scholarly journals Endophyte toxins and performance of spring-calving dairy cows in Northland

1999 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 45-50
Author(s):  
M.B. Blackwell ◽  
R.G. Keogh

An on-farm trial was carried out at Te Hana, in Northland, to measure milk production responses in 2 groups of 16 spring-calving, 3-year-old Holstein-Friesian cows maintained throughout the trial on pastures with or without the ryegrass endophyte toxins, ergovaline and lolitrem B. The trial began in October 1997, with second calving cows balanced for calving date and production worth. Milk volumes of all cows were recorded for 10 consecutive days each month followed by a herd test in which milk volume, protein, fat and lactose contents were determined from milk samples. There were no differences in milk volume or milk solids production in the October and November measurement periods. In December, the group grazing toxin-free (-Ev) pastures produced 24% more milk than the group grazing toxincontaining (+Ev) pastures. These differences increased progressively as the trial proceeded, until terminated in mid-April. Throughout the trial period the -Ev group produced 23% and 19% more milk and milk solids, respectively, than the +Ev group. A rise in levels of the endophyte toxins in ryegrass coincided with the start of differences in milking performance. A toxin-free maize based supplement was fed to both groups during the January to March period to maintain the trial when pasture growth was insufficient. A negative correlation was found between milk production of the +Ev group in January and the prevailing temperature and humidity conditions during the night. Keywords: endophyte toxins, ergovaline, lolitrem B, milk production, Neotyphodium, Northland, ryegrass

Author(s):  
R.G. Keogh ◽  
M.B. Blackwell

On-farm milk production and ancillary information was monitored for spring-calving cows grazing high (HT) and low toxin (LT) pastures in Northland over three seasons from spring 1997 to autumn 2000. Two groups of 16 second-calving Holstein-Friesian cows, balanced for calving date and production worth, grazed HT or LT ryegrass pastures from October 1997 to May 1998. Milk production was monitored for 10 consecutive days each month culminating with a herd test. The LT group out-produced the HT group for each measurement period from December, and over the whole season, produced 20% more milk solids. The HT group had significantly higher serum lysergol levels and correspondingly lower prolactin levels than the LT group. As pasture quality was similar it was suggested that the differences in milk production were most likely due to differences in intake. At the start of the 1998-1999 season 25% of the farm was in low endophyte ryegrass or in ryegrass with the AR1 endophyte. The farm and herd were split so that milk production from HT and LT farmlets could be monitored. Milk from each group was collected into separate tanks and all cows were 'herd-tested' 4-weekly. Despite twothirds of the LT farmlet being conserved for silage, which resulted in a severe feed shortage that necessitated supplements being fed-out on this farmlet from January, the LT group out-produced the HT group by 5% per cow and by 10% per hectare for the season from October to late May. In the 1999-2000 season, the farm and herd split was 29% LT and 71% HT. The objective was changed to one of maximising production from each system and this required changes in management. The LT system was managed to encourage clover-dominance from mid-spring and this was achieved by lengthening the rotation out to 6 weeks and then reducing it back to 3.5 weeks by leaving higher residuals and conserving


Author(s):  
J.D Sutton ◽  
K. Aston ◽  
D.E Beever ◽  
W.J. Fisher

The importance of measuring partition between body and milk in dairy cows and identifying the factors underlying it has long been recognised. However accurate measurements of partition In the body are few because of the difficulty and expense of the techniques.The purpose of the present experiment was to measure the effects in autumn-calving Holstein-Friesian cows given grass silage ad libitum of amount of concentrate and stage of lactation on body composition by direct (Gibb et al 1992a, b) and Indirect (Kings et al 1992) techniques, adipose tissue metabolism (Walsh et al 1992) and milk production. In a related trial, energy balance was measured in other cows by Indirect calorimetry (Cammell et al 1992).This report covers silage Intake, milk production and live-weight change. Communications on the associated studies are given in the Proceedings of this Meeting.


