A complementary forage system whole-farm study: forage utilisation and milk production

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 460 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. R. Fariña ◽  
S. C. Garcia ◽  
W. J. Fulkerson
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Dairy Farmers ◽  
Forage Crops ◽  
Increase Milk Production ◽  
Forage System

Australian dairy farmers are facing decreasing availability of land and water and declining terms of trade. In this context, systems that are able to increase milk production per ha from home-grown feed, beyond the potential of pasture only, are sought. The complementary forage system (CFS), combining an area with a rotational sequence of two or three forage crops per year with an area of pasture in 35 and 65% of the farm area, respectively, was developed for this purpose. A 2-year whole-farm study with 100 milking cows on 21.5 ha evaluated the feasibility of achieving 25 t DM/ha.year of home-grown feed and converting this into 35 000 L of milk/ha.year by the implementation of such CFS. Utilisation and nutritive value of all forages and milk yields of individual cows were measured daily, body condition and bodyweight weekly, and milk composition fortnightly. Over 26 t DM/ha.year was utilised over the whole CFS farm for the 2 years of the study. This utilised forage had a mean metabolisable energy value of 10.2 MJ/kg DM and crude protein content of 20.5% DM. From this, a total yield of 27 835 L of milk/ha.year from home-grown feed was obtained, which is higher than any other whole-farm study reported in the literature. Daily pasture intake was the variable with the highest impact on milk yield, and significant differences were found in body condition and milk yield of cows calving in either autumn or spring. This study warrants further investigation to determine the environmental and economic sustainability of the implementation of the CFS.

Milk yield and milk composition from grazing primiparous non-dairy crossbred ewes

2006 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 377 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Morgan ◽  
N. M. Fogarty ◽  
S. Nielsen ◽  
A. R. Gilmour
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Ewe Lambs ◽  
Daily Milk Yield ◽  
Sire Breed ◽  
Daily Milk

Milk production and milk composition were studied in 520 primiparous Merino crossbred ewes that were the progeny of 30 sires from several maternal crossing breeds including Border Leicester, Coopworth, Finnsheep and East Friesian. The ewes were born in 3 years (1997, 1998, and 1999), with 3 sires used in every year to provide genetic links. The crossbred ewe lambs were randomly assigned to autumn or spring joining groups and mated to Poll Dorset rams to lamb at 12 or 19 months of age. Ewes were milked on 3 days during their first lactation at approximately 3, 4, and 12 weeks after lambing. On each milking day, each ewe was initially injected with oxytocin, milked out by machine, and then hand-stripped. This procedure was repeated approximately 4 h later, with the milk weight and time recorded to extrapolate to daily milk yield, and composition of the milk was determined. Daily milk yield was analysed using REML mixed models procedures and 3 measures of milk production were predicted: peak milk yield at 21 days of lactation, total milk yield from 21 to 90 days of lactation, and length of lactation (days for daily yield to decline to 600 g/day). Milk composition traits (%fat, %protein, %lactose) and proportion of machine milk yield were analysed with similar models. Sire breed, number of lambs born and suckled, season, and ewe weight gain from mid-pregnancy until lamb weaning were all significant (P < 0.01) for daily yield, which declined from 2.1 kg/day at 21 days to 0.7 kg/day at 90 days of lactation. The Finnsheep-cross ewes had lower peak milk yield (1.84 ± 0.08 v. 2.09–2.19 ± 0.1 kg/day) and lower total yield of lactation (21–90 days) than all the other breed-cross ewes (78 ± 3 v. 92–107 ± 5 kg). The East Friesian-cross ewes had significantly longer lactations (128.8 ± 10.9 days) than the Border Leicester (98.1 ± 4.4 days) and Coopworth (93.7 ± 4.2 days), with the Finnsheep-cross ewes the shortest (80.1 ± 3.1 days). The East Friesian-cross ewes had the greatest and the Finnsheep-cross ewes the least total yield of lactation (107 ± 5 and 78 ± 3 kg, respectively). There were significant differences in peak milk yield for ewes bearing and suckling single lambs, twin-born and single-raised lambs, and twin-born and raised lambs (1.86 ± 0.04, 2.03 ± 0.09, and 2.37 ± 0.07 kg/day, respectively). There was a significant decline in daily milk yield with increasing ewe weight gain from mid-pregnancy to lamb weaning (–18.1 ± 4.2 g/kg). All the components of milk composition changed from the peak of milk production at 3 weeks to the end of lactation. The East Friesian-cross ewes had significantly lower milk %fat (by approx. 1 percentage point) at both 21 days and 90 days of lactation than ewes by all other sire breeds. The 30 sire progeny mean deviations for daily milk yield ranged from –292 to +276 g/day, with considerable ranges between sires within the sire breeds. The implications for lamb production and breeding programs are discussed.

