scholarly journals Relationships between body condition score, milk yield and milk composition of Sarda goat

2004 ◽  
Vol 13 (Suppl. 1) ◽  
pp. 705-708
Author(s):  
G. Vacca ◽  
V. Carcangiu ◽  
M. Dettori ◽  
P. Bini
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Condition Score

scholarly journals Effects of Summer Transhumance of Dairy Cows to Alpine Pastures on Body Condition, Milk Yield and Composition, and Cheese Making Efficiency

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudeb Saha ◽  
Nicolò Amalfitano ◽  
Enrico Sturaro ◽  
Stefano Schiavon ◽  
Franco Tagliapietra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Cheese Making ◽  
Alpine Regions ◽  
Alpine Pastures ◽  
Lower Protein ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Daily Milk Yield

Summer transhumance to alpine pastures (ALP) is widespread in dairy systems of alpine regions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of transhumance of Brown Swiss cows to ALP on the yield, composition, and coagulation properties of milk (MCP), and on cheese yield (CY). The study involved 12 multiparous cows kept at a mountain lowland permanent farm (PF), which were divided into two equal groups: One remained at the PF, the other was moved to the ALP (1860 m above sea level) from July to September. Every month (June to October), daily milk yield (MY) and body condition score (BCS) were recorded, and individual milk samples (n = 60, 2000 mL each) were collected to assess milk composition, MCP, and CY. Compared with PF, ALP cows had a reduced MY and BCS, which was maintained on return to the PF, greater fat and lower protein contents of milk. Neither MCP nor CY were affected by summer transhumance. In conclusion, summer transhumance did not affect the cheese making efficiency of milk but depressed MY and consequently daily cheese yield, which was nearly 2 kg/d lower for the ALP than the PF cows and was only partially recovered after returning to the PF in autumn.

scholarly journals 29 The effect of fleshing ability on cow and calf performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 22-22
Author(s):  
Amanda Holder ◽  
Aksel Wiseman ◽  
Adam McGee ◽  
David Lalman ◽  
Claire Andresen
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Beef Cow ◽  
Randomized Design ◽  
Condition Score

Abstract Several factors influence the overall maintenance requirements of a mature beef cow including age, gain, lactation, pregnancy, and fleshing ability. However, limited research is available to distinguish what sets a hard-fleshing cow apart from an easy-fleshing cow. Cows that are hard-fleshing maintain a lower body condition score (BCS) throughout the year compared to easy-fleshing counterparts. The objectives of this experiment are to determine the differences in characteristics and production between cows classified as easy- vs. hard- fleshing. Characteristics of interest include feed intake, milk yield, milk composition, body weight changes, BCS changes, and other body composition measurements, as well as calf weaning weight. In this study, 24 spring-calving, mature Angus beef cows were classified as either hard-fleshing or easy-fleshing based on BCS and ultrasound measurements for back fat and rump fat. The intake study took place during the second trimester, cows were assigned to an easy- or hard-fleshing pen based on treatment where they remained for the entirety of the 45-day intake study. Each treatment was replicated three times in a completely randomized design. Milk data collection began one month after calving with monthly milkings from May-August. There were no differences (P = 0.9) in DMI, although hard-fleshing cows had greater DMI calculated on a metabolic body weight basis (P = 0.05). There was a trend (P = 0.12) for hard-fleshing cows to wean heavier calves, although there was no difference in mean milk yield (P = 0.44). Body condition score was positively correlated with protein and carbohydrate content of milk with easy-fleshing cows having greater contents of both (P = 0.02 and P < 0.01, respectively). Overall, an increase in BCS without an increase in DMI may be beneficial from a reproductive standpoint, though more research in this area is needed.

scholarly journals Association of Body Condition Score and Score Change during the Late Dry Period on Temporal Patterns of Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Concentration and Milk Yield and Composition in Early Lactation of Dairy Cows

