l), one herd was given 0·84 t (m) and one herd 1·71 t (h), of concentrate per cow per lactation. Within each genetic merit group, cows were matched for milk yield and live weight, and over all groups for time of calving and age at the commencement of the study. The 30 paddocks within each farmlet were matched between farmlets for pasture type and pasture growth rate and soil fertility. Half the cows within each herd calved over a 3-month period in spring and the other half in autumn. Strict management criteria ensured that there was no bias towards particular treatment groups.HGM cows were ‘open’ (days from calving to conception) for 8 days longer than the LGM cows (99 v. 91 days). The lHGM cows took 11 days longer to commence luteal phase activity and 21 days longer to first observed oestrus post calving than hLGM cows (P < 0·001), with the other groups being intermediate.After 24 days of mating, 22% of lHGM cows were pregnant, and this was less than half of the rate of the best herd-mLGM. After 9 weeks of mating, the chances of an LGM cow being pregnant was 87% greater than an HGM cow. After 12 weeks of mating, 70% of lHGM cows were pregnant compared with a mean pregnancy rate of 87% for the LGM cows.The number of cows treated for abnormal ovarian activity (anoestrus, cystic) was highest (P < 0·001) in the HGM herds given ‘l’ and ‘m’ levels of concentrate compared with the remaining herds (0·24 v. 0·12 treatments per cow mated, respectively).There was a significant positive relationship between live-weight change from 4 weeks before, to the start of, the mating period and the chances of a cow being pregnant at 24 days (P < 0·05) and at 6 and 9 weeks after the commencement of mating.There was a significant negative relationship (P < 0·001) between the change in daily F plus Pr yield, from the start to 4 weeks after mating began, and pregnancy rate at 9 weeks. The change in F plus Pr yield was +63 g/day for cows pregnant at nine weeks as opposed to +154 g/day for cows not pregnant.The results of the present study indicate that the reproductive performance of HGM cows, with a mean of 61% North American (NA) genes, is lower than LGM cows (22% NA genes) under a predominantly pasture-based system of farming. The influence on reproduction was possibly due to genes favouring partitioning of energy to milk yield rather than body-condition maintenance in the HGM cows and when food intake was inadequate, then being more willing to use body reserves.These reproductive problems may be reduced by more intensive reproductive management. However, such practices are costly and time consuming. Another approach may be to ensure that live-weight loss over the mating period is minimized by strategic supplementary feeding.

Effects of habituation to the milking parlour on production, health and fertility of Norwegian and Holstein dairy herd replacements

2003 ◽  
Vol 2003 ◽  
pp. 26-26
Author(s):  
H.C.F. Wicks ◽  
A.F. Carson ◽  
M.A. McCoy
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Dairy Herd ◽  
Nutritional Management ◽  
Social Changes ◽  
Subsequent Performance ◽  
Milk Flow ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Norwegian Dairy

During the transition period (defined as three weeks prior to calving to three weeks post-calving) heifers are exposed to physiological, nutritional, management, and social changes as they enter the dairy herd. One obvious change is the introduction of heifers to the milking parlour. Previous work has shown that when mature cows were milked in unfamiliar surroundings, milk yield, milk flow rate and milking duration were affected due to increased stress (Rushens, et al. 2001). The objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of habituating heifers to the milking parlour pre-calving on the subsequent performance of Holstein-Friesian and Norwegian dairy herd replacements.

The effect of heifer rearing regime on body size and milk production during the first lactation

2000 ◽  
Vol 2000 ◽  
pp. 13-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.F. Carson ◽  
L.E.R. Dawson ◽  
F.J. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Dairy Herd ◽  
Lactation Performance ◽  
Frame Size ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Current Systems

The UK dairy industry has entered a period of rapid increase in cow genetic merit. Feeding and management during the rearing period will influence the extent to which the genetic merit of these animals is realised. Current systems for rearing dairy herd replacements are based on research undertaken in the 1960's and 1970's with animals of lower genetic merit. High genetic merit Holstein Friesian animals have an increased live weight and frame size at maturity compared with their medium merit contemporaries, which may have implications for the optimum weight at first calving. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of rearing regime, in terms of diet offered and target calving weight, on first lactation performance of high genetic merit heifers over a range of milk production systems.

