scholarly journals The effect of rearing conditions during the milk-fed period on milk yield, growth, and maze behaviour of dairy cows during their first lactation

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-82
Author(s):  
Jan Broucek ◽  
Michal Uhrincat ◽  
Peter Kisac ◽  
Anton Hanus
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Linear Model ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
General Linear Model ◽  
Maze Learning ◽  
Milk Replacer ◽  
Live Body Weight ◽  
Rearing Conditions ◽  
Milk Performance

Abstract. The objective was to find whether cow growth, milk performance, and behaviour are affected by (1) rearing conditions until weaning after a milk-fed period of 84 d and (2) the sire lineage. Thirty-five Holstein heifers were assigned to one of three treatments: SM, n=13, pen with mother to 21st day, then group pen (they received a maximum of 6 kg of milk daily); SN, n=9, after 3 d with own mother in pen with nursing cow (they received a maximum of 6 kg of milk daily); H, n=13, in hutch from the 2nd to 56th day (6 kg of milk replacer daily), then loose housing pen to weaning (6 kg of milk replacer daily). After weaning at the 84th day, all heifers were kept in pens with the same ration as during calving. During lactation, live body weight (LBW) was measured each month and milk yield each day. Maze learning was evaluated in the fifth month of lactation. The data were analysed using a general linear model ANOVA. At the 30th day, the LBW tended to be the highest in SN (SM 528.2 ± 11.4 kg, SN 571.7 ± 15.3 kg, H 533.2 ± 12.3 kg). When lactation ended, the highest LBW was in SN and the lowest in H (SM 612.6 ± 12.2 kg, SN 623.1 ± 16.4 kg, H 569.8 ± 13.2 kg; P<0.05). The SN tended to have the highest production of milk (SM 7143.9 ± 241.5 kg, SN 7345.1 ± 319.0 kg, H 7146.7 ± 234 kg), and the H for FCM (SM 6290.3 ± 203.2 kg, SN 6307.6 ± 268.4 kg, H 6399.3 ± 197.1 kg) for 305 d lactation. Group SN crossed the maze fastest (SM 1141.4 ± 120.5 s, SN 810.3 ± 160.5 s, H 1120.8 ± 118.6 s). The vocalization number differed significantly (SM 32.3 ± 5.7, SN 20.8 ± 4.4, H 9.9 ± 2.6; P<0.01). The results indicated that the rearing method up to weaning may have an impact on dairy cows' performance and behaviour.

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

scholarly journals Association of Feed Efficiency, Feeding Rate, and Behaviour with the Milk Performance of Dairy Cows

Dairy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 684-694
Author(s):  
Lenka Krpálková ◽  
Niall O’Mahony ◽  
Anderson Carvalho ◽  
Sean Campbell ◽  
Gerard Corkery ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Feeding Rate ◽  
Feeding Time ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Milk Performance

Identification of the associations of cow feed efficiency with feeding behaviour and milk production is important for supporting recommendations of strategies that optimise milk yield. The objective of this study was to identify associations between measures of feed efficiency, feed intake, feeding rate, rumination time, feeding time, and milk production using data collected from 26 dairy cows during a 3 month period in 2018. Cows averaged (mean ± standard deviation) 2.2 ± 1.7 lactations, 128 ± 40 days in milk, 27.5 ± 5.5 kg/day milk, 1.95 ± 0.69 kg feed/1 kg milk—the measure used to express feed conversion ratio (FCR), 575 ± 72 min/day rumination time, and 264 ± 67 min/day feeding time during the observation period. The coefficient of variation for rumination time (min/d) was 12.5%. A mixed linear model was selected for analyses. The most feed inefficient cows with the highest FCR (≥2.6 kg feed/1 kg milk) showed the lowest milk yield (24.8 kg/day), highest feed intake (78.8 kg), highest feeding rate (0.26 kg/min) and BCS (3.35 point). However, the relative milk yield (milk yield per 100 kg of body weight) was the highest (4.01 kg/day) in the most efficient group with the lowest FCR (≤1.4 kg feed/1 kg milk). Our study showed that the most efficient cows with the lowest FCR (≤1.4 kg feed/1 kg milk) had the highest rumination time (597 min/day; p < 0.05), feeding time (298 min/day; p < 0.05), rumination/activity ratio (4.39; p < 0.05) and rumination/feeding ratio (2.04; p < 0.05). Less active cows (activity time 164 min/day; p < 0.05) were the most efficient cows with the lowest FCR (≤1.4 kg feed/1 kg milk). The behavioural differences observed in this study provide new insight into the association of feed behaviour and feed efficiency with milk performance. Incorporating feeding behaviour into the dry matter intake model can improve its accuracy in the future and benefit breeding programmes.