2013 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 344-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Paul Edwards ◽  
Bernadette O'Brien ◽  
Nicolas Lopez-Villalobos ◽  
Jenny G Jago

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of varying degrees of overmilking on teat-end hyperkeratosis, milk production variables and indicators of udder health during late lactation. This was examined by assessing the effect of four end-of-milking criteria on 181 spring-calving, mixed-age Holstein-Friesian cows, at an average 217±24 d in milk, over a six-week period. The four treatments were: remove cluster once milk flow rate fell to 0·2 kg/min plus 5 s (Ovr0), plus 120 s (Ovr2), plus 300 s (Ovr5), and plus 540 s (Ovr9). Daily measurements included individual cow milk yield, milking duration, overmilking duration, maximum milk flow rate, milk flow rate at cluster removal and the number of cluster re-attachments. Individual cow bulk milk samples were collected weekly at AM and PM milkings to determine composition (fat, protein and lactose) and somatic cell count (SCC; AM only). Teat-end hyperkeratosis score was assessed at weeks 0, 3, 5 and 6. At week 6 mean teat-end hyperkeratosis score of the Ovr2 treatment was not greater than Ovr0, whilst Ovr5 was greater than Ovr2 and Ovr9 was greater than Ovr5 and Ovr2. Milk production, milking characteristics and SCC were not different between treatments, except milking duration and milk flow rate at cluster removal. However, higher teat-end hyperkeratosis scores may have a longer-term impact on indicators of udder health if teat-end condition reaches severe levels. Results indicate that to minimise changes in teat-end condition overmilking should be limited to 2 min, which has implications for milking management in large parlours not fitted with automatic cluster removers.


1992 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Rook ◽  
W. J. Fisher ◽  
J. D. Sutton

AbstractEighteen multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows were offered grass silage ad libitum and 3,6 or 9 kg dry matter per day of concentrates. Triplicate milk samples were taken at each of two daily milkings over a 28-day period and analysed for fat protein and lactose concentration. Milk yield and fat concentration were more variable than protein and lactose concentrations both between animals and between days. Sampling variation was small for all component concentrations. The main source of variation for all traits was time of milking (morning or afternoon) followed by variation between cows and by day-to-day variation. There was little linear trend with time in the data due to cows being close to peak yield. There was no evidence of cyclical variation over time for any trait. Mean weekly or monthly yields and concentrations were better predicted using samples from four rather than from two consecutive milkings but there was no further advantage from using six samples.


1996 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Sutton ◽  
K. Aston ◽  
D. E. Beever ◽  
M. S. Dhanoa

AbstractTo examine the effects of increasing the crude protein (CP) content of concentrates at either equal concentrate intake (increasing CP intake) or at reducing concentrate intake (equal CP intake), 44 multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows were allocated to one of five treatments for weeks 4 to 18 of lactation. The treatments were 6 kg dry matter (DM) per day of concentrates containing nominally 200, 300 or 400 g CP per kg DM or 9 or 3 kg DM per day of concentrates containing 200 or 600 g CP per kg DM respectively. In addition 23 first-calf cows (heifers) were offered 5 kg DM per day of concentrates containing 200, 300 or 400 g CP per kg DM. All the animals were offered first-cut perennial ryegrass silage ad libitum. Increasing the concentrate CP content at equal intake caused only small and non-significant increases in silage intake by both heifers and cows. It significantly increased yields of milk and milk protein for both groups but whereas the cows responded to both increments of CP, the heifers only responded to the first. The concentrations of total protein, true protein, casein and non-protein nitrogen (NPN) in milk were significantly increased but the concentration of whey protein remained unchanged. Increasing CP concentration while the concentrate ration was reduced enhanced silage intake but had no significant effect on yields of milk or milk solids. The concentrations of total protein, true protein (non-significant), casein and NPN all increased but whey protein was unchanged. Overall the concentrations of casein and NPN were linearly related to the dietary CP concentration. With both concentrate strategies the proportion of true protein in total milk protein decreased and the proportion of NPN increased with increasing dietary CP concentration but the changes, though highly significant, were relatively small. It is concluded that the strategy of reducing the concentrate ration while maintaining concentrate CP intake causes only small reductions in milk solids production but it is dependent for success on supplies of high-quality grass silage to substitute for the concentrates.