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1054
Author(s):  
Zelmar Rodriguez ◽  
Elise Shepley ◽  
Pedro P. C. Ferro ◽  
Nilon L. Moraes ◽  
Acir M. Antunes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Fat Reserves ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Beta Hydroxybutyrate

Monitoring the body condition score (BCS) of dairy cows is a management strategy that can assist dairy producers in decision-making. The BCS and its variations reflect the level of body fat reserves and fat mobilization throughout the different stages of lactation. Cows that mobilize excessive amounts of fat reserves in response to the increased energy requirements of the transition period are more likely to have higher beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentration in blood, leading to a higher incidence of hyperketonemia postpartum. In this study, our main objective was to evaluate how both BCS (at 21 d prior to the expected calving date, −21 BCS) and change in BCS during the late dry period (−21 d to calving, ∆BCS) are associated with temporal patterns of blood BHB concentrations during the first two weeks of lactation. Our secondary objective was to characterize the relationship between the change in BCS in the late dry period, and milk yield and milk composition in the first milk test postpartum. In this retrospective cohort study, we assessed BCS at 21 (±3) days before the expected calving date and within three days after calving. Blood BHB concentration was measured at days 3 (±1), 7 (±1), and 14 (±1) postpartum. Hyperketonemia (HYK) was defined as blood BHB ≥ 1.2 mmol/L. To evaluate how −21 BCS and ∆BCS during the late dry period were associated with BHB in early lactation, linear mixed-effects regression models with an unstructured covariate matrix were performed. The association between ∆BCS and incidence of postpartum HYK were determined using a multivariable log-binomial model. A linear regression model was used to evaluate the association between ∆BCS and milk yield and milk composition in the first monthly test-day. Covariates used for model adjustment include parity, season, and baseline BCS. We observed that cows with BCS ≥ 4.0 at 21 d before their expected calving date had the highest BHB concentration postpartum, but no evidence that BCS ≥ 4.0 at 21 d was associated with fluctuations of BHB over time. Cows that experienced a large BCS loss (larger than 0.5 units) during the late dry period had a 61% (95% CI: 1.04, 2.50) higher risk of developing HYK in early lactation and had higher BHB concentrations during early lactation compared with cows with no ∆BCS prepartum. These associations were observed independently of the BCS at −21 d prepartum (baseline). In addition, cows that lost more than 0.5 BCS unit in the late dry period produced 3.3 kg less milk (95% CI: −7.06, 0.45) at the first milk test compared to cows that had no ∆BCS during the late dry period. No evidence of an association between −21 BCS and ∆BCS in the late dry period and milk composition was observed in our study. These results suggest that dynamic measures of BCS during the late dry period, such as ∆BCS, are better at evaluating blood BHB patterns in early lactation than BCS measured at a single time point. Cows with larger BCS loss during the late dry period and with greater parity are more likely to have higher concentrations of blood BHB postpartum, with the highest concentrations reported at 7 d post-calving.

scholarly journals Effects of feeding treatment on growth rate and performance of primiparous Holstein dairy heifers

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yannick Le Cozler ◽  
Julien Jurquet ◽  
Nicolas. Bedere
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Catch Up