Effect of Herbal Galactogogue (Sanjivani biokseera) on Milk Yield and Milk Constituents in Lactating Kankrej Cattle at Organised Farm

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (02) ◽  
pp. 39-41
Author(s):  
H H Panchasara ◽  
A B Chaudhari ◽  
D A Patel ◽  
Y M Gami ◽  
M P Patel
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Nutritional Requirements ◽  
Not Given ◽  
Distinct Effect ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Group I ◽  
Effect Of Feeding

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding herbal galactogogue preparation (Sanjivani biokseera) on the milk yield and milk constituents in lactating Kankrej cows. Thirty-two lactating Kankrej cows in their 1st to 6th lactation were taken for the experiment from 3 days after calving up to 52 days postpartum. All the animals were fed as per the standard seasonally available roughages and concentrates to meet their nutritional requirements. The cows were randomly divided into two uniform groups of 16 cows in each according to initial milk yield and milk composition. The animals in group-I were not given any supplement and served as control. The animals in group-II were given Sanjivani biokseera (Naturewell Industries) @ 60 g per day for 1-month, commencing 3 days after calving, in addition to the usual feeds/fodders. A clear difference was observed in milk yield from day 8 onward of experiment between groups with significant (plessthan0 0.05) higher values from day 16-52 in cows fed herbal galactogogue as compared to control, but no such distinct effect on milk constituents was observed on day 52 when analyzed. The use of herbal galactogogue significantly (p lessthan 0.05) increased the overall average of 52 days milk production, which was 9.34 ± 0.21 lit/day in supplemented as compared to 7.75 ± 0.26 lit/day in control animals. It was concluded that herbal galactogogue (Sanjivani biokseera) could increase milk yield in lactating dairy cows through its galactopoetic property and improved rumen environment.

The effects of days-open on milk yield and on breeding policy post partum

1979 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Bar-Anan ◽  
M. Soller
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Annual Production ◽  
Initial Yield ◽  
Days Open

ABSTRACTThe effects of days-open on milk yields in current lactations and in following lactations were estimated from 71 911 current and 68 693 following lactation records. Yields were expressed as 305-day, total and annual records, where annual record = 365 × (total yield/days between calvings).The data were grouped according to current days-open, corrected for initial yield differences and analysed separately for heifers and cows in Moshav (moderate-yielding) and Kibbutz (high-yielding) herds. Current 305-day records increased by 15 to 18 kg milk/day-open up to 90 days-open, and 2 to 3 kg/day-open thereafter. In contrast, the effects of increasing days-open on annual yields were generally small and negative, being positive only for heifers up to 90 days-open. Thus 305-day records heavily under-rated annual yields of fertile cows. For current lactations, 70 to 100 days-open for heifers and 30 to 50 days-open for cows resulted in the highest annual production. Yields in following lactations were positively associated with days-open in the previous lactation. The effect was highest in high-yielding herds, suggesting that high-yielding cows respond positively to some rest between calvings.Combining the effects of days-open on current and following lactation yields and on the calf crop: in high-yielding herds heifers had the highest productivity when mated not earlier than 70 days post partum, while in moderately-yielding herds days-open did not affect productivity. Cows in high-yielding herds achieved highest productivity at 41 to 90 days-open, while cows in moderately-yielding herds were most productive when mated as early as possible.A comparison of the economic value of sire fertility and sire transmitting ability for milk production showed that fertility may often be over-rated.