1958 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. MacDonald ◽  
J. M. Bell

This report presents effects of low temperatures on the feed consumption and efficiency of milk production of six mature, lactating, Holstein-Friesian cows that were confined in stanchions for three fortnightly experimental periods during which ambient temperatures measured in degree-hours per day (d-h/day) ranged from 110 to 1152 and daily minimum ambient air temperature (DMAAT) varied from 0° to 38°F. Applying results obtained, it was calculated that as temperatures decreased, i.e., d-h/day increased from 100 to 1200 and DMAAT decreased from 40° to 0°F, average daily intakes of total dry matter, hay, and gross and digestible Calories increased approximately 6.4 lb., 5.3 lb., 13 Therms and 9 Therms, respectively. Each of these increases was statistically significant at the 1 per cent level. Reductions in temperature also decreased gross and net caloric efficiencies of milk production approximately 10 and 8.5 per cent, respectively. These decreases were significant at the 2 per cent level. No correlation was evident between crude protein utilization and temperature.Results indicated that thermal stress was not overcome adequately by supplementary hay intake alone and that appetite stimulation by low temperatures had a carry-over effect continuing at least 24 hours. For continued efficient milk production during winters where low ambient temperatures are prevalent these results suggest it is necessary to provide some form of building insulation, ambient heat and/or provide a high energy supplement to otherwise adequate production rations.


2001 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 467-470
Author(s):  
J.F. Cox ◽  
F. Saravia ◽  
O. Torrealba ◽  
A. Zavala ◽  
A. Lobos

AbstractControlled breeding schemes for oestrous detection constitutes a proactive technical response that balances the infrastructural requirement for a profitable dairy operation and the demands for optimal animal performance. The present study compared (a) the reproductive response of a treatment based on a short vs longer-acting PGF2α analogue (tiaprost vs luprostiol), and (b) the reproductive response after a treatment of GnRH-PGF2α vs PGF2α alone for synchronizing dairy cows. Holstein-Friesian cows averaging 9000 kg milk/lactation and fed according to their requirements were used in the study. Cows were cyclic, at least 60 days post partum and were clinically sound before being considered for the experiments. In Experiment 1, animals were synchronised using an i.m. injection of either 15 mg of luprostiol or 0.75 mg of tiaprost, based on ultrasonic diagnosis of a corpus luteum. Animals were inseminated at observed oestrus. In Experiment 2, cows were synchronised, at random, by either an injection of 10pg ofbuserelin (day 0) followed by 0.75 mg of tiaprost at day 7 (GnRH-PGF2α) orjust 0.75 mg of tiaprost (PGF2α). For both treatments only cows with an ultrasonically detected corpus luteum were treated. Animals were inseminated at oestrus. At the time of treatment and again 3 days later, milk samples were collected and assayed for progesterone by RIA. Cows with progesterone concentrations >1 ng/ml were considered to have corpus luteum. Luteolysis was considered to have occurred when concentrations of progesterone were > 1 ng/ml at day 0 and <0.8 ng/ml at day 3. In Experiment 1, both analogues gave similar results in terms of induced luteolysis [luprostiol: 36/39 (92.3%) vs tiaprost: 36/41 (87.8%)], oestrous detection efficiency [luprostiol: 26/36 (72.2%) vs tiaprost: 30/36 (83.3%], oestrous distribution [day 2, 3 and 4, respectively: luprostiol: 26.9%, 50.0%, 19.2% vs tiaprost: 36.7%, 50.0%, 13.3%], and conception rates [luprostiol: 12/25 (48.0%) vs tiaprost: 14/28 (50.0%); P>0.05]. In Experiment 2, oestrous detection efficiency, interval to oestrus and conception rate were similar between treatments [97/149 (65.1%), 71.1 h, 43/95 (45.3%) for PGF2α vs 130/188 (69.1%), 68.2h, 65/126 (51.6%) for GnRH-PGF2α, respectively]. However the oestrous distribution was more concentrated in GnRH-PGF2α treated animals (P<0.01).


