scholarly journals Effect of winter pasture residuals' and grazing- off on subsequefit milk production and pasture performance

Author(s):  
D.A. Clark ◽  
W. Carter ◽  
B. Walsh ◽  
F.H. Clarkson ◽  
C.D. Waugh

Concern at the effect of winter pasture residuals on pasture productivity led to the comparison of different wintering systems at the DRC No. 3 Dairy from May-December 1993. Three farmlets were designed to have 2000 kg DM/ha average farm cover at calving, but with pastures grazed to either 900, 1400 or 1800 kg DM/ha at least once during the winter. A fourth farmlet was spelled from grazing from 25 May-4 July to give an average farm cover at calving of 2900 kg DM/ha. Pasture regrowth, composition and structure, milk yield, liveweight and reproductive performance were measured. A simulation model UDDER was used to generalise from the specific experimental results. Pasture regrowth in July-August was greater on the wintering-off treatment than those grazed during winter, but treatment differences in late spring were inconsistent. Wintering-off decreased ryegrass tiller and white clover growing point densities in August but differences had disappeared by November. Winter grazing treatment had no effect on any component of milk production from calving to late October. From late October until m&December-milk-protein-and.milksolids y i e l d were less on the wintering-off treatment than the mean of the other three treatments (0.62 vs 0.68 kg/cow/day) and (1.49 vs 1.59 kg/cow/day), respectively. Grazing to different winter pasture residuals had no consistent effects on subsequent pasture productivity, composition or milk yield. Simulation showed that wintering-off can lead to increased milksolids production when average farm cover in September is predicted to fall below 1750 kg DM/ha. Timing and amount of conservation become c&i&i1 slfterwintering;off if pasture quality and hence milk production are to be maintained in late spring. Keywords: dairy cow, milksolids, milk yield, pasture regrowth, pasture residual, pasture structure

Author(s):  
Gustav Chládek ◽  
Ladislav Máchal

Groups of 20 to 23 dairy Czech Pied cows were observed monthly for the period of 12 months (12 test days). The cows in experimental groups were in their early lactation. The mean number of lactation was 2,8, the cows were on average 54.8 days after calving and the mean glucose concentration in blood plasma was 3.93 mmol/l. During the first 100 days of lactation milk yield amounted to 2581 kg with 3.91% fat, 3.48% protein and 4.85% lactose.The coefficients of the correlation between blood plasma glucose and the observed milk production parameters calculated independently for each test day ranged as follows: -0.597 to 0.130 for number of lactation, -0.389 to 0.585 for days after calving, -0.462 to 0.361 for milk yield, -0.201 to 0.526 for milk fat content, -0.385 to 0.632 for milk protein content and -0.600 to 0.469 for milk lactose content. The calculated coefficients of the correlation between blood plasma glucose and milk production parameters did not reveal a clear tendency in the relationships. However, the graphic polynomial expression showed that glucose level had a positive relationship with days after calving and mainly positive relationship with milk protein content; glucose content had a negative relationship with milk yield and number of lactation and a mainly negative relationship with fat content and lactose content.


2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 455-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chanelle A. Toerien ◽  
John P. Cant

To establish the duration of a severe feed restriction necessary to reversibly decrease milk production in high-producing Holstein cows, milk, plasma and urine parameters were assessed every 6 h during a 24-h restriction and 18-h refeed period. The 24-h restriction decreased yields of milk, protein and lactose by more than 30% without inducing ketosis or impairing milk production post-trial. Key words: Feed restriction, dairy cows, milk yield, plasma metabolites


2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Frelich ◽  
Martin Šlachta ◽  
Milan Kobes

Analysis of longterm trends in the performance of dairy cows on low-input mountain farmsThe productive and reproductive performance of dairy cows was examined on thirty-four low-input farms in the Šumava Mts. between 2000 and 2007. Milk production increased by an average of 986 kg and 948 kg per lactation by Holstein and by Czech Fleckvieh cows, respectively (P<0.001), while the mean number of lactations decreased from 2.7 to 2.5 in Holstein and from 3.4. to 3.0 in Czech Fleckvieh cows (P<0.001) in the same period. The mean number of lactations decreased also in the culled cows - from 3.2 to 2.9 by Holstein and from 4.3 to 3.5 by Czech Fleckvieh cows (P<0.001). A higher cow milk yield was accompanied by a deterioration in reproductive performance. Between the periods 2000-2003 and 2004-2007 the number of days open lengthened by an average of 6 and 4 days (P<0.01) and the calving period by an average of 11 and 6 days (P<0.001) in Holstein and Czech Fleckvieh cows respectively. The results indicated an increased replacement of cows in the herds examined as a coincidental feature of the steadily rising milk performance. This may have a negative impact on the rentability of low-input mountain dairy farming in the region.