The effect of heifer rearing regime on milk yield and composition during the first lactation

2000 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 295-304
Author(s):  
A.F. Carson ◽  
L.E.R. Dawson ◽  
F.J. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
Concentrate Supplementation ◽  
Milk Protein Content ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Commercial Farms

AbstractOne hundred and thirteen Holstein Friesian heifers (PIN (95) £88 s.d. 11.1) were used in a study to determine the effect of rearing regime, in terms of diet offered and target calving weight, on milk production in high genetic merit heifers. Eighty of the heifers were supplied from 11 commercial farms, the remainder were supplied from the herd at the Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland. The heifers commenced the experiment at 7 weeks of age when they were allocated on the basis of source, live weight and genetic merit to one of four rearing regimes. The target weights at calving were 540 kg (Treatment 1) and 620 kg (treatments 2, 3 and 4). Treatments 1 heifers were offered grass silage-based diets during the winter and grass–based diets during the summer. Treatment 2 heifers were offered the same forage base along with additional concentrate supplementation. Treatment 3 heifers were offered a straw/concentrate diet during the winter and grass-based diets during the summer. Treatment 4 heifers received the same diets as treatment 3, apart from the first summer period when they were housed and offered a straw/concentrate diet. The heifers were mated at 14 months of age and were returned to the 11 farms one month prior to calving. Heifers reared on treatment 1 weighed less had a lower withers height (P<0.001) and were of a lower condition score (P<0.001) before calving than heifers reared on the other treatments. During early lactation (3 months post-calving) heifers reared on treatment 1 lost less weight and condition score than the heifers reared on treatments 2, 3 and 4. Over the winter housing period (mean 140 days) the average milk yield was lower for heifers reared on treatment 1 compared with heifers reared on treatments 2 (P<0.05), 3 (P=0.08) and 4 (P<0.05). Milk protein content was higher in animals reared on treatment 1 compared with treatment 2 (P<0.01), 3 (P<0.05) and 4 (P=0.12). Overall milk fat plus protein yield was lower for heifers reared on treatment 1 compared with treatments 2 (P<0.05), 3 (P=0.06) and 4 (P<0.05).

The effects of monensin on milk production and levels of metabolites in blood and rumen fluid of Holstein-Friesian cows in early lactation

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 933 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. C. Granzin ◽  
G. McL. Dryden
Keyword(s):  
Mammary Gland ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Plasma Glucose ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Friesian Cows

Summary. Monensin was fed to Holstein–Friesian cows in early lactation to study its effects on concentrations of blood metabolites, feed intake, body condition and milk production. In the first experiment, 18 Holstein–Friesian cows were randomly stratified into 6 similar groups of cows based on parity and previous milk yield. Cows within these groups were assigned randomly to be fed either 0, 150 or 300 mg of monensin per day. Monensin was fed as a component of a 1 kg grain supplement at 0600 h daily from 14 days prepartum to 84 days postpartum. Mean milk yields (kg/day) of cows supplemented with monensin at 150 mg/day (23.0) and 300 mg/day (23.7) were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of unsupplemented cows (21.1). Milk fat and protein contents were not affected by monensin feeding but daily yields of milk fat and protein differed significantly (P<0.05) between treatments. Monensin supplemented at 300 mg per day significantly (P<0.05) reduced the molar proportion of rumen acetate and increased the molar proportion of rumen propionate. Monensin fed at either 150 or 300 mg/day significantly (P<0.05) increased the ratio of plasma glucose: β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), but had no effect on concentrations of blood acetoacetate, serum nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), plasma glucose or BHB. Monensin had no effect on liveweight change or condition score. In the second experiment, 12 Holstein–Friesian cows in early lactation were blocked on parity into 3 groups of 4 cows, and 2 cows within each block were of either high, or low genetic merit. Monensin (none or 320 mg per day) and genetic merit were assigned as a 2 by 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Monensin supplementation commenced 28 days prepartum and ended 56 days postpartum. Monensin caused a significant (P<0.05) increase in feed intake (21.6 v. 23.2 kg/day) and significantly reduced plasma BHB concentration (64.0 v. 6.7 mg/dL). Cows with a higher genetic merit had a significantly (P<0.05) higher milk yield (27.2 kg/day) compared to cows of low genetic merit (26.3 kg/day). Low genetic merit cows fed monensin had significantly (P<0.05) lower daily milk fat yield, lower serum NEFA concentration and higher plasma glucose concentration compared to low genetic merit cows not fed monensin, or high genetic merit cows. Serum insulin and bovine somatotrophin concentrations were unaffected by the treatments. The results of these experiments suggest that with Holstein–Friesian cows in early lactation, the increase in hepatic propionate supply caused by monensin supplementation increases glucose synthesis and subsequent milk production when the requirements of the mammary gland for glucose are not otherwise being met. If the glucose requirements of the mammary gland are being satisfied, monensin decreases ketogenesis and the mobilisation of adipose tissue. Monensin had a positive effect on intake in this study.