scholarly journals Analysis of lactating cows on commercial Austrian dairy farms: the influence of genotype and body weight on efficiency parameters

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 491-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Ledinek ◽  
Leonhard Gruber ◽  
Franz Steininger ◽  
Birgit Fuerst-Waltl ◽  
Karl Zottl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Weight Class ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Weight Range ◽  
Project Data ◽  
Relationship Of

Abstract. The aim of this study was twofold: first, to evaluate the influence of body weight on the efficiency of dairy cows, and second, to analyze the current state of dairy cattle populations as part of the Austrian Cattle Breeding Association's Efficient Cow project. Data of Fleckvieh (FV, dual-purpose Simmental), Fleckvieh×Red Holstein (FV×RH), Holstein (HF) and Brown Swiss (BS) dairy cows (161 farms, 6098 cows) were collected at each performance recording during the year 2014. In addition to routinely recorded data (e.g., milk yield, fertility), body weight, body measurements, body condition score (BCS) and individual feed information were also collected. The following efficiency traits were considered: body weight efficiency as the ratio of energy-corrected milk (ECM) to metabolic body weight, feed efficiency (kilogram ECM per kilogram dry-matter intake) and energy efficiency expressed as the ratio of energy in milk to energy intake. The relationship of milk yield to body weight was shown to be nonlinear. Milk yield decreased in cows above the 750 kg body weight class for HF, BS and FV×RH with 68 % RH genes, but less dramatically and later for FV at 800 kg. This resulted in an optimum body weight for feed and energy efficiency. BS and HF had the highest efficiency in a narrower and lighter body weight range (550–700 kg) due to a stronger curvature of the parabolic curve. Contrary to this, the efficiency of FV did not change as much as it did in the dairy breeds with increasing body weight, meaning that FV had a similar feed and energy efficiency in a range of 500–750 kg. The breed differences disappeared when body weight ranged between 750 and 800 kg. The average body weight of the breeds studied (FV 722 kg, BS 649 and HF 662 kg) was in the optimum range. FV was located at the upper end of the decreasing segment. In conclusion, an optimum body weight range for efficiency does exist, due to the nonlinear relationship of milk yield and body weight. Specialized dairy breeds seem to respond more intensively to body weight range than dual-purpose breeds, due to the stronger curvature. Cows with medium weights within a population are the most efficient. Heavy cows (>750 kg) produce even less milk. A further increase in dairy cows' body weights should therefore be avoided.

scholarly journals Non-structural carbohydrates in the nutrition of high-yielding dairy cows during a transition period

2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 11) ◽  
pp. 468-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Poláková ◽  
V. Kudrna ◽  
A. Kodeš ◽  
B. Hučko ◽  
Z. Mudřík
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Maize Starch ◽  
Milk Performance

The main aim of this study was to investigate experimentally the effect of different composition of non-structural carbohydrates (NFC) in prepartum feed rations administered to high-yielding dairy cows at a high concentration of NFC in the diet on dry matter intake both before and after parturition and on subsequent milk performance, body condition and physiological traits of rumen fluid and blood. Thirty-six high-yielding dairy cows were allocated into one of the three well-balanced groups (K, O, and C), and each group received a different feeding rations. Feeding rations differed in non-structural carbohydrate (NFC) structure. The "K" (control) group received a feeding ration with NFC in the form of maize starch in particular, while the feeding rations of the other two (experimental) groups contained either (besides maize starch) saccharose from dried sugar beet (the "O" group) or a dominant amount of NFC was in the form of saccharose (the "C" group). After calving, all dairy cows were given the same feeding ration from the first day after parturition. The experiment was conducted for 21 days before and 50 days after calving. FR in the form of total mixed ration was offered ad libitum. Dry matter intake, milk performance, body condition, live weight, and blood and rumen parameters were recorded for the duration of the experiment. Average daily dry matter intake before calving was highest in the "K" group (14.32 kg per head). Differences among groups were statistically significant (P &lt; 0.05). Prepartum dry matter consumption dropped as the rate of saccharose in the diet of cows increased. Dry matter consumption levelled off after calving. Milk yield was also highest in the "K" group (43.71 kg/head/day), but fatness of milk and thus the production of fat corrected milk were lowest in this group. The highest milk fat content (4.10%) and fat corrected milk production (44.03 kg/head/day) were recorded in the "C" group, whereas the highest milk protein concentration was found in the milk of the "O" group. The composition of NFC affected dry matter intake before parturition, but these concentrations did not significantly affect dry matter intake, milk yield, milk composition, live weight, body condition or blood serum and rumen fluid parameters after calving

scholarly journals Effect of dietary-induced increases in circulating insulin concentrations during the early postpartum period on reproductive function in dairy cows