scholarly journals Pasture species and drought impacts on milk yield 2. Predicted farm milk yield at four sites

1998 ◽  
pp. 45-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.J. Barker ◽  
D.A. Clark ◽  
E.R. Thom ◽  
J.N. Couchman ◽  
R.N. Burton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Deficit ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
System Modelling ◽  
Milk Supply ◽  
Increase Milk Production ◽  
Growth Differences ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Farm System

A desirable option for increasing milk yield per farm is to increase milk production in summer without compromising peak-season production or the duration of lactation. The dairy industry has a goal to achieve a 4% per month post-peak decline of milk production. The effect of five pasture types and two summer water regimes on predicted farm milk yield, in Northland, Waikato, Manawatu and Canterbury was measured over 1 year. Two pasture treatments, resident pasture and Grasslands Nui ryegrass, were common to all sites. A third pasture treatment varied between sites: triple mix (Grasslands Advance tall fescue, Grasslands Kara cocksfoot, and Grasslands Maru phalaris) at the Manawatu site; the same triple mix but with Grasslands Raki paspalum at the Northland site; and low-endophyte ryegrass and Grasslands Kahu timothy (LER) at the Canterbury site; all sown treatments included red and white clover. All five pasture types were included at the Waikato site. On average for all pasture types, water deficit reduced summer herbage accumulation (HA) to 79, 68, 43 and 18% of irrigated controls, and annual HA to 88, 80, 73 and 63% of irrigated controls in Northland, Waikato, Manawatu and Canterbury, respectively. Since farm milk yield predicted by UDDER was highly correlated with annual HA (R2 = 83%), the effects of pasture type and water deficit on milk yield were similar to effects on HA. Seasonal and annual HA differed among the five pasture types at each of the four sites. The most important factor affecting predicted farm milk yield was annual HA, with relatively little effect from the seasonal pattern of pasture growth. Differences in shapes of the predicted milk supply curves for various treatments occurred, particularly when drought forced early drying-off. The best predicted summer milk yield was for the Canterbury irrigated LER pasture treatment, a 6.8% per month postpeak decline of milk production. Keywords: farm milk yield, farm system modelling, forage supply, pasture species, water deficit

The effects of feeding high fiber canola meal on total tract digestibility and milk production

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. Mustafa ◽  
D. A. Christensen ◽  
J. J. McKinnon
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Latin Square ◽  
Total Solid ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Canola Meal ◽  
Protein Supplement ◽  
High Fiber

Two studies were undertaken to evaluate the nutritive value of high fiber canola meal (HFCM) relative to regular canola meal for ruminants. In the first study, 21 growing lambs were utilized in a randomized complete block design to determine the total tract digestion coefficients of dry matter (DMD), crude protein (CPD), gross energy (GED), neutral (NDFD) and acid (ADFD) detergent fiber and the digestible energy (DE) contents of seven dehydrated alfalfa-based diets containing 0, 250, 500 and 750 g kg−1 HFCM or canola meal. In the second study, the effect of feeding HFCM as a protein supplement to dairy cows relative to canola meal and soybean meal (SBM) was examined in a triple 3 × 3 Latin square design. Results of the first study showed that HFCM had lower (P < 0.05) DMD, CPD, GED and DE contents than canola meal. The estimated DMD, CPD and GED and DE contents for HFCM were 674 and 795 g kg−1, 695 kJ MJ−1 and 13.68 MJ kg−1, respectively. The corresponding values for canola meal were 707 and 841 g kg−1, 727 kJ MJ−1 and 14.10 MJ kg−1, respectively. Results of the second study showed that protein supplement source had no effect on DM intake, milk yield, milk fat g kg−1, lactose g kg−1 and total solid g kg−1. However, cows fed HFCM- and canola meal-based diets produced milk with lower (P < 0.05) protein content than those fed the SBM-based diet. It was concluded that HFCM had lower total tract nutrient digestion coefficients and DE content compared with canola meal. Incorporation of HFCM in dairy rations up to 100 g kg−1 of the ration had no adverse effect on milk yield or milk composition compared with canola meal. Key words: High fiber, canola meal, total tract digestibility, lactation

