Supplementation of dairy cows with commercial concentrate or ground maize grain under cut-and-carry or grazing of cultivated pastures in small-scale systems in the highlands of central Mexico

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 368 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Velarde-Guillén ◽  
J. G. Estrada-Flores ◽  
A. A. Rayas-Amor ◽  
F. Vicente ◽  
A. Martínez-Fernández ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Protein Content ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Feeding Costs ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Maize Grain ◽  
Small Scale Dairy

Small-scale dairy systems (SSDS) in Mexico represent over 78% of dairy farms and 37% of milk production. In the central highlands, many SSDS base the feeding of herds on irrigated cultivated pastures (mostly cut-and-carry), straws, and large amounts of commercial concentrates that result in high feeding costs and low economic sustainability. Intensive grazing may result in lower feeding costs when compared with cut-and-carry strategies. The high protein content of pasture may meet requirements of dairy cows with moderate milk yield (16–20 kg milk/cow.day), so that lower protein supplements, like ground maize grain, may substitute for commercial concentrates. An on-farm experiment following a participatory rural research approach was undertaken with seven farmers evaluating commercial concentrate (CC) or ground maize grain (MG) as supplement; and two pasture managements, grazing (G) or cut-and-carry (C) of irrigated ryegrass/white clover pastures to assess productive performance and feeding costs. Six farmers participated with four milking cows each and one farmer with two groups of four milking cows in a 2 by 2 factorial experiment. Daily milk yield per cow before the experiment was used as covariate. The experiment lasted 12 weeks. There is a trend in G for higher protein content in milk (P < 0.10). CC showed higher body condition score than MG with a significant interaction for body condition score with the highest body condition score in CCC (P < 0.05). Feeding costs were 15% higher per kg of milk yield and 19% per kg of energy-corrected milk under cut-and-carry but no statistical differences were detected (P > 0.05) in comparison with the grazing strategy. Supplementing with home-grown ground maize grain resulted in 28.5% higher margins per kg of milk produced. Implementing grazing involves less work burden for small-scale dairy farmers, and combined with home-grown grains as supplement is a viable option that may reduce feeding costs in these systems.

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 Body Condition Score and Milk Production on Conception Rate of Cows under a Small-Scale Dairy System

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 800
Author(s):  
Luis Javier Montiel-Olguín ◽  
Felipe J. Ruiz-López ◽  
Miguel Mellado ◽  
Eliab Estrada-Cortés ◽  
Sergio Gómez-Rosales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Metabolic Stress ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Conception Rate ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Small Scale Dairy

Management and production characteristics impact conception rate to first service (CR1S) in small-scale dairy farms, but the impact of body condition score (BCS) and milk production levels on cows’ fertility is unknown. Our objective is to determine the effect of BCS and milk production on CR1S in small-scale dairy farms of western Mexico. Logistic regression models are used to determine the effect of BCS (at calving and first service), 60-d and 305-d milk production, protein and fat production, lactation number, and days at first service on CR1S. BCS at calving does not affect CR1S in cows with three or more lactations (39.5%; p > 0.1). However, first-lactation cows with BCS < 3.0 at calving and second lactation cows with BCS ≤ 2.5 at calving have higher CR1S (63.2 and 67.9%, respectively; p < 0.1). This result is perhaps due to reduced milk production, which leads to lower metabolic stress. BCS ≤ 2.5 at calving is associated (p < 0.05) with a reduced milk yield, explaining partially the observed higher CR1S in these groups. Cows with BCS ≤ 2.5 at first service in the higher quartile of 60-d milk production (≥ 28kg/day) show lower CR1S (23.9 and 51.1%, respectively; p < 0.01). In conclusion, BCS at calving and at first service, 60-d milk production, and lactation number are factors associated with CR1S.