Reproduction ◽  
2002 ◽  
pp. 419-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
JG Gong ◽  
WJ Lee ◽  
PC Garnsworthy ◽  
R Webb
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Dietary Treatment ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
Selection For

Although it has become increasingly clear that fertility in modern dairy cattle is declining in association with increased milk yields, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. The first ovulation post partum is delayed in dairy cows undergoing selection for genetic merit for milk yield in association with lower circulating insulin concentrations. The aim of this study was to investigate whether feeding a diet to increase circulating insulin concentrations can overcome this delay in the first ovulation post partum. The experiment was a 2 x 2 factorial design (n = 10 per group) involving diet and genetic merit for milk yield. The dietary treatment started on the day of calving and lasted for 50 days. Plasma samples were collected each day and ovarian ultra-sonography was performed three times a week during the experimental feeding period. Milk yield was recorded each day, and body weight and body condition score were determined each week. Milk samples were collected three times a week from day 50 to day 105 post partum, and reproductive performance data were recorded for all the cows as part of the routine farm practice. The dietary treatment induced significant differences in plasma insulin concentrations in both high and low genetic merit cows. Although high genetic merit cows produced more milk, lost more body weight and had lower body condition scores during the experiment, no significant effect of diet was observed on these measurements. The high insulin inducing diet increased the proportion of cows ovulating within 50 days of calving and reduced the intervals from calving to first ovulation, and tended to reduce the intervals from calving to first service and to conception. These fertility parameters were also more favourable in low than in high genetic merit cows, but no interaction between diet and genetic merit was observed for any of these parameters. Genetic merit, but not diet, also affected the number of services required per conception and the conception rate. In conclusion, these results have confirmed that genetic selection for high milk yield is associated with a decrease in reproductive performance in dairy cows. More importantly, this study has demonstrated that it is possible to alleviate this problem by nutritional manipulation.

scholarly journals Association of lameness with milk yield and lactation curves in Chios dairy ewes

2015 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Athanasios I Gelasakis ◽  
Georgios Arsenos ◽  
Georgios E Valergakis ◽  
Georgios Banos
Keyword(s):  
Linear Model ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
General Linear Model ◽  
General Linear ◽  
Sheep Population ◽  
Dairy Ewes ◽  
Daily Milk Yield ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Selection Of

The objective of the study was twofold: (i) to quantify the differences in daily milk yield (DMY) and total milk yield (TMY) between lame and non-lame dairy ewes and (ii) to determine the shape of lactation curves around the lameness incident. The overall study was a prospective study of lameness for the surveyed sheep population, with a nested study including the selection of matching controls for each lame ewe separately. Two intensively reared flocks of purebred Chios ewes and a total of 283 ewes were used. Data, including gait assessment and DMY records, were collected on a weekly basis during on-farm visits across the milking period. A general linear model was developed for the calculation of lactation curves of lame and non-lame ewes, whereas one-way ANOVA was used for the comparisons between lame ewes and their controls. Lameness incidence was 12·4 and 16·8% on Farms A and B, respectively. Average DMY in lame ewes was significantly lower (213·8 g, P < 0·001) compared with the rest of the flock, where DMY averaged 1·340 g. The highest DMY reduction in lame ewes was observed during the week 16 of the milking period (P < 0·001), whereas the reduction of DMY, for lame ewes, remained significant at P < 0·001 level from week 8 to week 28 of milking. Comparisons between lame and controls revealed that at the week of lameness diagnosis a significant DMY reduction (P ≤ 0·001) was observed in lame ewes (about 32·5%), which was maximised 1 week later (35·8%, P ≤ 0·001) and continued for several weeks after recovery, resulting in 19·3% lower TMY for lame ewes for the first 210 d of the milking period (P < 0·01). Moreover, at flock level, TMY for non-lame and lame ewes, as calculated by the general linear model, was 318·9 and 268·0 kg, respectively. The results of this study demonstrate evidence of significant financial losses in dairy sheep due to lameness which, however, need to be accurately estimated in further, more detailed, analyses.

scholarly journals Wool characteristics of Batur sheep in Banjarnegara District, Central Java

2021 ◽  
Vol 306 ◽  
pp. 05019
Author(s):  
Bess Tiesnamurti ◽  
Gresy Eva Teresia ◽  
Zuratih
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Linear Model ◽  
General Linear Model ◽  
General Linear ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Central Java ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Independent Variable ◽  
Average Body ◽  
Average Body Weight

