1101 The effect of stocking rate and cow breed on resumption of cyclicity, blood indicators of energy status, uterine health and reproductive parameters in pasture-based dairy systems

2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (suppl_5) ◽  
pp. 528-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Leane ◽  
P. Lonergan ◽  
J. Kenneally ◽  
S. Butler
2006 ◽  
Vol 113 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 21-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.S. Hammon ◽  
I.M. Evjen ◽  
T.R. Dhiman ◽  
J.P. Goff ◽  
J.L. Walters

Author(s):  
P.V. Salles ◽  
J. Hodgson ◽  
P.N.P. Matthews ◽  
C.W. Holmes ◽  
N.M. Shadbolt

In 1998 a three-year dairy farm monitoring programme funded by AGMARDT (Agricultural Marketing and Research Development Trust) was established on twelve dairy farms in the southern North Island of New Zealand where policy had changed from a focus on high production per ha through high stocking rate to a management based on reduced stocking rate and strategic use of supplements to enhance both production per cow and per ha. The project involved a detailed three-year data collection which included measurements of the quantity and composition of pasture and supplements consumed as well as animal performance. Analysis of the results of the third year (2000/2001) on nine of these farms with complete data sets identified a range of metabolisable energy (ME) intake (50669 - 70135 MJ ME/cow/yr). Supplementary feed represented on average 24% (21 - 27 %) of the total intake of ME, the main supplements being pasture silage (summer to winter), turnips (summer) and maize silage (autumn and winter) consumed by lactating cows, and grazing off by dry stock. There was a range of milksolids (MS) production per cow (372 - 424 kg/year) and per hectare (921 - 1264 kg/year). The average economic farm surplus per hectare of NZ$3077 (NZ$2425 - NZ$3867) for the case-study farms was approximately 43% higher than the top 25% farms in the Manawatu region. Mean values of return on assets for the case-study farms (12.9%) and top 25% farms in Manawatu (13.0%) were similar. Good pasture management based on controlled preand post-grazing herbage mass targets (mean 2650 and 1900 kg DM/ha, respectively), strategic use of supplementary feed to control pasture deficits, and moderate stocking rates (overall mean 2.7 cows/ha), provided high allowances of high quality herbage (organic matter digestibility ranging from 742 to 845 g/kg DM) and maintained high levels of milk production (411 kg MS/cow and 1100kg MS/ha). The comparison with industry data showed that the casestudy farms were highly productive and profitable dairy systems, at least under the conditions of the 2000/2001 season. However, the result indicated the need to improve management skills to limit feed wastage under generous feeding management, and also the limitation of conventional procedures for monitoring pasture consumption in farming systems. Keywords: animal performance, dairy systems, energy intak e, herbage quality, pasture management, profitability


2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria A. Karatzia ◽  
Panagiotis D. Katsoulos ◽  
Harilaos Karatzias

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of long-term dietary inclusion of clinoptilolite on the energy status, reproductive parameters and milk yield of dairy heifers. Eighty Holstein pregnant heifers were equally divided to two groups: treatment group heifers were fed the ration supplemented with 200 g clinoptilolite per day; control group heifers were fed the basal ration and served as controls. The experiment started on Day 210 of gestation and lasted until the end of the first lactation period. Blood samples were collected from each animal at the start of the experiment, 30 days later on the day of calving and then on a monthly basis and were analysed for serum glucose and ketone bodies. On the same days, all animals were monitored for body condition score. Cows were observed for heat every day and were inseminated at first heat after the 60th day postpartum. Calving to first heat interval, calving to first service interval, number of services per conception and calving interval were calculated for both groups. Milk yield for each cow was recorded monthly and 305-day milk yield was calculated. Clinoptilolite supplementation significantly increased body condition score and blood serum concentration of glucose and significantly decreased blood serum concentration of ketone bodies. Clinoptilolite also improved significantly the reproductive parameters evaluated and significantly increased milk production. These results indicate that daily dietary administration of 200 g of clinoptilolite can be used for the improvement of animal performance in dairy herds.


2010 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Baudracco ◽  
N Lopez-Villalobos ◽  
CW Holmes ◽  
KA Macdonald
Keyword(s):  

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (s1) ◽  
pp. 2-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. O'Brien ◽  
C. Grainger ◽  
L. Shalloo

A dairy farm greenhouse gas (GHG) model was applied in this study to compare the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) method and the life cycle assessment (LCA) procedure, which are the principal methods for quantifying the carbon footprint of dairy production. The objectives of this paper were to compare the auditing methods in estimating the carbon footprint of grass and confinement dairy systems and to assess the methods in estimating the footprint of grass-based dairy farms varying in cow genetic potential, stocking rate and level of concentrate feeding. The input data used to operate the model was based on published research studies. The results of the study showed that the IPCC and LCA methods ranked the carbon footprint of dairy systems differently. For example, the IPCC method found that the carbon footprint of the confinement dairy system was 8% lower than the grass system, but the LCA results show that the confinement system increased the carbon footprint by 16%. The comparison of grass-based dairy systems, differing in cow genotype, stocking rate and concentrate fed per cow also showed that the methods did not agree on the ranking of dairy systems carbon footprint. The re-ranking of dairy systems carbon footprint occurred because the IPCC method excludes emissions associated with imported goods, for example, concentrate. Thus, it is incorrect to consider only components of the dairy system relevant for policy reporting such as that used by IPCC when estimating the carbon footprint of dairy produce. Instead, holistic approaches, such as LCA, which consider on and off-farm GHG emissions should be used. Therefore, reform of the present policy framework is required to enable quantification of the impact of mitigation strategies on global emissions. The evaluation of the carbon footprint from grass-based systems differing in cow genotype also demonstrated that selecting cows solely for milk production will increase the carbon footprint of grass-based dairy systems relative to cows selected on a combination of traits, because of reduced cow fertility and thus higher emissions from replacement heifers.


2014 ◽  
pp. 92-105
Author(s):  
P. Bezrukikh ◽  
P. Bezrukikh (Jr.)

The article analyzes the dynamics of consumption of primary energy and production of electrical energy in the world for 1973-2012 and the volume of renewable energy. It is shown that in the crisis year of 20 0 9 there was a significant reduction in primary energy consumption and production of electrical energy. At the same time, renewable energy has developed rapidly, well above the rate of the world economy growth. The development of renewable energy is one of the most effective ways out of the crisis, taking into account its production regime, energy, environmental, social and economic efficiency. The forecast for the development of renewable energy for the period up to 2020, compiled by the IEA, is analyzed. It is shown that its assessment rates are conservative; the authors justify higher rates of development of renewable energy.


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