Controlled breeding of dairy cows with cloprostenol

The percentage of dairy cows that were mated and became pregnant during a 42 day breeding period was not significantly different when animals were routinely observed for estrus and mated when detected (71%, n = 56), inseminated at estrus following a single injection of cloprostenol (72%, n = 29), or inseminated at a fixed time after two cloprostenol treatments 11 days apart (69%, n = 28). However, 11 cows in the control group were not detected and mated during the breeding period and inclusion of these animals reduced the actual pregnancy rate to 60%. Results indicated that a controlled breeding program could have practical application in dairy herds but should be used with caution. Practitioners must evaluate management programs and decide, in consultation with the herdsman, if the introduction of controlled breeding technology might be advantageous.     

Herbage intake,milk production and sward utilization of dairy cows grazing grass/white clover swards at low,medium and high allowances

Abstract

Herbage intake (HI), milk production and sward utilization of Norwegian Red Cattle dairy cows in mid-lactation, rotationally grazing grass/white clover swards at low, medium and high allowances (HA), were examined in three experiments (I, II and III). The daily target allowances per cow were 18 and 36 kg DM in Experiment I and 12, 18, and 24 kg DM in Experiments II and III. The cows were grazing in groups of seven (Experiments II and III) to ten (I) individuals. The proportions of white clover in the swards averaged 12%, 40% and 46% in Experiments I, II and III, respectively. In addition to pasture, the cows were fed concentrate mixtures in varying amounts (0–6.8 kg) with the highest amounts offered to the highest yielding cows. HI was estimated using the n-alkane technique. No effect of HA on HI was obtained in Experiment I. In Experiment II, and for II and III combined, there was a significant positive effect of HA on HI. The average increase in HI was 0.24 kg DM per extra kg DM on offer. The utilization of the sward (measured at 3 cm above ground level) decreased from 72% at the lowest HA to 51% at the highest HA in Experiment II and III. HA did not affect milk yield or milk composition significantly (P>0.05).     

Milk production responses to pre- and postcalving dry matter intake in grazing dairy cows

Sixty-eight multiparous grazing dairy cows were randomly allocated to two precalving pasture allowances to achieve differential dry matter intakes (DMI) for 29 ± 7.7 d precalving (Low or High DMI; 4.8 or 11.9 kg DM). At calving, cows within each precalving treatment were randomly allocated to one of two levels of feeding (Low or High DMI; 8.6 or 13.5 kg DM) for 35 d postcalving in a completely randomized design and a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Following treatments all cows grazed together and were fed pasture and pasture silage. Daily milk yields were recorded, and fat, protein and lactose concentrations determined weekly for 15 weeks. Blood was sampled weekly pre- and postcalving and analysed for indicators of energy status, growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Body condition score (BCS) at calving was reduced by precalving restriction (P < 0.001; 2.8 and 3.0 for precalving Low and High treatment groups, respectively). Precalving restriction reduced milk fat production by 8.4% during the first 5 weeks postcalving, but differences were not significant subsequently. Postcalving feed restriction reduced yield of fat corrected milk (FCM), fat and protein by 23, 21 and 28%, respectively, during the first 5 weeks postcalving. Decreased (P < 0.05) yields of FCM, fat and protein (11, 10 and 9%, respectively) were also evident for 10 weeks after the feed restriction finished. There was a tendency (P < 0.1) for a precalving × postcalving DMI interaction in milk protein yield during the first 5 weeks of lactation with no effect of precalving level of feeding in cows that were restricted postcalving. The plasma concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BOH) and GH were elevated in restricted cows precalving, and IGF-1 concentration was reduced. Plasma NEFA and BOH concentrations were elevated postcalving in restricted cows, but no effect of postcalving DMI on GH or IGF-1 concentration was evident. Results suggest that under grazing systems milk production responses to precalving DMI are small, but energy restrictions in early lactations result in significant carryover effects in milk production.     