Effects of rearing regime on body size, reproductive performance and milk production during the first lactation in high genetic merit dairy herd replacements

2002 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 553-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. Carson ◽  
L. E. R. Dawson ◽  
M. A. McCoy ◽  
D. J. Kilpatrick ◽  
F. J. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Calving Interval ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Condition Score

AbstractOne hundred and thirteen high genetic merit Holstein-Friesian heifers were used in a study to determine the effect of rearing regime, in terms of diet offered and target calving weight, on body size, reproductive performance and milk production in high genetic merit heifers. Eighty of the heifers were supplied from 11 commercial farms, the remainder were supplied from the herd at the Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland. The heifers commenced the experiment at 7 weeks of age when they were allocated on the basis of source, live weight and genetic merit to one of four rearing regimes. The target weights at calving were 540 kg (treatment 1) and 620 kg (treatments 2, 3 and 4). Treatment 1 heifers were offered grass silage-based diets during the winter and grass-based diets during the summer. Treatment 2 heifers were offered the same forage base plus additional concentrate supplementation. Treatment 3 heifers were offered a straw/concentrate diet during the winter and grass-based diets during the summer. Treatment 4 heifers received the same diets as treatment 3, except for the first summer period when they remained housed and were offered a straw/concentrate diet. The heifers were mated at 14 months of age and were returned to the 11 source farms one month prior to calving. Heifers reared on treatment 1 had a lower withers height (P < 0·001) and were of a lower condition score (P < 0·001) before calving than heifers reared on treatments 2, 3 and 4. During early lactation (3 months post calving) heifers reared on treatment 1 lost less weight and condition score than the heifers reared on the other treatments. Thus at the end of the first lactation live weights did not differ significantly between the treatments. However, body length remained shorter (P < 0·01) in treatment 1 compared with treatments 2, 3 and 4. First lactation milk yield (305 days) was lower for heifers reared on treatment 1 (7222 l) compared with heifers reared on treatment 2 (8020 l) (P < 0·01), 3 (7956 l) (P < 0·01) and 4 (7901 l) (P < 0·05). Similarly, milk fat plus protein yield was lower (P < 0·05) for heifers reared on treatment 1 (511 kg) compared with treatments 2 (544 kg), 3 (544 kg) and 4 (554 kg). The interval from calving to first recorded oestrus was shorter in treatment 1 compared with treatments 2 and 3 (P < 0·05). There was a tendency (P < 0·10) for heifers reared on treatment 1 to have a shorter calving interval (394 days) compared with treatments 2 (426 days), 3 (435 days) and 4 (458 days). In conclusion increasing the live weight of Holstein-Friesian heifers at first calving from 540 to 620 kg pre-calving increased milk yield proportionally by 0·11 but tended to increase the calving interval. Diet type during the rearing period had no effect on milk fat plus protein yield or reproductive performance.

scholarly journals Meat quality characteristics of high dairy genetic-merit Holstein, standard dairy genetic-merit Friesian and Charolais x Holstein-Friesian steers

2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-32
Author(s):  
M. McGee ◽  
M.G. Keane ◽  
R. Neilan ◽  
P.J. Caffrey ◽  
A.P. Moloney
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Material ◽  
Dairy Herd ◽  
Quality Characteristics ◽  
Eating Quality ◽  
Lipid Concentration ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
Overall Acceptability ◽  
Holstein Bull ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Commercially Important

