Short-term studies on the response of grazing dairy cows to dietary supplementation

1976 ◽  
Vol 16 (81) ◽  
pp. 445 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Jeffery ◽  
RF Buesnel ◽  
GH O'Neill
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Dietary Supplementation ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Production Stage ◽  
Stage Of Lactation ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Widespread View

Milk production of grazing dairy cows receiving 3 kg per day of wheat, sorghum, maize, oats or barley was measured. In general, only small differences were observed in the yield and composition of milk produced from cows consuming the different grains. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the relationship between the milk response of grazing dairy cows to 3 kg supplement and their level of production, stage of lactation, and age. Similar mean responses to supplementation were found in both experiments but no consistent relationship between response and either level of production, stage of lactation or age was found. A further experiment examined the response of grazing dairy cows, grouped into four groups according to their level of production, to 3, 4.1/3 5.2/3, 7 or 8.5 kg supplement per day. These treatments had a non-significant effect on milk composition; as the rate of supplementation increased, the yield of milk and its constituents first increased then commenced to decrease. The response obtained from both low and high producing cows was similar. It was thus concluded that in the short-term neither the type of grain fed, the cow's age, level of production nor stage of lactation affected its response to supplementation. The dichotomy between this conclusion and the widespread view that high producers respond better to supplementation is discussed.

The use of short-term secretion rate measurements for estimating the milk production of suckler cows

1978 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. L. P. Le Du ◽  
R. D. Baker ◽  
J. M. Barker
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Secretion Rate ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Beef Cow ◽  
Total Milk ◽  
Fat Yield ◽  
Good Agreement

SummaryTwo experiments with dairy cows and one with suckler cows and their calves were conducted to examine the use of secretion rate measurements for estimating total milk production. In the first experiment both 4- and 6- h intervals between measurements gave similar estimates of total 7-d milk yield. The second experiment compared estimated and measured milk composition as well as yield. Milk and solids-not-fat yields were underestimated with dairy cows as a result of an extended milking interval before measurement. However, fat yield was overestimated, indicating that all residual milk was not removed at the first oxytocinaided milking. It was concluded that for the beef cow, previous interval effects would be eliminated by the frequency of calf suckling, but that residual milk effects might cause a 3–6% and a 16% overestimation of milk and fat yields respectively.In the third experiment, the milk yield of suckler cows was estimated from measurements of secretion rate and from changes in calf weight; good agreement was obtained provided there were at least 3 consecutive controlled sucklings.

Responses to grain feeding by grazing dairy cows

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 541 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. Robaina ◽  
C. Grainger ◽  
P. Moate ◽  
J. Taylor ◽  
J. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Difference Method ◽  
Protein Concentration ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Supplementary Feeding ◽  
Sampling Techniques ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows ◽  
Yield Responses

Summary. Two experiments were conducted on feeding grain supplements to dairy cows during summer. In experiment 1, dairy cows in mid–late lactation were offered one of 2 pasture allowances (about 20 and 40 kg DM/cow.day) with and without a supplement of a grain mix (5 kg of a 70 : 30 mixture of barley and lupins). This experiment was conducted twice over 2 consecutive summer–autumn periods (years 1 and 2). Milk yields were higher at the high pasture allowance and with grain feeding. The marginal response to grain feeding (kg milk/kg grain DM consumed) was 0.7 at both pasture allowances in year 1, and 1.1 and 0.8 at the low and high pasture allowance, respectively, in year 2. Diet had no significant effect on milk composition. Pasture intake was reduced by supplementary feeding and the level of substitution depended on pasture allowance. The alkane-based and sward sampling techniques were used to estimate pasture intake and diet digestibility. Estimates of pasture substitution, based on measurements made with the alkane technique, were 0.3 and 0.6 kg DM reduction in pasture/kg DM grain consumed at the low and high pasture allowance, respectively, in both years. In year 1, the pasture substitution measured with the pasture difference method was 1 kg pasture DM/kg grain DM at both pasture allowances. In year 2, estimates of substitution calculated using the pasture difference method were 0.2 and 0.5 kg pasture DM/kg grain DM at the low and high pasture allowance respectively. In the second experiment (year 3), the effects of level of feeding barley on pasture intake, diet digestibility and milk production were measured during summer. The 4 levels of grain consumed were 0, 1.8, 3.4 and 6.7 kg barley DM/cow. day. Higher grain intake resulted in higher milk yield, higher protein concentration and yields of fat, protein and lactose. Milk yield responses per kilogram of barley diminished from 1.6 at the low barley intake to 0.8 kg milk/kg barley DM at the highest barley intake. It is suggested that higher levels of substitution and a potentially less efficient use of grain contributed to the poorer production responses at higher levels of grain feeding.