Effect of feeding non-fibrous carbohydrate before grazing on intake and nitrogen utilization in dairy cows throughout the grazing season

Ten lactating cows were used to determine the effect of feeding non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC) supplement before grazing on feed intake and nitrogen (N) utilization throughout a grazing season. The experiment was conducted from June to September. Cows grazed twice a day (2.5 h × 2) under a set stocking system and were fed NFC supplement (1 kg/4 kg of milk yield) 2 h before grazing (PRE) or immediately after grazing (POST). Cows were also fed a grass and corn silage mixture ad libitum. Herbage dry matter intake (DMI) was greater for PRE than for POST throughout the experiment and decreased from June to September. Conversely, silage DMI was less for PRE than for POST throughout the experiment and increased over the grazing season. Consequently, total DMI for PRE did not differ from that for POST. Milk urea-N concentration and urinary urea-N excretion in June did not differ between the treatments, whereas that after July was higher for PRE than for POST. Proportion of urinary N excretion to absorbed N intake in June was lower for PRE than for POST, but that after July was higher for PRE than for POST. Feeding NFC supplement before grazing would improve N utilization when cows eat large amounts of herbage high in N.     

Herbage intake and ruminal digestion of dairy cows grazed on perennial ryegrass pasture either in the morning or evening

This study aimed to clarify diurnal fluctuations of herbage intake, ruminal fermentation of herbage carbohydrates and proteins, and digesta particulate weight in the rumen of grazing dairy cows. Six ruminally cannulated, non‐lactating dairy cows were grazed on perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture either in the morning (04.00 to 08.00 hours) or the evening (16.00 to 20.00 hours). Cows grazed in the evening spent more time (P < 0.01) and consumed more herbage (P < 0.01) compared with cows grazed in the morning. Higher (P < 0.05) daily mean concentrations of total volatile fatty acid, propionate and n‐butyrate in rumen fluid were observed for cows grazed in the evening compared with cows grazed in the morning. Although cows grazed in the evening ingested more crude protein compared with cows grazed in the morning, no significant difference in NH₃‐N concentration in rumen fluid was observed between them. The ratio of purine‐derivative concentration to creatinine concentrations was higher (P < 0.01) in the urine of cows grazed in the evening than in cows grazed in the morning. These results clearly indicated that evening grazing was advantageous for dairy cows compared with morning grazing, in terms of ruminal fermentable energy intake and nitrogen utilization efficiency.     

Dry matter intake and milk production of grazing dairy cows supplemented with corn silage or a total mixed ration offered ad libitum in a subtropical area

This study aimed to evaluate the feeding choice, dry matter (DM) intake, and milk production of dairy cows that strip grazed on a mixed perennial species pasture receiving different supplementation strategies. The treatments were without supplementation (WS) or with supplementation of either corn silage (CS) or a total mixed ration (TMR) based on CS and concentrates, in a subtropical area. The supplements were provided ad libitum after the afternoon milking. Twelve Holstein × Jersey cows in mid-lactation (133 ± 43 days in milk) were divided into six groups (two cows/group) and distributed in accordance with a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design, with three 21 day periods (15 adaptation days and 6 evaluation days). The total DM intake, milk production, milk fat, and milk protein production were greater in the TMR treatment than in the WS and CS treatments and were similar between the WS and CS treatments. The herbage DM intake and proportion of time spent grazing were greater in the CS treatment than in the TMR treatment. CS supplementation did not affect the total DM intake or milk production/cow, whereas TMR supplementation greatly improved the total DM intake and milk production of the dairy cows grazing on mixed perennial species.     

