scholarly journals Assessment of milk yield and nursing calf feed intake equations in predicting calf feed intake and weaning weight among breeds

Author(s):  
Phillip A Lancaster ◽  
Luis O Tedeschi ◽  
Zach Buessing ◽  
Michael E Davis

Abstract Nutrition models are important tools in management decisions, but improvements are needed for cow-calf producers to accurately predict nursing calf performance. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the ability of published milk yield and forage intake equations to predict calf feed intake and weaning weight using an independent, multi-breed dataset. A dataset with 406 nursing calves was used to evaluate two milk yield (MY) equations: 1) (NASEM) National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2016) and 2) (WOOD) Wood (1967), and five feed intake equations: 1) (TED06) equations from Table 9.1 in Tedeschi et al. (2006), 2) (BAK76) equations 2 to 7 in Baker et al. (1976), 3) (TED09A) equation 25 in Tedeschi and Fox (2009), 4) (TED09B) equations 17, 19, and 24 in Tedeschi and Fox (2009), and 5) (HOL82) equation from Holloway et al. (1982). Milk yield was measured at 14-d intervals by hand milking, and individual feed intake of nursing calves was determined during a 240-d nursing period. Calf birth and weaning weight (WW) were measured on d 0 and 240, respectively. Each combination of milk yield and feed intake equation was used to predict calf feed intake and WW from observed milk yield, calf birth weight, and calf slaughter weight. Predicted and observed values were compared using concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and mean bias (MB). Factors affecting the deviation between observed and predicted values were analyzed using regression, and a revised equation was developed. Feed intake equations poorly predicted observed feed intake with CCC < 0.4 and MB ranged from -108 to 69%. However, statistics were slightly improved when using WOOD rather than the NASEM MY equation. BAK76 and TED09B feed intake equations were considerably more accurate (MB = -14.4 to 13.0%) in predicting feed intake, but still not precise (CCC < 0.30). Predictions of WW had CCC ranging from 0.19 to 0.71 and MB ranging from -25.9 to 41.8% and were not significantly affected by the MY equation. TED06 and BAK76 feed intake equations were the most precise (CCC > 0.60) and accurate (MB = 1.7 to 8.5%) in predicting WW. Sire breed accounted for significant variation in the deviation between observed and predicted values of feed intake, and in a revised equation to predict total feed energy intake from total milk energy intake. In conclusion, refinements of feed intake equations for nursing calves need to account for breed to improve current nutrition models.

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 225-225
Author(s):  
Zachary T Buessing ◽  
M E Davis ◽  
Luis O Tedeschi ◽  
B J White ◽  
P A Lancaster

Abstract Nutrition models are important in predicting animal growth; however, little research has focused on nursing calf performance submodels. This project’s objective was to determine the accuracy and precision of two equations to compute nursing calves’ feed intake. Data were collected on 394 nursing calves from 4 sets of cows (years 1953, 1959, 1964, 1974) of various breeds in which monthly milk yield and butterfat content, individual calf feed intake, and birth and weaning weights were measured during their first three lactations. Cows were milked at 14-d intervals to determine milk yield. The calf feed intake equations used to predict observed feed intake were Equation 9.1 (TED06; Tedeschi et al., 2006, In “Nutrient Digestion and Utilization in Farm Animals: Modeling Approaches”) and Equation 25 (TED09; Tedeschi and Fox, 2009, J. Anim. Sci. 87:3380). Peak milk was estimated from lactation yield using the NASEM (2016) milk yield equation. The average (SD) peak milk, calf ME intake (MEI) over a 240-day preweaning period, and weaning weight were 10.84 (5.64) kg/d, 1,286 (328.71) Mcal of ME, and 280.93 (46.70) kg, respectively. When compared to the observed calf feed intake, TED06 and TED09 had Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.19 and 0.59, respectively. The MEI mean biases were -355.3 and 190.7 Mcal of for TED06 and TED09, respectively, indicating a 27.6% over prediction and 14.8% under prediction, respectively. The RMSE and R2 from linear regression of observed on predicted values of calf MEI were 308.7 Mcal and 0.0365 for TED06, and 253.2 Mcal and 0.3514 for TED09, respectively. In conclusion, neither equation adequately predicted calf feed intake, but the TED09 equation was more accurate and precise than the TED06 equation. Further research is needed to enhance our understanding of factors affecting feed intake of nursing calves to develop better prediction equations.


