scholarly journals Dry period length in Montbéliarde cows and its association with selected production and functional characteristics

2013 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 555-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Januś ◽  
D. Borkowska

Abstract. The study evaluated the effects of selected factors (dry period number, milk yield in standard lactation and length of full lactation) on the length of dry periods. The effect of dry period length on milk yield and composition, the frequency of milk samples with different somatic cell counts (SCC) and the course of lactation were also analysed. The study included 491 cycles (dry period and lactation) and 4 998 results of test-day milking conducted in a herd of 230 Montbéliarde cows. The cows were kept in a free-stall barn and fed total mixed rations (TMR). The average length of the dry period was found to be 85 days. The first dry period was 34-45 days longer than subsequent ones, which may have been due to the cows becoming acclimated after having been brought to the farm as in calf heifers. Increasing milk yield in standard lactation was accompanied by significantly shorter dry periods. The most beneficial dry periods in terms of milk yield were those lasting 22-41 days. The lowest yield was noted in lactations preceded by a dry period reduced to 0-21 days. However, this milk contained the most fat, protein and dry matter and the SCC did not exceed 400 000 cells/ml in 73.3 % of cases. The decrease in daily milk yield from its peak in the 2nd month to the 10th month after calving was smallest in cows with dry periods of 57-84 days, which may suggest that lactations in these cows were the most persistent.

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Sawa ◽  
Sylwia Krężel-Czopek ◽  
Mariusz Bogucki

Abstract Analysis was made of the effect of dry period length in primiparous and multiparous cows on daily milk yield during the first month of subsequent lactation and on milk somatic cell count (SCC) on the basis of the information about the test-day milkings of 59 138 cows. The GLM and FREQ procedures of the SAS package were used in the statistical calculations. Dry period length in the primiparous and multiparous cows had a significant effect (P≤0.01) on daily milk yield and udder health, determined based on SCC. In terms of milk yield, the most favourable dry period would be 51-70 days for both primiparous and multiparous cows. Depending on udder health, a dry period of 51-90 days can be suggested. Shorter dry periods had more undesirable effects than longer dry periods. Excessively shortened dry period (≤10 days) caused the daily milk yield to decrease by 17% in primiparous and by 13% in multiparous cows while increasing the risk of clinical changes of the cow’s udder, regardless of age. The proportion of milk samples that showed evidence of clinical mastitis also increased when the dry period was excessively long (>90 days), especially in multiparous cows.


2012 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 352-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Hernandez ◽  
Laura Elvira ◽  
Juan-Vicente Gonzalez-Martin ◽  
Susana Astiz

Intensive management is almost the only way to ensure dairy farm profitability. The dry period length (DPL) is a key factor in the productivity and health of dairy cows, but whether the same is true of dairy sheep is unclear. This study investigated the effects of DPL on the performance of Lacaune sheep under intensive management. We recorded 8136 lactations from 4220 ewes on one farm for the period 2005–2010, and data from a total of 6762 complete lactations 1–4 were included in the study. The length of the dry period following the current lactation was studied. The larger the total milk yield (MY) and daily milk yield (DMY), the shorter was the DPL before the next lactation. DPL correlated with MY (r=−0·384), DMY (r=−0·277) and the lambing-to-conception interval (LC; r=0·201, P<0·0001) in the global analysis of all lactations (lactations 1–4). The influence of previous-DPL (P-DPL), or the length of the period prior to the start of the next lactation, was studied for 4318 lactations. P-DPL was classified into five intervals: very short (P-DPL-XS), 1–30 d; short (P-DPL-S), 31–60 d; medium (P-DPL-M), 61–90 d; long (P-DPL-L), 91–120 d; and very long (P-DPL-XL), >120 d. P-DPL positively correlated with lambing-to-next conception interval (LNC; r=0·095, P<0·0001) for lactations 1–4. LNC was significantly shorter for P-DPLs that were very short, short, or long (P-PDL-XS, 144·2±67·8 d; P-PDL-S, 149·1±57·2 d; P-PDL-L, 152·0±53·7 d) than for groups with very long or medium P-PDLs (P-DPL-XL, 161·5±62·9 d; P-DPL-M, 169·0±74·8 d; P<0·0001). Moreover, P-DPLs that were very short, long, or very long were associated with the lowest milk yields (P-PDL-XS, 377±215 l; P-PDL-l, 370±168 l; P-PDL-XL, 396±196 l). These yields were significantly lower than the yields for short and medium P-DPLs (P-DPL-S, 432±187 l; P-DPL-M, 436±191 l; P<0·0001) when averages of lactations 1–4 were analysed. These results indicate that lactations with larger MY are followed by a shorter dry period, and that a dry period of 30–90 d leads to larger yields in the next lactation. The best LNC was associated with the shortest Previous-DPL. Hence, 30–60 d should be the optimal dry period length for Lacaune sheep under intensive conditions.