2021 ◽  
Vol 285 ◽  
pp. 04005
Author(s):  
Maria Grinchuk ◽  
Yulia Nesterova

The aim of work is to explore influence of first fruitful insemination, service period and dry period to dairy productivity of Simmental cows. The research is aimed at studying the milk production of Simmental cows with different levels of reproductive qualities. The result of the research, a relation was established between the age of the first fruitful insemination, the duration of the service period, the duration of the dry period and milk production performance. It has been established that the age of the first fruitful insemination at 18-24 months has the most beneficial effect on subsequent milk production. The service period of 90-120 days has a positive effect to an increase in milk yield per 305 days of lactation, the longer service period negatively affects to the mass fraction of fat. With an increase in the duration of the dry period, the mass fraction of fat increases, but milk yield decreases. The influence of reproductive qualities to the milk protein is negligible. It was revealed that the age of the first insemination at 18-24 months is the most profitable for production. According to the results of the research, it can be judged that reproductive qualities, in combination with other factors, affect the milk productivity of Simmental cows.


Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Dunshea ◽  
Kehinde Oluboyede ◽  
Kristy DiGiacomo ◽  
Brian Leury ◽  
Jeremy Cottrell

Betaine is an organic osmolyte sourced from sugar beet that accumulates in plant cells undergoing osmotic stress. Since the accumulation of betaine lowers the energy requirements of animals and, therefore, metabolic heat production, the aim of this experiment was to investigate if betaine supplementation improved milk yield in grazing dairy cows in summer. One hundred and eighteen Friesian × Holstein cows were paired on days in milk and, within each pair, randomly allocated to a containing treatment of either 0 or 2 g/kg natural betaine in their concentrate ration for approximately 3 weeks during February/March 2015 (summer in Australia). The mean maximum February temperature was 30 °C. Cows were allocated approximately 14 kg dry matter pasture and 7.5 kg of concentrate pellets (fed in the milking shed) per cow per day and were milked through an automatic milking system three times per day. Betaine supplementation increased average daily milk yield by over 6% (22.0 vs. 23.4 kg/day, p < 0.001) with the response increasing as the study progressed as indicated by the interaction (p < 0.001) between betaine and day. Milk fat % (p = 0.87), milk protein % (p = 0.90), and milk somatic cell count (p = 0.81) were unchanged by dietary betaine. However, betaine supplementation increased milk protein yield (677 vs. 719 g/day, p < 0.001) and fat yield (874 vs. 922 g/day, p < 0.001) with responses again being more pronounced as the study progressed. In conclusion, dietary betaine supplementation increased milk and component yield during summer in grazing dairy cows.


2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 ◽  
pp. 192-192
Author(s):  
R.E. Lawson ◽  
A.R. Moss ◽  
C. Rymer ◽  
J.S. Blake

Mansbridge (1995) reported that replacing ground wheat with a mix of ground wheat and maize grain increased milk protein concentration, which led the authors to speculate that increased inclusion of maize grain increased rumen by-pass starch. Indeed, de Visseret al(1990) reported that feeding less rapidly degradable starches has led to increased milk protein concentration.The objective of this study was to examine the effects of starch concentration and source on feed intake, milk yield and milk composition of dairy cows.


2002 ◽  
Vol 2002 ◽  
pp. 220-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.D. Cooper ◽  
D. R. Arney ◽  
C. J. C. Phillips

The effects of high milk yields on the behaviour and welfare of the dairy cow are unclear. A high milk yield increases the need to consume sufficient fodder in an attempt to meet high nutrient demands. The failure to meet the demands may result in persistent hunger in the dairy cow having to modify her behaviour by employing various coping strategies. These modifications may help the cow overcome a state of hunger but at the expense of being unable to express other important behaviours. The objective of this study was therefore to determine whether the behaviour and welfare of the genetically high yielding dairy cow is being compromised by the increased nutritional demands of milk production, and to investigate the possibility that an increased amount of time spent in food-directed behaviours may have a detrimental effect on the time available to perform other important behaviours.