浅谈冬季奶牛的饲养管理要点

近年来，有些专业户饲养的奶牛，一进入冬季后，其饲养的奶牛产奶量则出现产奶量下降的非正常现象，致使饲养奶牛的经济效益受到一定程度的影响。笔针对这一问题，并结合生产实践中的一些较好的做法与经验，现将冬季奶牛的饲养管理要点浅谈如下，供参考。     

奶牛夏季高温的营养调控

炎热的夏季已经到来，高温的天气给奶牛生产带来很大损失。为减轻夏季高温对奶牛造成的不利影响，减少奶牛热应激现象的发生，维持产奶量的相对平衡，应从奶牛场的建设、饲养管理、疾病防治及饲料营养上采取相应的措施加以预防，尤其是奶牛的营养调控方面，会对奶牛的产奶量产生较大影响，应当引起足够的重视。     

Early lactation dairy cows: Development of equations to predict intake and milk performance at grazing

The objectives of this study were to examine the effect of parity and days in milk (DIM) on dry matter intake (DMI) and actual milk yield (MY_Act) of grazing spring calving dairy cows in early lactation (< 100 DIM) and to develop equations to predict DMI and milk yield for grass based systems of milk production. A dataset containing 335 observations from 134 Holstein Friesian dairy cows was assembled from two early lactation grazing studies. Observations were available for primiparous (n = 130) and multiparous (n = 205) cows during periods of DMI measurement using the n-alkane technique. Animal performance was divided into two classes of DIM: less than 50 DIM (< 50 DIM) or between 51 and 100 DIM (> 50 DIM). Parity and DIM had a significant effect on grass DMI (GDMI), total DMI (TDMI), MY_Act and milk composition. TDMI increased with parity and DIM and ranged from 13.4 kg/cow per day (primiparous animals, < 50 DIM) to 20.1 kg/cow per day (multiparous animals, > 50 DIM). Actual MY increased with parity and decreased with DIM (range: 24.1 kg/cow per day (primiparous animals, > 50 DIM) to 33.0 kg/cow per day (multiparous animals, < 50 DIM)). Multiparous cows had greater bodyweight (BW) and lower BCS than primiparous cows. In the early lactation period a number of variables had a significant effect on GDMI, TDMI and milk yield. These predictor variables included BW, BCS, potential milk yield (MY_Pot), DIM, daily herbage allowance (DHA; > 4 cm), concentrate level and parity. The equations accounted for 79%, 83% and 86% of the variation in GDMI, TDMI and milk yield, respectively. Actual milk yield was always below the MY_Pot of the cows, the mean difference was 5.8 kg/cow per day. As DHA and concentrate level increased, the difference between MY_Act and MY_Pot reduced. This study supports the concept that immediately post-calving offering a grass based diet with a medium level of concentrate supplementation is sufficient to support high milk production in grazing dairy cows.     

Selenium requirements in grazing dairy cows: a review

ABSTRACT

In New Zealand, the recommended intake of Se for dairy cattle (0.03?mg/kg dry matter (DM)) is lower than in the United Kingdom and Australia (0.1 and 0.04?mg/kg DM, respectively), and much lower than in the United States of America (0.3?mg/kg DM). Advisors in New Zealand often suggest that New Zealand intake recommendations are far too low and that recommendations from the United States of America should be used. This has created confusion as farmers are given very different advice depending on which recommendations their advisor uses. In this review, we assess whether the published evidence supports the existing dietary requirements and associated Se status thresholds, or if change is required. We focus particularly on the evidence-base in cattle fed a primarily pasture-based diet, as it is critical that dietary recommendations are derived from data created using cows fed similar diets. Accordingly, we also consider whether the increased use of fodder crops, especially during the dry period, is likely to have altered the Se requirements of dairy cows in New Zealand. We report that the science behind the dietary requirements for Se is robust, being supported by factorial models validated using New Zealand data, and on-farm experimental studies. Published nutritional data suggest that the increased use of fodder crops is unlikely to have altered the dietary balance of pro- and antioxidant factors in New Zealand dairy cows in a way that would meaningfully affect Se requirements. However, the lack of specific data on the vitamin E and fatty acid content of the crops being fed in New Zealand means that more information is needed to confirm this conclusion. In general, the existing New Zealand recommendations for Se-status thresholds are supported, although studies are still lacking to properly characterise the upper threshold of the marginal range. Nevertheless many studies in New Zealand, of herds with marginal or low adequate Se status (using New Zealand recommendations), have failed to show an effect of Se supplementation on milk production, intramammary infection or reproductive performance, so it is highly unlikely that the upper threshold of the range is much higher than the current recommendation. Proponents of the hypothesis that Se intakes in New Zealand dairy cattle should be increased by at least 10 times the current recommendations are therefore not using the evidence base correctly.     