1969 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 443-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. MacPherson ◽  
F. W. H. Elsley ◽  
R. I. Smart

SUMMARY1. Forty-five Large White gilts were given 2·20 kg daily of a diet containing 14·0% crude protein during three successive pregnancies. During a 6-week lactation they received 5·30 kg daily of one of three diets containing 19·0% (HP), 16·5% (MP) or 14·0% (LP) crude protein.2. Daily milk yield was estimated on the 10th, 20th, 30th and 40th day of lactation. Milk samples were obtained from the same sows for the determination of protein, fat, lactose and total solids on the 11th, 21st, 31st and 41st day.3. One sow and litter from each treatment in each lactation was placed in metabolism cages during lactation and estimates of nitrogen and dry matter excretion obtained.4. As the concentration of protein in the diet decreased the average 42-day gain in litter weight from birth increased significantly in the first lactation. This trend continued in the second lactation although it was not significant but did not appear in the third.5. There was no marked difference in daily milk yield between treatment groups.6. There was a significantly greater loss of live weight by the sows on the lower levels of protein in the first lactation. These differences were not significant in the second and third lactations.


2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-26
Author(s):  
Stanisław Winnicki ◽  
Zbigniew Sobek ◽  
Ryszard Kujawiak ◽  
Jerzy Jugowar ◽  
Anna Nienartowicz-Zdrojewska ◽  
...  

Abstract. A study was conducted on the effect of separated manure as bedding material on milk quality as manifested in the somatic cell count. Cows were maintained in a loose barn in cubicles bedded with fresh separated cattle manure (SCM) with 40 % solids content. Analyses were conducted on 242 primiparous Polish Black and White Holstein-Friesian cows in the course of a 305-day lactation. Mean milk yield in that period amounted to over 9000 kg per cow. Somatic cell counts, daily milk yields and chemical composition of milk were analysed. Data were obtained from analyses of 2324 milk samples. It was found that 93.3 % of samples contained less than 400 000 somatic cells per 1 mL milk. Approximately 4.3 % of milk samples contained the number of somatic cells indicating subclinical mastitis (200 000 cells mL−1), while in 2.4 % it was clinical mastitis (> 800 000 cells mL−1). The incidence rate for both forms of mastitis was similar in the beginning and at the end of lactation. Mean daily milk yield of cows producing milk classified according to quality (SCC) grades 1 (< 25 000 cells mL−1) and 2 (< 25 000; 50 000 > cells mL−1) was statistically significantly greater than the yields of other cows. For analysed milk constituents a relationship was found between SCC classes and contents of milk fat and solids. Conducted analyses showed that SCM as bedding in cow cubicles had no effect on somatic cell counts in milk of primiparous cows. The study was conducted in a single holding, in one lactation, on cows calving in 2014.