1990 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Eric Hillerton ◽  
Christopher H. Knight ◽  
Alan Turvey ◽  
Stephen D. Wheatley ◽  
Colin J. Wilde

SummaryGroups of lactating cows and heifers were milked four times daily in two diagonally opposed glands for 4 weeks, and the effects on milk yield studied relative to twice-daily milked glands as controls. Mammary enzyme activities, in vitro synthesis rates of milk constituents and histological scoring were determined in mammary biopsy samples obtained at the end of this period. These were used for assessment of mammary function. Frequent milking increased milk yield only in the treated glands, the contralateral control glands continuing to decline in yield at ~ 2%/week. There was no significant difference in response between cows and heifers; the mean increase in yield was 10·4%. The rate of decline in milk yield tended to decrease with frequent milking, to ~ 1%/week. Consequently the yield of the treated glands continued to be elevated above that of the controls for some time after reversion to overall twice daily milking. Milk protein content was increased slightly by frequent milking. Mammary enzyme activities were ~ 18% higher in the treated glands than in the controls. Synthesis rates of lactose, casein and total protein were unaffected by milking frequency, but were all lower in the gland selected for the second biopsy, reflecting the reduction in milk yield caused by the first biopsy. DNA synthesis was increased by milking frequency, as were the size and number of epithelial cells in histological sections.


1999 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 99-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Webb ◽  
P. C. Garnsworthy ◽  
J. G. Gong ◽  
R. S. Robinson ◽  
D. C. Wathes

AbstractAn effective method for enhancing milk production efficiency in dairy cows is to increase milk yield and significant progress has been achieved through intense selection, assisted by the application of new reproductive techniques. However this increased milk yield has been accompanied by a slow but steady decline in dairy cow fertility. The two main reasons for this reducing level of fertility appear to be selection for increased milk yield and large herd sizes, although the affect of the introduction of Holstein genes needs to be investigated. In addition, other negative consequences such as an increase in the incidence of metabolic diseases and lameness have been observed. This has given rise to public concern that the high-yielding dairy cow may be under a state of metabolic stress during peak lactation and therefore the welfare and performance of other body functions are compromised.The reason for this decline in fertility is not well understood, although a nutritional influence on the initiation of oestrous cycles, follicular growth, oocyte quality and early embryonic development has been implicated. In early lactation dietary intake is unable to meet the demands of milk production and most cows enter a period of negative energy balance. Negative energy balance has a broadly similar effect to undernutrition leading to a mobilization of body reserves. Furthermore diets high in rumen degradable protein lead to an excess of rumen ammonia, which before it is converted to urea by the liver and excreted in the urine, may cause an alteration in the reproductive tract environment reducing embryo survival. Such major changes in the metabolic and endocrine systems can therefore influence fertility at a number of key points.Possible reproductive sites where inadequate nutrition may have detrimental effects include: (i) the hypothalamic/pituitary gland where gonadotropin release may be impaired; (ii) a direct effect on the ovaries, where both follicular growth patterns and corpus luteum function may be directly influenced; (iii) the quality of the oocyte prior to ovulation may be reduced and coupled with an inadequate uterine environment will result in reduced embryo survival and (iv) there may be effects on subsequent embryo development. The initiation of normal oestrous cycles post partum is usually delayed in dairy cows with a higher genetic merit for milk production, confirming that intense selection towards high milk yield can compromise reproductive function. In addition, the effects of increased milk yield may include changes in circulating GH and insulin concentrations, which in turn alter both insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and IGF binding protein production. Nutrition has recently been shown to have a direct effect at the level of both the ovaries and the uterus to alter the expression of these growth factors.In conclusion, further knowledge is required to determine how the metabolic changes associated with high milk output reduce fertility. Identification and understanding of the mechanisms involved and the key sites of action responsible for compromised reproductive function, will enable the identification of possible indices for future multiple-trait selection programmes.


1970 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 463-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. E. Wellington ◽  
P. Mahadevan ◽  
K. L. Roache

SUMMARYThis study is the first comprehensive estimation of breed parameters for the Jamaica Hope breed of dairy cattle. It has shown that the breed has considerable potential for milk production undser good husbendry in a tropical environment. Improvements in reproductive performance may be achieved, without prejudice to production performance, by using milk yield per day of calving interval (which has a moderatoly high repestability) as a criterion for selection.


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