Metabolic and production parameters of dairy cows with different dry period lengths and parities

Author(s):  
Antonio Mollo ◽  
Alessandro Agazzi ◽  
Alberto Prandi ◽  
Jasmine Fusi ◽  
Ippolito De Amicis ◽  
...  

Abstract To assess the effects of dry period (DP) length on metabolic, reproductive, and productive parameters, second- (SP) and third- (TP) parity cows were assigned to a traditional (9 weeks, T) or short (5 weeks, S) DP, obtaining four subgroups: second-parity cows with traditional (SPT = 8) and short (SPS = 8) DP, third-parity cows with traditional (TPT = 8) and short (TPS = 10) DP. Plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels were assessed from 5 weeks before to 14 weeks after parturition. IGF-I concentrations were affected by parity (P < 0.05) and by the interaction of time and DP length (P < 0.01). NEFA levels were affected only by time (P < 0.01). S DP cows showed a shorter interval between calving and ovarian cyclicity resumption (P < 0.01) and a higher milk yield (P < 0.01) and fat and protein corrected milk (P < 0.01) compared with T DP cows. Decreased milk protein content was found in the SPS group compared to the SPT (P < 0.05) and the TPS (P < 0.05) group. In conclusion, a short DP length does not affect reproductive performances, except for hastening the resumption of ovarian cyclicity. A short DP appears to increase milk production and is associated with higher IGF-I levels both in the prepartum and the postpartum period.

1989 ◽  
Vol 121 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald Ronge ◽  
Jürg W. Blum

Abstract. Our objective was to measure relative amounts and distributions of serum IGF-I binding proteins and concentrations of hormones and metabolites in dairy cows during the dry period and during lactation, as well as in calves and in growing bulls. Concentrations of IGF-I were lower in cows during lactation than during the dry period. Concentrations of IGF-I, growth hormone, insulin, T3, T4 and glucose were higher in calves and bulls as compared with cows, whereas concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids, urea, protein and albumin were lower. Three different IGF-I binding protein fractions were found with apparent molecular weights of >200, 140–160 and 45–65 kD. Relative amounts of IGF-I binding proteins were similar, although great differences in hormones and metabolites were found in cows, bulls and calves. Accessible binding sites were higher in dairy cows than in calves and bulls, mainly owing to the fact that dairy cows had lower concentrations of IGF-I bound to these fractions. Additionally, we found significant negative correlations between total accessible binding sites and total IGF-I concentrations. There were significant differences in the distribution of binding proteins. In particular, there was a shift of binding ability from the 140–160 to the 45–65 kD binding sites from the end of pregnancy to early lactation. Amounts of IGF-I bound to proteins increased from lactating to dry cows and calves and were highest in bulls. IGF-I levels in the >200 kD fraction was lower in lactating than in dry cows, and lower in cows than in calves and bulls. IGF-I measured in the 140–160 kD fraction was lowest in lactating cows and comparable in dry cows, calves and bulls. Concentrations of IGF-I in the 45–65 kD fraction were lowest in cows and highest in bulls. In conclusion, there were marked differences in growing, pregnant and lactating cattle, particularly as concerns accessible protein binding and amounts of IGF-I bound to proteins.


2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 ◽  
pp. 183-183
Author(s):  
Mozhgan Mazhari ◽  
Mohsen Danesh Mesgaran ◽  
Alireza Heravi Mousavi

Rapeseed meal (RSM) is becoming an increasingly important source of protein for ruminants and nonruminants in the world. In some studies, inclusion of RSM instead of other protein sources such as SBM in dairy cow diets caused to increase milk production (Emanuelson, 1994). There was a positive association between the milk protein content and content of RSM in the ration (Emanuelson et al., 1993). Present experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of inclusion of RSM or SBM in a basal diet on the responses of lactating Holstien dairy cows.