Effects of supplementary corn silage on the feed intake and milk production of time-restricted grazing dairy cows

The effects of supplementary corn silage (CS) of either 2 or 4 kg of dry matter (DM; S + 2 and S + 4, respectively) above the energy requirement for milk production and maintenance for grazing dairy cows (S) were determined. Time‐restricted grazing was used to compare the feed intake, milk production, and nitrogen and energy use of lactating cows. The experiment was carried out on two different pastures using a 3 × 3 Latin square design for each pasture. Cows were grazed for 5 h on a rotational grazing system and were fed concentrate (1 kg per 5 kg of milk yield). Herbage intake was measured using a weighing technique. To calculate the energy and nitrogen use, whole feces and urine were collected. There was no statistical effect of the pastures. Herbage intake decreased by the addition of CS (P = 0.02). The reduction of herbage DM intake per unit consumption of supplementary CS towards the S group were 0.80 and 0.45 kg for the S + 2 and S + 4 groups, respectively. The total DM intake for the S + 4 group was higher than that for the S and S + 2 groups (P = 0.02). Milk yield did not differ among treatments, even though the total DM intake for the S + 4 group was higher than that of the S and S + 2 groups. Nitrogen and energy use did not differ with the addition of CS.     

Feed intake, lactation performance, blood metabolites and fertility in early lactation dairy cows grazing a timothy pasture

The present study was conducted to investigate feed intake, milk yield, milk composition, blood metabolites and fertility in early lactation dairy cows grazing a timothy pasture. Fourteen multiparous Holstein cows that calved between 20 May and 19 July were used over a 3‐year period. The stocking rate was 3.6–4.3 cow/ha. Concentrates were fed separately at 9.5–11.5 kg/day per cow (dry matter basis) from 1 to 13 weeks postparturition. Herbage intake was estimated using chromium oxide as an indigestible marker. The mean contents of crude protein, total digestible nutrients and neutral detergent fiber of pasture during the 3‐year study period were 22.3%, 71.8% and 51.7%, and those of total diet were 18.9%, 77.3% and 40.3%, respectively. The mean herbage dry matter intake was 13.0 kg/day from 2 to 13 weeks postparturition during the study, total dry matter intake was 23.7 kg/day, the total digestible nutrients sufficiency rate was 105%, milk yield was 39.7 kg/day, and milk fat percentage was 3.30%. The decrease in bodyweight postparturition was slight. Urea nitrogen concentrations in serum were below 18.3 mg/dL. The mean days to first estrus and days open were 36 and 104 days, respectively. These results indicate that energy deficiency, decrease in bodyweight and fertility in early lactation barely occur when high producing dairy cows are fed enough grazing grass and suitable concentrates.     