The study's objective was to investigate the different types of coat cover from Batur sheep of Banjarnegara district in Central Java using 113 sheep belongs to 13 people member of Mulya Jaya farmers group. Sheep were raised at the centre of horticulture at the Batur-Dieng plateau. The main vegetable type planted in the area were carrot, potato and cabbage. The variables observed in the study were wool cover (score 1-9), the length of wool (cm), breed, sex, age and sheep body weight (kg). The data were analyzed using a general linear model, with the dependent variable were body weight and wool length whereas the independent variable were sex, location of the study, farmers, breed, sex and age. The result showed that 77.9% of sheep has wool distribution (score =0), most of the sheep (98.2%) has white color and only very small percentage has black, brown color. The average body weight and wool length of Batur sheep was 41.4 kg (range 15-97 kg) and 6.97 cm (range 4-17 cm), respectively, and there was a significant (P<0.05) influence of farmers, breed, sex and age. The Batur sheep is a wool type sheep and still maintain the characteristic of merino sheep.

scholarly journals Milk production of dairy cows as affected by the length of the preceding dry period

2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 21-24
Author(s):  
BA Useni ◽  
CJC Muller ◽  
CW Cruywagen
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Generalized Linear Model ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
The Other ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
The Third ◽  
Milk Performance

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of the duration of the dry period (DP) on the milk yield and milk composition during the following lactation. Milk performance records of 561 Holstein cows, with a previous DP from the Elsenburg Research Farm obtained from the National Milk Recording Scheme, were used in the study. Four groups of dairy cows were identified, based on the duration of their dry period, i.e. cows with a DP of less than 60 days, DP of 61 to 90 days, DP of 91 to 120 days and DP of more than 121 days. The number of records for each group was 76, 162, 83 and 240 lactations, respectively. An ANOVA was conducted using the Generalized Linear Model of SAS to compare milk yield and milk composition according to the DP length. Almost 43% of cows had a DP longer than 121 days, while less than 14% of cows had a DP of less than 60 days. The milk yield was positively affected by DP length. Cows with a DP of less than 60 days produced less milk than cows with longer (more than 61 days) dry periods, e.g. 6462 ± 321 vs. 7393 ± 99 kg. Results were similar for cows in their second and fourth parity. In addition, the milk composition of cows was also affected by DP length, i.e. higher fat and protein levels in the milk from cows with a short DP. Cows in the third lactation with a DP above 121 days produced more milk than the other DP groups. However, the milk composition of cows in the third lactation was not affected by DP length. A DP of less than 60 days reduced milk yield, while an extended DP of more than 121 days would be costly for the dairy farmer even though milk yield was higher. A long dry period may also result due to an excess body condition and calving complications during the subsequent lactation.Keywords: Dry period, milk yield, milk composition, dairy cows

FEEDING VALUE OF WET CORN GLUTEN FEED FOR LACTATING DAIRY COWS

1985 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. K. MACLEOD ◽  
D. G. GRIEVE ◽  
D. J. BARNEY ◽  
W. RAFALOWSKI ◽  
T. E. DROPPO
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Sodium Bicarbonate ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Corn Gluten ◽  
Corn Gluten Feed ◽  
Wet Corn Gluten Feed ◽  
Gluten Feed

In two trials 57 and 44 Holstein cows were used to determine the effect of feeding wet corn gluten feed (CGF) on total dry matter (DM) intake and milk production. Treatments compared were: Trial I, control vs. wet CGF at either 18.6 or 37.1% of ration DM; Trial II, control vs. dried or wet CGF each at 26% of ration DM. Within each treatment in Trial II, cows were balanced to receive sodium bicarbonate in either the first or second half of the 10-wk experimental period. Total mixed rations were offered ad libitum. In Trial I the multiparous cows fed either level of CGF, consumed less DM and produced less actual and solids-corrected milk (SCM) than did those fed the control diet. Differences across treatments were greater in the first 4 wk. Primiparous cows showed no (P > 0.05) treatment effects. In Trial II parities were similar in response to treatment. Sodium bicarbonate did not (P > 0.05) affect performance. Milk yield was lower (P < 0.05) on wet CGF than on the control diet but fat- and solids-corrected milk yield, DM intake and body weight change were similar, and fat percent in milk greater for wet CGF. Feeding dried CGF resulted in greater (P < 0.05) DM intake, SCM, percent protein in milk and body weight changes than either control or wet CGF. Wet CGF was lower (P < 0.05) in insoluble N and higher in soluble NPN than dried CGF. We concluded that dried CGF is superior to wet CGF for lactating cows but that wet CGF should be considered for feeding when cost/benefit analysis suggests an economic advantage. Key words: Wet corn gluten feed, lactation, dairy cows, protein solubility

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