Effect of Body Condition Score Variation on Milk Yield and Fertility in Post-partum Dairy Cows

2003 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 647-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Formigoni ◽  
P. Pezzi ◽  
A. Gramenzi ◽  
G. Martino ◽  
E. Neri
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Condition Score

scholarly journals Distribution of dominant follicles in postpartum dairy cows

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-191
Author(s):  
Benjamin Cengic ◽  
Nazif Varatanovic ◽  
Tarik Mutevelic ◽  
Amel Cutuk ◽  
Ermin Saljic
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Corpus Luteum ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Diagnostic Ultrasound ◽  
Ovarian Activity ◽  
Pathological Effect ◽  
Condition Score

Clinical and subclinical disorders and diseases cause reproductive failures and decline in milk production. Etiology of disorders is mainly because of pathological effect of microorganisms, lapses in nutrition and lodging, as well as in management. After partrition, body is under stress and milk yield is highest, which favors appearance of metabolic and infective diseases. Status of puerperium, number of lactation, body condition score and season of parturition, have highest effect to cyclic ovarian activity. Regular development of dominant follicles, ovulation, formation of corpus luteum and luteolysis is necessary for establishment of regular cyclic ovarian activity, which leads to better fertility. Experiment had included 50 cows during first 52 days of lactation. Cows were separated in two main groups, those with normal puerperium - NP (n=32) and abnormal puerperium - AP (n=18). Examinations have been performed during period of 6 to 52 days postpartum. Ovarian dominant follicles have been observed using diagnostic ultrasound linear scanner. The highest number of dominant follicles are present during first two examinations, then their number declines and later in last two examinations rise again. Decrease in number of dominant follicles in both groups is most expressed in period of 14-30 days. During first examination, left ovaries have more dominant follicles, compared with right ovaries, while during later examinations, it is changed in favor of right ovaries. Increased number of vital dominant follicles from period 38-45 days postpartum and absence of abnormal uterine content in lumen in same period postpartum is sign of upcoming fertile estrus.

scholarly journals Association of Body Condition Score and Score Change during the Late Dry Period on Temporal Patterns of Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Concentration and Milk Yield and Composition in Early Lactation of Dairy Cows

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1054
Author(s):  
Zelmar Rodriguez ◽  
Elise Shepley ◽  
Pedro P. C. Ferro ◽  
Nilon L. Moraes ◽  
Acir M. Antunes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Fat Reserves ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Beta Hydroxybutyrate

Monitoring the body condition score (BCS) of dairy cows is a management strategy that can assist dairy producers in decision-making. The BCS and its variations reflect the level of body fat reserves and fat mobilization throughout the different stages of lactation. Cows that mobilize excessive amounts of fat reserves in response to the increased energy requirements of the transition period are more likely to have higher beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentration in blood, leading to a higher incidence of hyperketonemia postpartum. In this study, our main objective was to evaluate how both BCS (at 21 d prior to the expected calving date, −21 BCS) and change in BCS during the late dry period (−21 d to calving, ∆BCS) are associated with temporal patterns of blood BHB concentrations during the first two weeks of lactation. Our secondary objective was to characterize the relationship between the change in BCS in the late dry period, and milk yield and milk composition in the first milk test postpartum. In this retrospective cohort study, we assessed BCS at 21 (±3) days before the expected calving date and within three days after calving. Blood BHB concentration was measured at days 3 (±1), 7 (±1), and 14 (±1) postpartum. Hyperketonemia (HYK) was defined as blood BHB ≥ 1.2 mmol/L. To evaluate how −21 BCS and ∆BCS during the late dry period were associated with BHB in early lactation, linear mixed-effects regression models with an unstructured covariate matrix were performed. The association between ∆BCS and incidence of postpartum HYK were determined using a multivariable log-binomial model. A linear regression model was used to evaluate the association between ∆BCS and milk yield and milk composition in the first monthly test-day. Covariates used for model adjustment include parity, season, and baseline BCS. We observed that cows with BCS ≥ 4.0 at 21 d before their expected calving date had the highest BHB concentration postpartum, but no evidence that BCS ≥ 4.0 at 21 d was associated with fluctuations of BHB over time. Cows that experienced a large BCS loss (larger than 0.5 units) during the late dry period had a 61% (95% CI: 1.04, 2.50) higher risk of developing HYK in early lactation and had higher BHB concentrations during early lactation compared with cows with no ∆BCS prepartum. These associations were observed independently of the BCS at −21 d prepartum (baseline). In addition, cows that lost more than 0.5 BCS unit in the late dry period produced 3.3 kg less milk (95% CI: −7.06, 0.45) at the first milk test compared to cows that had no ∆BCS during the late dry period. No evidence of an association between −21 BCS and ∆BCS in the late dry period and milk composition was observed in our study. These results suggest that dynamic measures of BCS during the late dry period, such as ∆BCS, are better at evaluating blood BHB patterns in early lactation than BCS measured at a single time point. Cows with larger BCS loss during the late dry period and with greater parity are more likely to have higher concentrations of blood BHB postpartum, with the highest concentrations reported at 7 d post-calving.