Supplementation with Ca salts of soybean oil interacts with concentrate level in grazing dairy cows: milk production and milk composition

2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
pp. 1585-1591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Lopes Macedo ◽  
Jonas de Souza ◽  
Fernanda Batistel ◽  
Lucas Jado Chagas ◽  
Flávio Augusto Portela Santos
Keyword(s):  
Soybean Oil ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows ◽  
Concentrate Level

The relationship between milk production potential and herbage intake of grazing dairy cows

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.T. Butler ◽  
G.K. Stakelum ◽  
J.J. Murphy ◽  
L. Delaby ◽  
M. Rath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThe objective of this trial was to examine the daily herbage requirement and grass dry matter intake (DMI) of dairy cows of different levels of milk production with rotational grazing and optimum grazing conditions. The daily herbage allowance (DHA) that was required was defined as the allowance that permitted the herds to graze to a post-grazing sward height (SHA) of 70 mm. Four herds of 15 primiparous Holstein-Friesian cows were assembled with similar characteristics but different milk production potentials. The herds grazed separately and were offered a DHA such that the SHA was 70 mm for all herds. The daily yield per cow, for the 4 weeks prior to the start of the experiment (PMY), was 17·4, 19·8, 21·8 and 24·3 kg milk (s.e.0·20, P < 0·001), 0·72, 0·78, 0·87 and 0·93 kg fat (s.e. 0·021, P < 0·001), 0·59, 0·66, 0·71 and 0·77 kg protein (s.e. 0·009, P < 0·001) for herds 1 to 4, respectively. The experiment began on 30 June and finished on 16 August. The swards offered were 18-day re-growths following a previous defoliation by grazing. Herbage mass pre- and post-grazing was 2143 (s.e.33·3) and 622 (s.e.18·2) kg dry matter (DM) per ha above 40 mm, respectively and were similar for the four herds. The DHA was 21·2, 21·9, 22·9 and 23·9 (s.e. 0·13, P < 0·001) kg DM per cow above 40 mm. Individual cow grass DMI was determined once during the experimental period using the alkane technique. Experimental milk yield (EMY) was 15·1, 17·4, 18·6 and 20·8 (s.e. 0·33, P < 0·001) kg per cow per day. DMI was 14·5, 15·4, 15·5 and 16·1 (s.e. 0·47, P > 0·05). Variations in DMI were best described by the relationship: DMI = 0·85 (s.e. 3·038) + 0·32 (s.e. 0·082) ✕ EMY + 0·012 (s.e. 0·0054) ✕ experimental live weight + 2·10 (s.e. 0·738) ✕ weight gain + 0·020 (s.e. 0·0085) ✕ days in milk (residual s.d. = 1·477 and r = 0·75). EMY was linked to DMI and PMY according to the expression: EMY = –0·64 (s.e. 1·532) + 0·256 (s.e. 0·0865) ✕ DMI + 0·705 (s.e. 0·0620) ✕ PMY (residual s.d. = 1·204 and r = 0·872). It is concluded that higher yielding herds require higher DHA and this is associated with higher DMI of those herds.

The effect of severity of grazing on milk production of grazing dairy cows

1984 ◽  
Vol 1984 ◽  
pp. 20-20
Author(s):  
C.S. Mayne ◽  
R.D. Newberry ◽  
S.C.F. Woodcock
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows ◽  
The Relationship

Hodgson (1975) has shown that herbage intake of the grazing dairy cow is maximised when the daily herbage allowance on offer is equivalent to four times the amount eaten, with a rapid decline in intake when herbage allowance falls below 40g organic matter/kg liveweight/day. This relationship between herbage intake and allowance results from the increasing difficulty of prehending herbage as the sward is grazed closer to the ground. Under a rotational grazing system, the height to which grass is grazed (residual herbage height) is a useful estimate of the amount of herbage available to the grazing animal. The present study was designed to establish the relationship between residual herbage height and milk production.

scholarly journals Short-Term Effect of Daily Herbage Allowance Restriction on Pasture Condition and the Performance of Grazing Dairy Cows during Autumn

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verónica M. Merino ◽  
Oscar A. Balocchi ◽  
M. Jordana Rivero ◽  
Rubén G. Pulido
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Protein Concentration ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Leaf Production ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Milk Output ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows

The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects of daily herbage allowance (DHA, defined as the product of pre-grazing herbage mass and offered area per animal) on pasture conditions and milk production of Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. Forty-four early lactation dairy cows were randomly assigned to one of four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design that tested two levels of DHA (17 and 25 kg DM/cow.day) and two levels of maize silage supplementation (MSS, 4.5 and 9 kg DM/cow.day) over a 77-day period. Low DHA decreased the post-grazing herbage mass from 1546 to 1430 kg DM/ha and the compressed sward height from 5 to 4.4 cm, while the grazing efficiency remained unaffected. Low DHA induced a faster herbage mass reduction, while the sward-height and pasture characteristics did not differ from the high DHA regime. Low DHA decreased the tiller production rates and daily lamina growth, while the leaf-production rate was not affected by the DHA. Daily increases of herbage mass were greater in the high DHA than in the low DHA treatments. Individual milk production and milk protein concentration decreased at a low DHA compared to high DHA, while the milk fat concentration was greater and the milk output per hectare increased by 1510 kg. Neither the MSS level nor the interaction DHA by the MSS level had any effect on the sward characteristics or the productivity of the cows. From these results, it is suggested that, in a high-quality pasture, using 17 kg DM/cow.day was appropriate for improving both herbage utilization and milk production per hectare while maintaining the short-term conditions of a pasture grazed by dairy cows in the autumn.