1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 425-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. W. Kennedy ◽  
J. C. M. Dekkers ◽  
R. K. Moore ◽  
L. Jairath

Production and feed intake data on 36 115 first lactation Holstein cows obtained from Quebec Dairy Herd Analysis Service were combined with conformation data from the Holstein Association of Canada to estimate genetic correlations among production, energy intake, and conformation traits. Traits considered were 305-d milk yield, 305-d grain energy and total energy intake, feed efficiency (fat corrected milk yield/total energy intake), body weight at calving, capacity, size, stature, rump width and final score. Genetic and phenotypic parameters were estimated using Restricted Maximum Likelihood based on two-trait animal mixed model analyses. The model contained fixed effects of herd-year, season of calving, age of calving, sire group and a random animal genetic effect. Estimates of heritability were within the published range for all traits. Of the conformation traits examined, capacity, size and stature had the highest correlations with body weight, with phenotypic correlations between 0.36 and 0.43, and genetic correlations between 0.61 and 0.79. Feed efficiency was negatively correlated to all body size measures, both phenotypically (−0.01 to −0.29) and genetically (−0.31 to −0.53), but most significantly with body weight, capacity, size, and stature. Fat-corrected milk yield showed negligible phenotypic and low to moderately negative genetic (−0.07 to −0.29) correlations with body weight and related type traits. Total energy intake was positively related to all measures of body size, most notably body weight, while grain energy intake had moderately negative genetic correlations (−0.20 to −0.40) with the same body size traits. Because of their detrimental relationships with feed efficiency, negative selection emphasis should be placed on body weight and the related type traits capacity, size and stature. Capacity, size and stature are of moderate utility when selecting indirectly for body weight, total energy intake and feed efficiency. Key words: Dairy cattle, genetics, production, conformation, feed efficiency


1980 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 493-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Economides

Nutritional and other physiological factors are causes of variation in milk yield. In particular, the energy intake and the suckling stimulus of lambs greatly affect the milk yield of ewes in early lactation (Treacher, 1978; Hadjipanayiotou & Louca, 1976; Peart, Doney & MacDonald, 1975).In most eastern Mediterranean countries ewes are milked after weaning and the weaning age and the suckling regime determine both the amount of saleable milk and the rate of growth of lambs. The aim of the present work was to study factors affecting the milk yield of Chios ewes fed ad libitum and the growth of their lambs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 119-119
Author(s):  
Phillip A Lancaster ◽  
Mike Davis ◽  
Luis O Tedeschi ◽  
Jack Rutledge ◽  
Larry Cundiff

Abstract There is no clear method to measure biological efficiency in grazing beef cows. The objective of this study was to evaluate a nutrition model to estimate biological efficiency in mature cows. Data from dams (n = 160) and their 2nd and 3rd progeny were collected from 1953 through 1980. Individual feed intake was measured at 28-d intervals for lifetime of dams and during 240-d lactation for progeny. Body weight of progeny were measured at birth and weaning, and dams at parturition and weaning each production cycle. Milk yield of dams was measured at 14-d intervals by hand milking. Metabolizable energy required (MER) and predicted milk energy yield (MEY) of each cow was computed using the CVDS beef cow model for each parity. Biological efficiency was computed as the ratio of cow ME intake (MEI) to calf weaning weight (WW) based on observed (MEI/WW) and predicted (MER/WW) values. Pearson correlation coefficients were computed using corr.test function in R software. Average (SD) cow weight, calf weaning weight, cow MEI, and observed MEY were 507 (81) and 548 (88) kg, 287 (49) and 294 (44) kg, 9406 (2695) and 9721 (2686) Mcal, and 1009 (538) and 1051 (521) Mcal, for progeny 2 and 3, respectively. Cow MEI and MER (0.87 and 0.85), and observed and predicted MEY (0.51 and 0.51) were positively correlated for progeny 2 and 3, respectively. The CVDS model under predicted cow MEI [mean bias = 1685 (1718) and 1658 (1702) Mcal] and MEY [mean bias = 82 (465) and 129 (450) Mcal] for progeny 2 and 3, respectively. Observed and predicted progeny feed intake were not correlated. Observed and predicted biological efficiency were positively correlated (0.63 and 0.61) for progeny 2 and 3, respectively. In conclusion, nutrition models can reasonably predict biological efficiency, but further refinement of the relationship between calf feed intake and milk yield could improve prediction.