The use of short-term secretion rate measurements for estimating the milk production of suckler cows

1978 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. L. P. Le Du ◽  
R. D. Baker ◽  
J. M. Barker
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Secretion Rate ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Beef Cow ◽  
Total Milk ◽  
Fat Yield ◽  
Good Agreement

SummaryTwo experiments with dairy cows and one with suckler cows and their calves were conducted to examine the use of secretion rate measurements for estimating total milk production. In the first experiment both 4- and 6- h intervals between measurements gave similar estimates of total 7-d milk yield. The second experiment compared estimated and measured milk composition as well as yield. Milk and solids-not-fat yields were underestimated with dairy cows as a result of an extended milking interval before measurement. However, fat yield was overestimated, indicating that all residual milk was not removed at the first oxytocinaided milking. It was concluded that for the beef cow, previous interval effects would be eliminated by the frequency of calf suckling, but that residual milk effects might cause a 3–6% and a 16% overestimation of milk and fat yields respectively.In the third experiment, the milk yield of suckler cows was estimated from measurements of secretion rate and from changes in calf weight; good agreement was obtained provided there were at least 3 consecutive controlled sucklings.

scholarly journals PSXI-32 Potential improvements in milk production of mid lactating Holstein cows through changes in the defoliation intensity on a mixed pasture

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 384-385
Author(s):  
Oliver Fast Hinz ◽  
Pablo Chilibroste ◽  
Gabriel Menegazzi ◽  
Matías Oborsky ◽  
Pablo Soca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Condition Score

Abstract An experiment was performed to study the effect of two contrasting defoliation intensities of a fescue based pasture on milk production of 24 mid lactating multiparous cows. The animals were blocked according to parity, body weight (587 ± 42 kg), body condition score (2.77 ± 0.16) and calving date, and were randomly allocated to one of these two treatments: lax treatment (TL) 12 cm and control treatment (TC) 6 cm, with four replications. It was used a second-year pasture of Festuca arundinacea and Lotus corniculatus (2530 ± 180 kgDM/ha), divided into eight plots of 0.3 ha. Each plot was grazed by three cows during as many days as necessary until the defoliation height of each treatment was achieved. This would be determined by daily measures of the pasture height. Animals had one grazing session from 8:00 to 16:00 h. Both treatments received 7.5 kgDM of supplementation (17% Crude Protein; 2.81 Mcal/kgDM) in individual troughs. The cows were milked twice a day (05:00 and 17:00 h). Milk production was registered daily while milk composition was measured at the beginning and at the end of the experiment (samples from two consecutive milking). For milk yield results, a mixed model was used (Glimmix procedure, SAS 9.2, 2010) to analyse with treatment, day and their interaction as fixed effects and block as a random effect. While milk composition was analysed with only treatment as fixed effect. Milk yield was greater for TL than TC, while there was no difference in milk composition between treatments (Table 1). There is a significant effect of the day and an interaction between treatment and day (Figure 1), as difference was greater for TL to the end of the grazing period. This leads to the conclusion that it is possible to improve the milk production through less defoliation intensity.