1983 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 209-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. Miller ◽  
U. Emanuelsson ◽  
E. Persson ◽  
L. Brolund ◽  
J. Philipsson ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
O.V. Zelenina ◽  
◽  
E.V. Ermoshina ◽  
M.A. Gerasimova ◽  
◽  
...  

Evaluation of the nutritional value of feed mixtures for lactation periods of the Ayrshire first-calf breed showed that in the first period there is an excess of dry matter and easily digestible protein in the diet, and a lack of sugar in all periods. The consumption of energy and nutrients for the synthesis of 1 kg of milk was optimal. For 305 days of lactation, an average of 7653 kg of milk per cow was obtained after the first calving, and the maximum daily milk yield was recorded in the second month of lactation. The research of lactation curves showed that highly productive cows have a more pronounced peak of milk yield in the first lactation months; the level of milk productivity remains high up to 9-10 months of the lactation period.


2010 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-100
Author(s):  
J. Olechnowicz ◽  
Z. Sobek ◽  
J. M. Jaśkowski ◽  
P. Antosik ◽  
D. Bukowska

Abstract. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of somatic cell count (SCC) on milk yield and composition using a threshold value of 250 ∙103 cells/ml in dairy ewes of line 05. A total of 1 512 milk samples from udder halves were collected throughout milking periods at monthly intervals. In the present study milk composition (from halves of the udder) and daily milk yield (from udders) was examined in terms of SCC in ewe milk in three groups: from both halves of the udder below 250 ∙103 cells/ml, from one halves of the udder below 250 ∙103 cells/ml and from second half udder above 250 ∙103 cells/ml and from both halves of the udder above 250 ∙103 cells/ml. Milk yield from udders, somatic cell count in milk samples from udder halves and milk composition depended on the level of SCC recorded for halves of the udder. Somatic cell counts in milk from one or both halves of udders exceeding 250 ∙103 cells/ ml resulted in a statistically significant (P<0.01) decrease in daily milk production of ewes, by approx. 15.89 and 30.22 %, respectively. The analysis of variance showed also a significant effect of parity and stage of lactation of ewes on somatic cell count (log SCC) and milk composition from udder halves below 250 ∙103 cells/ml.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angeliki I. Katsafadou ◽  
Natalia G.C. Vasileiou ◽  
George T. Tsangaris ◽  
Katerina S. Ioannidi ◽  
Athanasios K. Anagnostopoulos ◽  
...  

: Aims: The importance of cathelicidin-1 as an indicator of the severity of mammary infection in ewes. Background: Mastitis is an important disease of sheep, affecting their health and welfare. Objective: The association of the presence of cathelicidin-1 in milk samples from ewes with mastitis with the severity of the infection. Methods: Ewes were intramammarily inoculated with Mannheimia haemolytica or Staphylococcus chromogenes. Conventional (clinical, bacteriological and cytological examinations; milk yield measurements) and proteomics evaluation (2-DE, MALDI-TOF MS) to record cathelicidin-1 spot optical densities in milk samples were recorded. Results: Ewes challenged with M. haemolytica developed clinical and ewes challenged with S. chromogenes subclinical mastitis (P=0.05). The challenge organism was isolated from milk samples from inoculated mammary glands; increased somatic cell counts were also recorded. Cathelicidin-1 was detected in milk samples from the inoculated side of udders of all ewes. Mean spot density of cathelicidin-1 from samples from inoculated glands of ewes challenged with M. haemolytica was higher than from ewes challenged with S. chromogenes: 2896 ± 973 versus 1312 ± 361 (P =0.034). There were significant correlations between the presence of clinical mastitis / somatic cell counts with the spot density of cathelicidin-1 on 2-DE gels (P=0.043 and P=0.023, respectively). There was also a significant inverse correlation between the mean spot densities of cathelicidin-1 in milk samples and the milk yield of respective ewes on D10 (P =0.031). Conclusion: Potentially, cathelicidin-1 could be used as a marker to indicate the severity of damage to the mammary parenchyma.


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