AbstractThe objective of this study was to investigate effects of feeding-rearing programs that aim for first calving at 20-27 months (mo) of age on growth, reproduction and production performance of Holstein cows at nulliparous and primiparous stages. We hypothesised that, in a seasonal autumn-calving strategy, heifers born late in the season could catch up to the growth of heifers born earlier and be inseminated during the same period, at a body weight (BW) of at least 370 kg. This approach would result in first calving age at 21-22 mo of age without impairing their later performance. To test this hypothesis, we studied 217 heifers over 3 years. They were split into three treatment groups: control feeding (SD), an intensive-plane diet (ID1) from birth to 6 mo of age or an intensive-plane diet from birth to one year of age. Heifers in groups SD and ID1 were born from September until the end of November, while those in ID2 were born later. The present study showed that late-born heifers (ID2) could catch up with the growth of the others due to the feeding treatment, although they were still 42 kg lighter than the SD and ID1 heifers at first calving. No difference in reproductive performance was observed among groups. Once primiparous, the cows reared with the ID2 treatment tended to produce less milk than SD and ID1 cows (ca. 400 kg less on a 305 d basis throughout lactation), and no differences in milk composition, feed intake, body condition score or BW were observed among groups. Age at first service (AFS) was classified a posteriori into three classes: 12.5 (AFS12.5), 14.0 (AFS14.0) and 15.5 mo (AFS15.5) of age. Heifers in AFS12.5 grew faster than those in AFS14.0 and AFS15.5. Once primiparous, the AFS12.5 cows tended to produce less milk at peak than AFS14.0 and AFS15.5 cows (ca. 1.5 kg/d less) although no difference in total milk yield during lactation was observed. No differences in milk composition, feed intake, body condition score or BW were observed among groups. These results support the conclusion that the feeding treatment can enable late-born heifers to catch up to the growth of heifers born earlier in the season. This strategy results in an earlier first calving that does not impair their reproductive performance but does decrease milk yield slightly during first lactation. Future studies should investigate long-term effects of this strategy.

scholarly journals 178 The Effect of Fleshing Ability on Cow and Calf Performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 62-62
Author(s):  
Amanda Holder ◽  
Aksel Wiseman ◽  
Adam McGee ◽  
David Lalman ◽  
Claire Andresen
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Beef Cow ◽  
Randomized Design ◽  
Condition Score

Abstract Several factors influence the overall maintenance requirements of a mature beef cow including age, gain, lactation, pregnancy, and fleshing ability. However, limited research is available to distinguish what sets a hard-fleshing cow apart from an easy-fleshing cow. Cows that are hard-fleshing maintain a lower body condition score (BCS) throughout the year compared to easy-fleshing counterparts. The objectives of this experiment are to determine the differences in characteristics and production between cows classified as easy- vs. hard- fleshing. Characteristics of interest include feed intake, milk yield, milk composition, body weight changes, BCS changes, and other body composition measurements, as well as calf weaning weight. In this study, 24 spring-calving, mature Angus beef cows were classified as either hard-fleshing or easy-fleshing based on BCS and ultrasound measurements for back fat and rump fat. The intake study took place during the second trimester, cows were assigned to an easy- or hard-fleshing pen based on treatment where they remained for the entirety of the 45-day intake study. Each treatment was replicated three times in a completely randomized design. Milk data collection began one month after calving with monthly milkings from May—August. There were no differences (P = 0.9) in DMI, although hard-fleshing cows had greater DMI calculated on a metabolic body weight basis (P = 0.05). There was a trend (P = 0.12) for hard-fleshing cows to wean heavier calves, although there was no difference in mean milk yield (P = 0.44). Body condition score was positively correlated with protein and carbohydrate content of milk with easy-fleshing cows having greater contents of both (P = 0.02 and P < 0.01, respectively). Overall, an increase in BCS without an increase in DMI may be beneficial from a reproductive standpoint, though more research in this area is needed.

Effects of avoparcin and bovine somatotropin on measures of production and reproduction in dairy cows

1994 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. Murphy ◽  
D. O'Callaghan ◽  
M. Rath ◽  
F. H. Austin ◽  
J. F. Roche
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Bovine Somatotropin ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Daily Milk Yield ◽  
Daily Milk

