scholarly journals Assessment of the Relationship between Postpartum Health and Mid-Lactation Performance, Behavior, and Feed Efficiency in Holstein Dairy Cows

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1385
Author(s):  
Malia J. Martin ◽  
Kent A. Weigel ◽  
Heather M. White
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Lactation Performance ◽  
Postpartum Health ◽  
Feeding Behaviors ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Health Disorders

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between postpartum health disorders and mid-lactation performance, feed efficiency, and sensor-derived behavioral traits. Multiparous cows (n = 179) were monitored for health disorders for 21 days postpartum and enrolled in a 45-day trial between 50 to 200 days in milk, wherein feed intake, milk yield and components, body weight, body condition score, and activity, lying, and feeding behaviors were recorded. Feed efficiency was measured as residual feed intake and the ratio of fat- or energy-corrected milk to dry matter intake. Cows were classified as either having hyperketonemia (HYK; n = 72) or not (n = 107) and grouped by frequency of postpartum health disorders: none (HLT; n = 94), one (DIS; n = 63), or ≥2 (DIS+; n = 22). Cows that were diagnosed with HYK had higher mid-lactation yields of fat- and energy-corrected milk. No differences in feed efficiency were detected between HYK or health status groups. Highly active mid-lactation time was higher in healthy animals, and rumination time was lower in ≥4th lactation cows compared with HYK or DIS and DIS+ cows. Differences in mid-lactation behaviors between HYK and health status groups may reflect the long-term impacts of health disorders. The lack of a relationship between postpartum health and mid-lactation feed efficiency indicates that health disorders do not have long-lasting impacts on feed efficiency.

Relationship between behavioural reactivity and feed efficiency in housed sheep

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 683 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Amdi ◽  
A. R. Williams ◽  
S. K. Maloney ◽  
A. H. Tauson ◽  
S. A. Knott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Metabolic Efficiency ◽  
Average Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Animal House

In this study we test the hypothesis that selecting sheep for a low behavioural reactivity to stressful situations will improve their metabolic efficiency, and thereby feed efficiency, during a controlled trial in an animal house. Twenty-four Merino wethers were used, 12 each from lines selected for high (HBR) and low (LBR) behavioural reactivity to stressful stimuli (human presence and social isolation). The sheep were habituated to the experimental procedures for 10 days, followed by 45 days during which voluntary feed intake was measured so that total daily energy intake was quantified. The sheep were weighed twice weekly before daily feeding. Feed efficiency was determined by measuring net feed intake, average daily weight gain and body condition score. Our hypothesis was not supported by the results of this study. There was no difference between LBR and HBR sheep in average daily weight gain or body condition score. The net feed intake of HBR sheep was lower than that of LBR sheep (P = 0.02), indicating that under the conditions of our experiment, HBR sheep were actually more feed efficient than LBR sheep. This study was carried out on sheep with steady intakes and in familiar surroundings. It is possible that LBR sheep may be more efficient than HBR sheep in more stressful situations.

Effects of body condition and dry cow feeding on disease incidences in the first 100 days of lactation in Holstein-Friesian cows

2002 ◽  
Vol 2002 ◽  
pp. 201-201
Author(s):  
R. J. Dewhurst ◽  
J. M. Moorby ◽  
D. W. R. Davies ◽  
W. J. Fisher ◽  
N. C. Friggens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Lactation Performance ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Body Reserves ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
As Effects

Genetic potential for milk production has increased rapidly in the Holstein-Friesian breed and there is concern that this might be causing an increased incidence of health problems. We have recently (Ingvartsen et al., 2002) reviewed the inter-relationships between lactation performance and health, demonstrating the importance of considering effects on/of body reserves as well as effects on/of milk production. Whilst we identified mechanisms whereby body reserves can have a direct effect on susceptibility to disease, disease also affects body reserves making it difficult to study their inter-relationships. The dry period is a particularly interesting period in this regard, because additional nutrients are directed towards reserves, whilst it is followed by a period (early lactation) of high disease incidence. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of body condition score (BCS) at calving, as well as the effects of dry period diets designed to alter BCS, on disease incidences in the first 100 days of lactation.