1989 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 309 ◽  
Author(s):  
SC Valentine ◽  
BD Bartsch

Friesian cows in early lactation were fed 3.5 or 7.0 kg DM daily of either hammermilled lupin grain, hammermilled oaten grain or whole oaten grain as supplements to a pasture-based diet. Milk production and composition and the amount and composition of whole oaten grain excreted in the faeces were measured. There were no significant differences between treatments in the yields of milk, fat or protein. There was a tendency towards lower milk fat content in milk from cows fed 7.0 kg DM daily of the hammermilled grains. Differences between grain types were not significant for all production parameters except milk protein content. Protein content was significantly (P<0.01) higher in milk from cows fed hammermilled and whole oaten grain compared with that from cows fed lupin grain. Yield of milk fat was significantly (P<0.05) higher and ratio of milk protein to fat significantly (P < 0.05) lower for cows fed 3.5 kg DM of grain than for those fed 7.0 kg DM of grain. There was a significant (P< 0.05) interaction between grain type and grain level for the ratio of protein to fat in the milk. Cows excreted 24% of the whole oaten grain at both levels of grain fed and there were no significant differences in composition of the whole oaten grain fed or excreted in the faeces. There was no benefit to production either from feeding hammermilled lupin grain compared with hammermilled or whole oaten grain or from feeding 7.0 compared with 3.5 kg DM daily of grain to cows grazing pasture.


1996 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Moorby ◽  
R. J. Dewhurst ◽  
S. Marsden

AbstractEffects of feeding a protein supplement to dairy cows during the dry period on performance during the following lactation were investigated in two experiments. Holstein-Friesian cows were paired towards the end of lactation, and, after drying off, one of each pair received a typical dry cow management regime of ad libitum grass silage (experiment 1), or a mix of grass silage and distillers' grains or pressed beet pulp (experiment 2). The other cows were offered restricted access to the same basal diet, together with ad libitum access to barley straw and 0·5 kg/day high protein maize gluten meal. During the following lactation, animals from both groups were treated without reference to dry period treatment, and were offered equal access to the same lactation diet. Data were analysed by analysis of variance of experiment means and by parallel curve analysis using sample means. In experiment 1, milk yields were similar (27·2 v. 27·9 (s.e.d. 2·12) kg/day for control and supplemented animals respectively) but milk protein yields, and hence concentrations, were significantly higher (P < 0·001) from supplemented animals (28·9 v. 31·8 (s.e.d. 0·58) g/kg). In experiment 2, milk yields were significantly higher (P < 0·001) from supplemented animals (mean 33·3 v. 35·4 (s.e.d. 1·66) kg/day; however, milk protein yields were also significantly increased (P < 0·001) and the change in milk protein concentration was small. No difference in dry-matter intake was recorded in a subset of animals during early lactation in experiment 2. It is hypothesized that the maternal labile body protein pool was maintained or replenished during the dry period by the provision of the protein supplement, and that this had a significant effect on subsequent lactation performance.


1993 ◽  
Vol 137 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Hadsell ◽  
C. R. Baumrucker ◽  
R. S. Kensinger

ABSTRACT The objectives of these studies were to determine if the concentration of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in mammary colostrum secretions could be altered through manipulation of IGF-I concentrations in blood and to compare the temporal changes of IGF-I in mammary secretions to those occurring for IgG1. Milking of 15 pregnant Holstein cows was stopped at 8 weeks prepartum and they were randomly assigned to one of three treatments. A control (C) treatment consisted of feeding the animals 100% of NRC requirements for protein and energy. A second group of cows was fed as the control group and injected with 1·8 μmol bovine GH/day. The third group was fed at 70% of NRC requirements for protein and energy to cause a moderate nutrient restriction (NR). Body weight was measured weekly. Blood was collected by tail venepuncture at 4 h intervals for 24 h. Mammary secretions were collected and pooled among contralateral front and rear quarters (diagonal) for measurement of volume, IGF-I and IgG1 concentrations. Samples were collected at −7, −5, −2, 0 and 1 week postpartum. Cows on the NR treatment failed to gain weight during the dry period compared with C cows (P < 0·05). Blood GH and IGF-I concentrations (P > 0·1) were unaffected by NR treatment. Cows treated with GH had higher (P < 0·01) serum GH and IGF-I levels throughout the entire treatment period, and higher serum IgG1 at 5 and 2 weeks prepartum (P < 0·01). Total mass of IGF-I secreted per diagonal averaged 3·6-fold greater for GH-treated cows during the prepartum period than C and NR cows (P < 0·01). The concentration of IGF-I in mammary secretions was not affected by treatment during the prepartum period, but was 40% greater (P < 0·05) in GH-treated cows than C and NR cows at parturition. Analysis of a selective index comparing IGF-I secretion with that of IgG1 suggested that IGF-I does not enter mammary secretions by passive diffusion from blood. Journal of Endocrinology (1993) 137, 223–230


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.


2003 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumie NONAKA ◽  
Tsutomu HASHIZUME ◽  
Mami HORIUCHI ◽  
Utako MIKAMI ◽  
Takeshi OSAWA ◽  
...  

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