The interaction of monensin and flaxseed hulls on ruminal and milk concentration of the mammalian lignan enterolactone in late-lactating dairy cows

2009 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 475-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hélène V Petit ◽  
Cristiano Côrtes ◽  
Daniele da Silva ◽  
Ricardo Kazama ◽  
Nathalie Gagnon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Latin Square ◽  
Dietary Supplementation ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Matter Basis

Four ruminally fistulated multiparous Holstein cows were assigned to a 4×4 Latin square design with a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments to study the effects of dietary supplementation of monensin and flaxseed hulls on ruminal and milk concentration of the mammalian lignan enterolactone (EL) and ruminal and faecal activity of β-glucuronidase. The hypothesis was that monensin supplementation has no effect on the incorporation of EL into milk when cows are fed flaxseed hulls. Treatments were: 1) control, neither flaxseed hulls nor monensin (CO); 2) diet containing (dry matter basis) 20% flaxseed hulls (FH); 3) diet with monensin (16 mg/kg of dry matter; MO); 4) diet containing 20% (dry matter basis) flaxseed hulls and 16 mg/kg monensin (HM). Intake of dry matter was higher for CO and MO than for FH and HM and monensin had no effect. Milk production decreased in cows fed flaxseed hulls while monensin had no effect. Production of 4% fat-corrected milk and concentrations of milk fat, lactose, urea N, and total solids were similar among treatments. Although there was a decrease in ruminal activity of β-glucuronidase when feeding flaxseed hulls, the metabolism of plant into mammalian lignans may be increased as shown by enhanced concentration of EL in the rumen and milk. Supplementation with flaxseed hulls then may contribute to favourably change milk composition for better human health by enhancing mammalian lignan EL concentration.

Short-term effects of frequent milking of dairy cows

1989 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 587-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renee Van Der Iest ◽  
J. Eric Hillerton
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Somatic Cell Count ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Robotic Milking ◽  
Experimental Values

SummaryWhen six cows were milked every 4 h over 48 h the average milk yield per cow increased by 1O·7% for the last 24 h period compared with the previous 5 d. Milk composition was similar to pre-experimental values although fat content was 0·5% lower in the last 24 h. The somatic cell count rose to twice the pre-experimental value over the first 24 h but was not significantly different by the second 24 h. It appears that cows responded quickly to an increased frequency of milking and milk of an acceptable composition was produced. This has implications for management of milk production where quotas are in operation and for robotic milking systems.

Use of the Comprehensive Climate Index to estimate heat stress response of grazing dairy cows in a temperate climate region

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Rodrigo A. Arias ◽  
Cynthia Delgado ◽  
Juan Pablo Keim ◽  
Mónica Gandarillas
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Thermal Condition ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Climate Index ◽  
Climate Region ◽  
Stage Of Lactation ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows

Abstract The aim of the study was to assess the effect of the summer thermal environment on physiological responses, behaviour, milk production and its composition on grazing dairy cows in a temperate climate region, according to the stage of lactation. Twenty-nine Holstein Friesian multiparous cows were randomly selected and divided into two groups, according to the days in milk, as mid-lactation (99 to 170 d in milk, n = 15) and late lactation (225 to 311 d in milk, n = 14). The comprehensive climate index (CCI) was used to classify the hour of each day as thermoneutral or heat stress, considering a threshold value of CCI of 20°C. Data were collected for 16 d (summer 2017) and analysed as a completely randomized 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with repeated measurements over time. Vaginal temperature increased with CCI ≥ 20°C. Respiration rates were dependent on the thermal condition, regardless of days in milk. There was an interaction between the time of day and the CCI category for activity and rumination. Grazing activity decreased by 17.6% but lying down, standing, and shaded animals increased by 1.6, 9.8, and 6.3% respectively when CCI ≥ 20°C. Over 80% of cows presented a panting score ≥1. However, milk production and composition (fat, protein, and lactose concentrations as well as somatic cell count) were not affected by the thermal condition, although there was a numerical (non-significant) decrease in afternoon milk protein concentration on days with CCI ≥ 20°C, while urea in milk increased. In conclusion, thermal condition challenged grazing dairy cows' behaviour and physiology independent of the stage of lactation but had little or no effect on milk production.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document