1984 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. B. Chestnutt

SummaryOver a period of 3 years 18 autumn-calving, single suckled, April-weaned cows were stocked at three rates at pasture to gain 132, 70 or 25 kg (H, M and L respectively) between April and August and fed to lose 100, 54 or – 13 kg (H, M and L respectively) while housed between November and April, the relative total energy intake over winter being 0·64, 0·83 and 1·00 respectively. Milk yield was reduced by 2·68 kg/day on the H and 1·25 kg/day on the M treatment and as a result calves gained 37 and 10 kg less respectively over winter than on the L treatment. However, despite poorer calf performance economic considerations would indicate a preference for high weight gain during the grazing season and a corresponding loss over winter.


Author(s):  
D.R. Stevens ◽  
I.D. Corson

In breeding hind systems, summer is often a period when feed quality and quantity may compromise lactation in the hind and growth of the calf. The growth and feed intake of calves and hinds offered the leaf turnip Pasja were compared to those on a perennial pasture. Calves consumed 1.0 kg forage DM/head/d on pasture and 0.77 kg DM/d on Pasja. The higher digestibility of Pasja meant that the metabolisable energy intake of Pasja was only 1.7 MJ ME/head/d lower than pasture. Hinds grazing pasture consumed 4.8 kg DM/head/d compared with 3.7 kg DM/head/d when fed Pasja. The digestibility of the two diets was not significantly different resulting in an energy intake that was 13.2 MJ ME/d or 33% higher in pasture fed hinds. The weaning weight of calves was 58.3 and 55.2 kg on pasture and the Pasja crop respectively having gained 19.1 and 16.9 kg respectively. Using brassicas to shift feed of high quality from late spring into summer will be best suited to dry environments where the quantity and quality of pasture may not be able to meet the requirements of the lactating hind and her calf. Keywords: calf, digestibility, hind, intake, liveweight gain, stocking rate


1967 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. A. Cole ◽  
J. E. Duckworth ◽  
W. Holmes

1. The voluntary feed intakes of pigs fed on diets having calculated digestible energy contents of 2,970, 3,356, 3,630 and 3,910 kcal/kg. dry matter were measured over four periods from 38 to 105 kg. live-weight.2. The pigs achieved similar daily digestible energy intakes regardless of the digestible energy content of the diet.3. When housed in metabolism crates pigs ate less than when housed in holding pens and the difference was greater than would be expected solely from the reduced exercise of the pigs in crates.4. Daily digestible energy intake was 575 kcal/kg. live-weight 0.675 when the pigs were in holding pens. The daily digestible energy intake of pigs in metabolism crates increased less with live-weight.5. The use of metabolism crates to obtain digestibility coefficients and values for nitrogen retention to be applied to animals housed under other conditions is discussed in relation to the differences found in apparent digestibility coefficients, feed intake and growth rates between pigs in crates and in holding pens.