The effect of long-term administration of bovine somatotrophin on the performance of dairy heifers during their first lactation

1988 ◽  
Vol 1988 ◽  
pp. 2-2 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.F. Butterwick ◽  
P. Rowlinson ◽  
T.E.C. Weekes ◽  
D.S. Parker ◽  
D.G. Armstrong
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Reproductive Status ◽  
Bovine Somatotropin ◽  
Buffer Solution ◽  
Dairy Heifers ◽  
Term Administration

The objectives of the trial were to Investigate the effects of long-term administration of bovine somatotropin (BST) from week 2 and 10 post-partumn on the yields of milk, milk components, body weight, body condition, health and reproductive status during the first lactation of dairy heifers.19 Friesian dairy cows in their first lactation were allocated at calving to one of 3 treatments: Daily subcutaneous Injection of recomblnantly derived bovine somatotropin (25 mg/d) from either week 2 (BST2;n=6) or week 10 (BST10;n=6) of lactation, or injection of buffer solution from week 2 of lactation (C;n=7). Treatments continued until week 42 of lactation, or until 60 days prior to predicted calving date, if this occurred before week 42 of lactation. Initially cows were housed in cubicles and fed ad libitum individually through calan doors, on a diet of concentrate and grass silage (Table 1) on a 60:40 dry matter ratio. In approximately mid-lactation cows were turned out to grass but continued to receive concentrates according to milk yield and body condition. Milk yield was recorded daily and milk composition twice weekly as were live weight and body condition. Health and reproductive status were monitored over the lactation.

The effects of feeding different starch sources and concentrations on milk production of high yielding Holstein cows

2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 ◽  
pp. 192-192
Author(s):  
R.E. Lawson ◽  
A.R. Moss ◽  
C. Rymer ◽  
J.S. Blake
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Protein Concentration ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Starch Concentration ◽  
Maize Grain ◽  
Ground Wheat

Mansbridge (1995) reported that replacing ground wheat with a mix of ground wheat and maize grain increased milk protein concentration, which led the authors to speculate that increased inclusion of maize grain increased rumen by-pass starch. Indeed, de Visseret al(1990) reported that feeding less rapidly degradable starches has led to increased milk protein concentration.The objective of this study was to examine the effects of starch concentration and source on feed intake, milk yield and milk composition of dairy cows.

How can grass-based dairy farmers reduce the carbon footprint of milk?

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 495 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. O'Brien ◽  
A. Geoghegan ◽  
K. McNamara ◽  
L. Shalloo
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Quota System ◽  
Dairy Farmers ◽  
Increase Milk Production ◽  
Fertiliser Use ◽  
Milk Solids

The Irish dairy industry aims to increase milk production from grass-based farms following the removal of the EU milk-quota system, but is also required to minimise greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to meet European reduction targets. Consequently, the sector is under increasing pressure to reduce GHG emissions per unit of milk, or carbon footprint (CF). Therefore, the goal of the present study was to determine the main sources of the CF of grass-based milk production and to identify mitigation strategies that can be applied to reduce farm footprints. In total, the CF of milk was estimated for 62 grass-based dairy farms in 2014. The method used to quantify GHG emissions was a life cycle assessment (LCA), independently certified to comply with the British standard for LCA (PAS 2050). The LCA method was applied to calculate annual on- and off-farm GHG emissions associated with dairy production until milk was sold from the farm in CO2-equivalent (CO2-eq). Annual GHG emissions computed using LCA were allocated to milk on the basis of the economic value of dairy products and expressed per kilogram of fat- and protein-corrected milk to estimate CF. Enteric methane was the main source of the CF of milk (46%), followed by emissions from inorganic N fertilisers (16%), manure (16%) and concentrate feedstuffs (8%). The mean CF of milk from the 62 farms was 1.26 kg of CO2-eq per kilogram of fat- and protein-corrected milk, but varied from 0.98 kg to 1.67 kg as measured using the 95% confidence interval. The CF of milk was correlated with numerous farm attributes, particularly N-fertiliser, the percentage of grazed grass in the diet, and production of milk solids. Grass-based dairy farmers can significantly improve these farm attributes by increasing herd genetic merit, extending the length of the grazing season and optimising N fertiliser use and, thereby, reduce the CF of milk.

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