AbstractThe increased use of Holstein genetic material in the Irish dairy herd has consequences for beef production. In all, 42 spring-born steers [14 Holsteins (HO), 14 Friesian (FR) and 14 Charolais × Holstein-Friesian (CH)] were reared to slaughter at between 26 and 37 mo of age. Carcass weight was higher and the lipid concentration of m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum was lower (P < 0.05) for CH than the dairy breeds. Overall acceptability tended to be lower (P = 0.055) while tenderness, texture and chewiness were lower (P < 0.05) for CH compared with the dairy breeds. The proportion of C16:1 in the total lipid tended to be lower (P = 0.055) for CH than the dairy breeds. Replacing male offspring of traditional “Irish” Friesian bulls with offspring from a genetically superior (from a dairy perspective) strain of Holstein bull had no commercially important impact on beef nutritional or eating quality.

scholarly journals Relative variability of phenotypic traits and indicators of milk productivity of cows

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (95) ◽  
pp. 101-107
Author(s):  
Ye. I. Fedorovych ◽  
V. V. Fedorovych ◽  
P. V. Bodnar ◽  
S. I. Fyl ◽  
A. V. Dymchuk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Dairy Herd ◽  
Reproductive Capacity ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
Body Measurements ◽  
Milk Productivity ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Relative Variability

The research was conducted on cattle of Black-and-White breed (Holstein and Ukrainian Black-and-White dairy breed) at LLC “Veleten” Glukhiv district of Sumy region (n = 1956) and PJSC “Breeding Plant “Stepnoy” of Kamyansko-Dniprovsk district of Zaporizhzhia region (n = 1981). Based on retrospective data analysis (“Uniform-Agri” – program of dairy herd management) for the period from 2004 to 2017 it was studied the live weight of cows in growing period (newborns, 6, 12; 18 months, at first insemination and after the first calving), body measurements of heifers (height at shoulders, chest depth, chest width, chest girth behind the shoulder blades, oblique body length, width of hips, wrist girth) and traits of reproducibility (age at first insemination, age at first calving, duration of service period, insemination index, fertility index) and milk productivity of cows (milk yields for 305 days, fat and protein content in milk for the first, second and third lactation). Based on our previously obtained data by correlation analysis method it was studied the relative variability of phenotypic traits and indicators of dairy productivity of cows. It is established that the connections of live weight of cows during their rearing with traits of milk productivity were multidirectional and ranged from slightly improbable to moderately significant values. At the same time, in both farms, the most significant highly probable connection was noted between the live weight of animals at the age of 12 months and the milk yield of first-borns that indicates the possibility of selecting heifers at the specified age to provide them future high milk productivity. There was significant variability of the relationship between body measurements and the amount of milk yield of cows for the first, second and third lactation. However, cows of both farms, had direct connection, but a bit weaker in animals at PJSC “Breeding Plant “Stepnoy”. Positive correlation coefficients between indicators of exterior and milk yields of cows give reasons to claim the efficiency of indirect selection of heifers by body measurements. Rational management of dairy farming and high profits depend a lot on knowledge of regularities of correlative variability of productive traits of cows and indicators of reproductive capacity. It is established that the connections between the traits of milk productivity and reproductive capacity of animals were different and ranged from weak to medium and from reliable to improbable. The most significant highly reliable, however, with negative correlation coefficients were observed between milk yield of cows for all studied lactations and their age at the first insemination and the first calving

The influence of cow genetic merit for milk production on response to level of concentrate supplementation in a grass based system

2003 ◽  
Vol 2003 ◽  
pp. 57-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Dillon ◽  
J. Kennedy ◽  
P. Faverdin ◽  
L. Delaby ◽  
F. Buckley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
Concentrate Supplementation ◽  
Holstein Friesian

Pre-1990 published responses to supplementation at pasture ranged from 0.4 to 0.6kg milk/kg concentrate fed. However since 1990 higher responses to concentrate supplementation at pasture have been published (Delaby 2001). The objective of this study was to determine if milk production responses of Holstein-Friesian dairy cows to concentrate supplementation at pasture are influenced by genetic merit (milk yield potential) in a spring calving grass based system of milk production.

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