Assessment of magnesium intake according to requirement in dairy cows

To date, no specific hormonal regulation system has been identified for homoeostatic control of the essential mineral Mg. In cattle, the maintenance of physiological plasma Mg concentration depends on gastrointestinal absorption, primarily from the rumen, which serves as a pool for covering the requirement. Whereas a possible surplus (absorption greater than requirement) is rapidly excreted by the kidneys, a shortage (absorption lower than requirement) cannot be compensated for by mobilization from the large Mg pool in bones or soft tissue, so that the maintenance of the necessary physiological Mg concentration in plasma relies on continuous and sufficient absorption. Our knowledge concerning the site and mechanisms of Mg absorption has improved during the last few decades, and meta‐analyses of the absorption of Mg in dairy cows have shown that the K content has a pronounced negative effect on Mg digestibility. The current recommendations of Mg intake propose a constant percentage of Mg and emphasize the depressive effect of high potassium (K) intake on Mg absorption. The current knowledge about the antagonism between K intake and Mg absorption allows a more flexible solution which includes the K content of the diet. An assessment of Mg intake is proposed that incorporates the improved knowledge of Mg absorption, metabolism and requirement. Within this framework, an equation is derived that allows a prediction of the amount of Mg required to compensate for dietary K content, the goal being to avoid both possible undernutrition or an unnecessary surplus of dietary Mg.     

农村奶牛养殖存在的问题与对策

本文针对农村奶牛养殖生产中存在的问题,提出了自己的观点和看法,并对奶牛品种、饲料、管理等有关问题提出了一些卓有成效的建议和解决的办法,对于农村养殖奶牛具有一定的指导意义.     

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in grazing Irish dairy cows

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is a significant production disease of dairy cattle. Previous concerns have been raised over the occurrence of SARA in pasture-fed dairy cattle and the potential consequences of laminitis and lameness. Highly digestible perennial rye grass contains high concentrations of rapidly fermentable carbohydrate and low concentrations of physical effective fibre that may result in SARA. This study conducted a point prevalence survey of rumen health status in grazing Irish dairy cattle fed predominantly perennial rye grass-based pasture. The survey assessed rumen fluid, animal health status, milk production data and pasture composition. A total of 144 cows between 80 and 150 days in milk were sampled on 12 farms. Eleven percent of cows were classified as affected with SARA (pH < or = 5.5), 42% were marginal (pH 5.6-5.8) and 47% were normal (pH>5.8). The study showed that low rumen pH is prevalent in grazing Irish dairy cattle consuming perennial rye grass-based pasture and raises concerns regarding effective pasture utilisation and possible consequences for animal health.     

Oat silage for grazing dairy cows in small-scale dairy systems in the highlands of central Mexico

The objective was to evaluate the provision of oat silage (Avena sativa) to supplement grazing dairy cows on pastures of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), festulolium (Lolium multiflorum × Festuca pratense) and white clover (Trifolium repens) during the dry season when pasture growth is limited. The experimental design was a 3 × 3 Latin square replicated three times, with nine milking Holstein cows (mean live weight 496.2 ± 33.6 kg and daily milk yield 14.8 ± 2.8 kg cow^?1) under on-farm participatory rural research. Experimental periods were 14 d. Simulated grazing samples of pasture herbage were analysed for chemical composition, sward height recorded and net herbage accumulation determined from exclusion cages. Treatments were the inclusion of oat silage at T0 = 0 kg DM cow^?1 d^?1 of oat silage, T3 = 3 kg DM cow^?1 d^?1 of oat silage, and T6 = 6 kg DM cow^?1 d^?1 of oat silage, plus 5.0 kg fresh weight commercial concentrate and 9 h of continuous grazing. Animal variables were milk yield and composition, live weight and body condition score. Feeding costs were calculated. Mean milk yield was 18.9 ± 0.27 kg cow^?1 d^?1 with no differences in animal variables (p > 0.05), but feeding costs per kilogram milk increased 25% for T3 and 50% for T6. Oat silage supplementation is only viable under difficult grazing conditions.     

Herbage intake by cattle on tarchonanthus veld in the Northern Cape as affected by stocking rate and grazing system 1

Abstract

In a trial with young Bonsmara cattle, four different stocking rates (10, 7, 6 and 4 ha/large stock unit) were applied in both a rotational and continuous grazing system. Feed intake was estimated during spring, summer, autumn and winter for four consecutive years starting in 1977.

Irrespective of the grazing system, feed intake declined with an increase in stocking rate. On average the highest intake was recorded in January and reached the lowest levels in October and July.

Livemass gain was found to be closely related to feed intake.