1971 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 561-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. B. JEFFERY ◽  
R. T. BERG ◽  
R. T. HARDIN

Two years data involving 176 and 201 cows from the University of Alberta beef breeding herd were used to study the influences on calf preweaning performance of: breed, age, weight, summer and winter weight changes and milk yield of dam; breed of sire; and birth weight, weaning age and sex of calf. All independent variables combined explained 73 and 70% of total variance in average daily gain (ADG) to weaning and 81 and 70% of total variance in weaning weight, respectively, for 1966 and 1967. Of all variables considered, milk yield had the greatest influence on preweaning performance, explaining about 60% of the variation in ADG to weaning and 40 to 50% of the variation in weaning weight. A 1-kg increase in daily milk yield resulted in an 11- to 14-kg increase in weaning weight. Breed of dam explained about 23% of total variance in ADG to weaning, most of which was accounted for by breed differences in milk yield. Breed-of-sire differences accounted for 5.7 and 1.4% of variance in ADG of progeny for 1966 and 1967 data, respectively. Male calves exceeded female calves in birth weight by 2 kg, in ADG to weaning by 0.03 kg, and in weaning weight by 8 to 9 kilograms. Birth weight was positively associated with calf growth rate. A 1-kg increase in birth weight resulted in 1.74- and 1.59-kg increases in weaning weight for 1966 and 1967, respectively. A 10-kg increase in post-calving weight of cow, independent of milk yield and cow age, resulted in approximately a 0.7-kg increase in weaning weight of calf. Average daily gain to weaning was influenced slightly more by cow age than by post-calving weight of cow. However, about 80% of the variation in ADG explained by either cow age or post-calving weight of cow was accounted for by differences in milk yield associated with either variable.


2020 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-343
Author(s):  
Roger Iván Espinosa-Mendoza ◽  
Darwin Nicolas Arcos-Álvarez ◽  
Ricardo Alfonso Garcia-Herrera ◽  
Gamaliel Antonio-Molina ◽  
Ricardo Vicente-Pérez ◽  
...  

AbstractIn this research communication we describe the creation of an equation for the prediction of milk yield (MY) from udder volume (UV). A total of 280 measurements were collected between 5 and 15 d postpartum (pp) from 36 multiparous Pelibuey ewes. Study variables were measured between 2 and 9 weeks pp and MY was measured by manual milking, UV prior to and following milking was measured using the technique of making moulds from aluminium foil. The MY ranged from 0.09 to 0.83 kg/d, meanwhile UV prior and following milking ranged from 155 to 1940 and 90 to 1520 cm3, respectively. Measurements of UV had a moderate to high (P < 0.01; 0.58 ≤ r ≤ 0.78) correlation with MY. The UV prior to milking was the best prediction model for MY, which explained 62% of the variation in MY. This equation presented moderate precision (r2 = 0.61) and high accuracy (bias correction factor = 0.94), confirming a good reproducibility index (concordance correlation coefficient = 0.73). Modelling efficiency (MEF = 0.59) showed moderate concordance between observed and predicted values. In conclusion, MY in lactating Pelibuey ewes could be predicted in a moderate way using the predictor variable UV measured with the technique of moulds made with aluminium foil.


Author(s):  
Ni Nyoman Suryani ◽  
I Wayan Suarna ◽  
Ni Putu Sarini ◽  
I Gede Mahardika

To determine the effect of energy levels on digestible nutrient, milk production and milk quality of 7 months pregnant Bali cattle, was the purpose of this study. The study was conducted in Bali, Province of Indonesia on 12 pregnant breeding phase of pre-calving (2 months before the birth) with the parent body weight 329-340 kg/head. The treatment given is four types of Metabolizable Energy (ME) levels: 2000, 2100, 2200 and 2300/kg respectively as treatment A, B, C, and D. All ration contain 10% of crude protein. Variables measured: energy intake, digestible nutrient, milk yield, and milk quality. This research is a randomized block design. The results showed that increase energy ration until 2300 kcal ME/kg would significantly (P<0.05) increase energy intake and highest at cattle consumed ratio D is 22239.55 kcal/day. However, digestible nutrient was not affected. Milk production increased with increasing energy rations and highest (P<0.05) at cattle received treatment D is 2179.83 ml/day compared to treatment A 936.67 ml/day. Milk fat and milk lactose also highest (P<0.05) in treatment D are 8.56% and 4.76% respectively. Based on these results, it can be concluded that increase energy ration will increase energy intake, milk yield and milk fat and milk lactose of Bali cattle. 


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document