Author(s):  
K. Aston ◽  
W.J. Fisher ◽  
A.B. McAllan

Recent trials with cows fed grass silage have shown significant increases in intake and in yields of milk and milk solids when the crude protein (CP) concentration in a supplementary concentrate was raised. Giving additional CP in the concentrate was a more effective strategy for improving yields of milk and milk protein than giving extra energy (Aston et al 1992). The objective of this trial was to examine the influence of changes to the amount and pattern of distribution of CP supplied in a fixed concentrate ration given with grass silage ad libitum.Fifty-five Holstein-Friesian cows in their second and subsequent lactations were given a standard diet for two weeks from calving and then were used in a continuous feeding trial from weeks 4 to 21. The cows received 5 kg of fresh concentrate daily containing 156 (LP), 245 (MP) or 338 (HP) g CP per kg dry matter (DM), MP comprised equal amounts of LP and HP. Concentrate carbohydrate sources were cereals and digestible fibre and CP was increased by a mixture of 3:1 soya:fish meals. Grass silage contained 253 g toluene DM/kg, 162 g CP/kg DM, D value in vivo 0.723, pH 3.7, fermentation acids 135 g/kg DM of which 0.85 was lactic acid and NH3-N 91 g/kg total N.


Author(s):  
Isobel Vincent ◽  
R. Hill

Low-glucosinolate rapeseed meal (<20 μmol/g) is likely to replace the high-glucosinolate meal currently produced in the UK, and in this experiment the use of low-glucosinolate rapeseed meal (RSM) as the sole protein supplement in a compound feed for milk production in cows was assessed. There were three compound concentrate feeds of similar energy and protein content, 0% RSM (group A), 15% RSM (B) and 30% RSM (C). The additional protein in diets A and B was provided as soyabean meal (SBM).Eighteen Friesian cows were divided into three groups, balanced with regard to previous yield and number of lactations, and three weeks after calving were given one of the compound feeds in a 3x3 changeover experiment; each of the three feeding periods was four weeks. Barley meal was given as a parlour feed, 1 kg air dry at each milking, and the compound concentrate and grass silage were given at Broadbent-Calan gates in quantities related to expected milk yield.


2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 337
Author(s):  
B. C. Granzin

Two experiments were undertaken to determine the effect of timing of protein supplementation on performance of grazing, lactating Holstein–Friesian cows fed maize silage and grain-based concentrate. In experiment 1, 36 cows were fed 0.8 kg DM/day of solvent-extracted cottonseed meal (CSM) either as 1 meal at 1200 hours with maize silage (CSM 1200) or at 1530 hours with concentrate (CSM 1530), or in 2 meals at 0600 and 1530 hours with concentrate (CSM 600 + 1530). In experiment 2, 36 cows were either fed no CSM (control) or fed 1.0 kg DM/day as either CSM 1200 or CSM 600 + 1530. In experiment 1, daily yields of 4% fat-corrected milk (FCM) and milk fat for CSM 600 + 1530 were significantly higher than for CSM 1530 with respective means of 22.8 v. 20.7 L and 895 v. 804 g. Daily yields of FCM and milk fat for CSM 1200 were intermediate (21.7 L and 841 g/cow, respectively). A similar trend for daily protein yield per cow was noted (712, 695 and 666 g for CSM 600 + 1530, 1200 and 1530, respectively). In experiment 2, milk yield differed numerically between CSM 600 + 1530 and other treatments, with means (± s.e.d.) of 24.7 ± 0.78, 22.9 ± 0.78 and 22.9 ± 0.78 L/cow.day for CSM 600 + 1530, CSM 1200 and control, respectively. Mean (± s.e.d.) net energy requirements for milk production and liveweight change tended to be lower for the control (68 ± 3.6 MJ/cow.day) as opposed to CSM 600 + 1530 (79 ± 3.6 MJ/cow.day) and CSM 1200 (76 ± 3.6 MJ/cow.day). Cumulative time where rumen degradable nitrogen:rumen degradable dry matter was less than 22 g/kg were 2, 2 and 3 h for CSM 600 + 1530, CSM 1200 and CSM 1530, respectively, in experiment 1, and 6, 4 and 2 h for the control, 1200 and CSM 600 + 1530, respectively, in experiment 2. No differences in rumen ammonia-N concentrations were noted between treatments in experiment 1. In experiment 2, a significantly lower mean (± s.e.d.) rumen ammonia-N concentration was recorded for the control at 1530 hours (62 ± 14.1 mg/dL) in comparison to CSM 600 + 1530 (114 ± 14.1 mg/dL) and CSM 1200 (119 ± 14.1 mg/dL). These experiments show that for grazing dairy cows supplemented with maize silage and grain-based concentrate, feeding a daily aliquot of CSM as 2 meals at 0600 and 1530 hours rather than 1 meal at 1200 or 1530 hours improves milk production.


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