AbstractThe objective was to determine the effects of avoparcin, bovine somatotropin (bST) and the additive effects of both avoparcin and bST on milk yield, milk composition, live-weight changes and reproduction parameters in post-partum dairy cows. Forty-eight autumn calving cows were allocated using a split-plot within randomized complete-block design to the following treatments: (i) control (2 ml saline plus 1 kg untreated concentrate per day); (ii) avoparcin (2 ml saline plus 1 kg concentrate containing 100 mg avoparin per day); (Hi) bST (25 mg bST in 2 ml saline plus 1 kg untreated concentrate per day); and (iv) avoparcin plus bST (25 mg bST in 2 ml saline plus 1 kg concentrate containing 100 mg avoparcin per day). All injections were given subcutaneously and treatment continued for 84 days beginning 55 (s.e. 4) days after calving. The cows were offered grass silage ad libitum supplemented with 7·2 kg cereal-based concentrates daily. Milk yield and milk composition were measured thrice and once weekly, respectively. The cows were weighed and body condition score was assessed every 2 weeks.Mean daily milk yield of cows assigned to control was 20·1 (s.e. 1·5) kg, avoparcin, 21·5 (s.e. 1·5) kg, bST, 23·9 (s.e. 1·0) kg and avoparcin plus bST, 25·2 (s.e. 1·2) kg over the 84 days of the trial. bST increased milk yield proportionately by 0·18 compared with all cows not given bST (P < 0·01). Avoparcin did not significantly increase milk yield. There was no effect of any treatment on milk composition, body weight or body condition score. None of the experimental treatments had any effect on calving to first service interval, calving to conception interval, number of services per conception or overall conception rate.These results show that in early lactation, avoparcin alone had no effect on production or reproduction parameters in dairy cows; bST alone increased milk yield but did not affect any other production or reproduction parameter. There was no significant additional increase in milk yield when avoparcin and bST were given in combination, compared with bST alone.

scholarly journals Relation of Automated Body Condition Scoring System and Inline Biomarkers (Milk Yield, β-Hydroxybutyrate, Lactate Dehydrogenase and Progesterone in Milk) with Cow’s Pregnancy Success

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1414
Author(s):  
Ramūnas Antanaitis ◽  
Vida Juozaitienė ◽  
Dovilė Malašauskienė ◽  
Mindaugas Televičius ◽  
Mingaudas Urbutis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lactate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
The Body ◽  
Time Analyzer ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Pregnancy Status ◽  
Body Condition Scoring

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the relation of automatically determined body condition score (BCS) and inline biomarkers such as β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), milk yield (MY), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and progesterone (mP4) with the pregnancy success of cows. The cows (n = 281) had 2.1 ± 0.1. lactations on average, were 151.6 ± 0.06 days postpartum, and were once tested with “Easy scan” ultrasound (IMV imaging, Scotland) at 30–35 d post-insemination. According to their reproductive status, cows were grouped into two groups: non-pregnant (n = 194 or 69.0% of cows) and pregnant (n = 87 or 31.0% of cows). Data concerning their BCS, mP4, MY, BHB, and LDH were collected each day from the day of insemination for 7 days. The BCS was collected with body condition score camera (DeLaval Inc., Tumba, Sweden); mP4, MY, BHB, and LDH were collected with the fully automated real-time analyzer Herd Navigator™ (Lattec I/S, Hillerød, Denmark) in combination with a DeLaval milking robot (DeLaval Inc., Tumba, Sweden). Of all the biomarkers, three differences between groups were significant. The body condition score (BCS) of the pregnant cows was higher (+0.49 score), the milk yield (MY) was lower (−4.36 kg), and milk progesterone in pregnant cows was (+6.11 ng/mL) higher compared to the group of non-pregnant cows (p < 0.001). The pregnancy status of the cows was associated with their BCS assessment (p < 0.001). We estimated that cows with BCS > 3.2 were 22 times more likely to have reproductive success than cows with BCS ≤ 3.2.

scholarly journals Genetic Relationships among Body Condition Score, Body Weight, Milk Yield, and Fertility in Dairy Cows

2003 ◽  
Vol 86 (6) ◽  
pp. 2193-2204 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.P. Berry ◽  
F. Buckley ◽  
P. Dillon ◽  
R.D. Evans ◽  
M. Rath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
Condition Score
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