PSXIV-15 The effects of body condition score on the milk production and energy balance of transition dairy cows

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 472-472
Author(s):  
YangYi Hao
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Rumen Ph ◽  
Transition Dairy Cows ◽  
Condition Score

Abstract Our objective was to evaluate the effects of body condition score (BCS) on the milk production and energy balance of transition dairy cows. Seventy-five multiparous dairy cows were separated into four groups according to the BCS, HH (4.25 ± 0.23 and 3.35 ± 0.19 BCS, pre and postpartum, respectively, n = 17), HM (4.14 ± 0.15 and 2.92 ± 0.24, n = 19), MM (3.10 ± 0.21 and 2.78 ± 0.17, n = 23), ML (2.88 ± 0.23 and 2.46 ± 0.19, n = 16). The milk yield, rumen pH, etc., data were collected and analyzed using a one-way ANOVA model in SAS (SAS version 9.4, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). The ML group had a higher milk yield and total solid yield than the MM group (P &lt; 0.05), while the HH and HM groups had no difference with other groups. The HM and ML groups had a higher milk fat content than the MM group (P &lt; 0.05), while the HH group had no difference with other groups. Milk protein content in the HH group was higher than the ML group (P &lt; 0.05). The milk lactose, total solids, urea content in these groups had no difference. The ML group had a higher milk acetone content than the HH group (P &lt; 0.05). The BCS change in the HH and HM groups was higher than the MM and ML groups, and that in the ML group was higher than the MM group (P &lt; 0.05). The rumen pH had no difference within these groups. These findings collectively indicated the prepartum dairy cow with middle BCS would have a more efficient body fat utilization and a better milk production performance. Furthermore, reducing body fat loss is necessary to avoid the negative energy balance.

Barley or black oat silages in feeding strategies for small-scale dairy systems in the highlands of Mexico

2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-227
Author(s):  
Aída Gómez-Miranda ◽  
Julieta Gertrudis Estrada-Flores ◽  
Ernesto Morales-Almaraz ◽  
Felipe López-González ◽  
Gonzalo Flores-Calvete ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Fat ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Latin Square ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Feeding Strategies ◽  
Feeding Costs ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Dairy Systems ◽  
Small Scale Dairy

High costs from external inputs in small-scale dairy systems (SSDS) and possible effects of climate change, require forage alternatives as silage for the dry season, from small-grain cereals that have short cropping cycles, winter hardiness, and good nutritional quality. The objective was to assess the provision of 10 kg dry matter (DM) cow−1 d−1 of barley (BLY) or black oat (BKO) silages in three treatments: T1 = 100% BLY; T2 = 50% BLY + 50% BKO; T3 = 100% BKO for milking cows. All treatments also received 4.6 kg DM cow−1 d−1 of concentrates and access to pasture. Nine Holstein cows in groups of three were randomly assigned to a 3 × 3 Latin square design repeated three times, with 14 d experimental periods. Measurements of animal variables and sampling for chemical analyses of feeds were done during the last 4 d of each period. Feeding costs were by partial budgets. There were no differences (P > 0.05) for milk yield, milk fat and protein content, milk urea nitrogen, body condition score, or live weight. The cost of BLY silage was 8% less than BKO silage. T1 had the higher margin over cost of feeds followed by T2. Both silages alone or in combination are viable options for SSDS, as there were no differences in performance, or in feeding costs or margins.

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