Effects of cooked molasses licking block supplementation pre- and post-partum on feed intake, suckling lamb performance, milk yield and milk quality in dairy sheep. Part 1

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 1838
Author(s):  
A. Cabiddu ◽  
E. Trevisi ◽  
G. Molle ◽  
G. Lovotti ◽  
C. Manca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Blood Cholesterol ◽  
Dairy Sheep ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Parity Number ◽  
Ryegrass Hay

This study tested the nutritional benefit of a supplement offered freely to dairy sheep over a period from 60 days before lambing to 60 days after lambing, at stall and grazing. Thirty Sarda dairy sheep on Day 90 of gestation, homogeneous for age, parity number, bodyweight (BW) and body condition score (BCS), were allocated to one of two groups: control (Ctr) or treated (Cry). Over 120 days, both groups received ryegrass hay and concentrate indoors. After weaning, the ewes also had access to pasture for 6 h/day. Throughout the experimental period, the Cry group had ad libitum access to a cooked molasses licking block. No significant differences were observed between the groups in forage, concentrate and total DM intake. During the experiment, the reduction in BCS in early lactation tended to be slower in the Cry than in Ctr group (Ptrend < 0.09), whereas no significant effects were seen on BW. Lamb performance tended to be improved by Cry in terms of liveweight of litter size per sheep (9.65 vs 8.22 kg for Cry and Ctr, respectively; P < 0.07), whereas no significant effects were observed on milk yield and composition, except for a trend for increased fat content in the Cry versus Ctr group (6.15% vs 5.95%, respectively; P < 0.08). Cry ewes had higher blood cholesterol concentrations than did Ctr ewes (1.96 vs 1.63 mmol/L; P < 0.01). Because there were no differences between feed intake at stall and the estimated total DM intake at stall and during grazing between the two groups, the better performance of the Cry group could be explained by an increase of feed use efficiency at the digestive and/or metabolic level.

scholarly journals Relationships between body condition score change, prior mid-lactation phenotypic residual feed intake, and hyperketonemia onset in transition dairy cows

2017 ◽  
Vol 100 (5) ◽  
pp. 3685-3696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca M. Rathbun ◽  
Ryan S. Pralle ◽  
Sandra J. Bertics ◽  
Louis E. Armentano ◽  
K. Cho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Residual Feed Intake ◽  
Score Change ◽  
Transition Dairy Cows ◽  
Condition Score

Effect of pour-on alphacypermethrin on feed intake, body condition score, milk yield, pregnancy rates, and calving-to-conception interval in buffaloes1,2

2015 ◽  
Vol 93 (4) ◽  
pp. 1850-1858 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Bifulco ◽  
V. Veneziano ◽  
R. Cimmino ◽  
L. Esposito ◽  
L. Auletta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Pregnancy Rates ◽  
Condition Score

scholarly journals Common Feeding Practices Pose A Risk to the Welfare of Horses When Kept on Non-Edible Bedding

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 411
Author(s):  
Miriam Baumgartner ◽  
Theresa Boisson ◽  
Michael H. Erhard ◽  
Margit H. Zeitler-Feicht
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Rebound Effect ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Feeding Practices ◽  
The Body ◽  
Evening Meal ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Individual Housing ◽  
Condition Score

During the evolution of the horse, an extended period of feed intake, spread over the entire 24-h period, determined the horses’ behaviour and physiology. Horses will not interrupt their feed intake for more than 4 h, if they have a choice. The aim of the present study was to investigate in what way restrictive feeding practices (non ad libitum) affect the horses’ natural feed intake behaviour. We observed the feed intake behaviour of 104 horses on edible (n = 30) and non-edible bedding (n = 74) on ten different farms. We assessed the duration of the forced nocturnal feed intake interruption of horses housed on shavings when no additional roughage was available. Furthermore, we comparatively examined the feed intake behaviour of horses housed on edible versus non-edible bedding. The daily restrictive feeding of roughage (2 times a day: n = 8; 3 times a day: n = 2), as it is common in individual housing systems, resulted in a nocturnal feed intake interruption of more than 4 hours for the majority (74.32%, 55/74) of the horses on shavings (8:50 ± 1:25 h, median: 8:45 h, minimum: 6:45 h, maximum: 13:23 h). In comparison to horses on straw, horses on shavings paused their feed intake less frequently and at a later latency. Furthermore, they spent less time on consuming the evening meal than horses on straw. Our results of the comparison of the feed-intake behaviour of horses on edible and non-edible bedding show that the horses’ ethological feeding needs are not satisfied on non-edible bedding. If the horses accelerate their feed intake (also defined as “rebound effect”), this might indicate that the horses‘ welfare is compromised. We conclude that in addition to the body condition score, the longest duration of feed intake interruption (usually in the night) is an important welfare indicator of horses that have limited access to roughage.

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.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document