A review of the energy and protein nutrition of dairy cows through their dry period and its impact on early lactation performance

2002 ◽  
Vol 53 (7) ◽  
pp. 737 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. Stockdale ◽  
J. R. Roche

This review considers the current literature on the energy and protein nutrition of dry cows and its subsequent impact on early lactation performance. Energy intake close to calving appears to be critical to events that occur post-partum, such that a key objective of dry cow feeding should be to maximise or maintain feed intake immediately prior to calving, or at least to minimise the decline in intake. Although a decline in dry matter intake seems to be a normal adaptive event in peri-parturient ruminants, it is the magnitude and duration of the decline that are of concern. Most research has been undertaken using total mixed rations or conserved forage and concentrates, where a wide range of quantities and types of feeds have been used. However, no clear conclusions can be drawn regarding optimum levels of feeding, types of forage, or proportions of concentrates that should be fed to cows in the late dry period to minimise the intake decline. The importance of maintaining energy intake is associated with the reduction of the incidence and severity of metabolic diseases post-partum, by reducing triglyceride mobilisation from adipose tissue, and preventing excessive depletion of hepatic glycogen levels.

1979 ◽  
Vol 19 (99) ◽  
pp. 395 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Grainger ◽  
G Wilhelms

Eighty cows of mixed breeds were fed so that they calved in moderate condition, and were then strip-grazed at different rates over the first ten weeks of lactation. Two levels of feeding were used factorially ; either ad libitum pasture intake (H) or an allowance of pasture which resulted in an intake of 7 kg of pasture dry matter cow-1 day-1 (L), for the first or second five-week period. After ten weeks, all cows were grazed as one group as well as seasonal conditions permitted. The effects of five-week periods of underfeeding on milk, milk fat and protein yield were equal and additive over the first ten weeks of lactation, HL and LH groups producing 11 kg and LL group 22 kg less milk fat than the HH group. Residual effects, however, from week 11 to the end of lactation differed markedly between treatments, the LH group producing the same as, but HL and LL groups producing 9 and 21 kg less than, the HH group. Residual effects of only 0.7 and 1.0 times the immediate effect were recorded for underfeeding in the first five and ten weeks of lactation, respectively. Cows underfed in early lactation gained more liveweight in later lactation at the expense of milk yield. An extra 10 kg pasture dry matter was required in early lactation to give an extra kilogram of milk fat over the lactation. The calving to conception interval in the LL group was 18 days longer than in the HH group (P < 0.05). The delay was associated with both a longer post-partum anoestrus and a higher number of services per conception. There was no effect of stage of underfeeding (HL vs LH) on reproductive performance. The poor understanding of factors affecting residual effects from underfeeding in early lactation is highlighted. As pattern of underfeeding has little effect on lactation performance, this gives the farmer considerable flexibility in allocating feed supplies in early lactation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2.29) ◽  
pp. 457
Author(s):  
Mohammad Firdaus Hudaya ◽  
Diah Tri Widayati ◽  
Budi Prasetyo Widyobroto ◽  
Cuk Tri Noviandi

The objective of this study was to determine the content of the feed given and reproductive status of each animal and its effect on reproduction performance in early lactation dairy cows. Seven early lactation of Friesian Holstein cows were used from local farmer. The observed variable were feedstuff from local farmer and reproductive status (post partum estrous and service per conception). The results of proximat and van soest analysis from feedstuff consist of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and concentrate feed from feed mill. The elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) was contained of dry matter (DM) 86.27%, Ash 18.63%, extract eter (EE) 3.84%, crude fiber (CF) 30.62%, crude protein (CP) 13.05%, neutral detergent fibre (NDF) 73.73% and acid detergent fiber (ADF) 45.31%. Concentrates feed was contained of dry matter (DM) 89.24%, Ash 15.36%, extract eter (EE) 5.37%, crude fiber (CF) 17.11%, crude protein (CP) 12.76%, neutral detergent fibre (NDF) 58.23% and acid detergent fiber (ADF) 19.20%. The results of reproductive parameters for post partum estrous (PPE) 121.43±16.672 days and service per conception (S/C) was 2.14±0.690. In conclusion the feedstuff were given less meet the requirement, and affecting the performance of reproduction.  


1994 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. D. Sinclair ◽  
P. J. Broadbent ◽  
J. S. M. Hutchinson

AbstractChanges in live weight, body condition, milk production and composition were monitored for single- and twinsuckling cows in two experiments. In experiment 1, all cows were managed for 3 months before calving to achieve condition scores at calving 2·1 (low) and 3·1 (moderate). Subsequently, these animals were placed on a fixed level of energy intake (80 MJ metabolizable energy (ME) per day) for 16 weeks. Post-partum diets contained differing amounts of digestible undegradable protein (DUP), but similar amounts of effective rumen degradable protein (ERDP). In experiment 2, single- and twin-suckling cows were fed to achieve a condition score at calving of around 2·75. These animals were subsequently placed on two levels of energy intake (80 MJ and 130 MJ ME per day) during the first 16 weeks of lactation. The diets providing these energy intakes also contained differing amounts of DUP. Neither the level of DUP in the diet nor the level of feeding significantly altered the digestibility of the dry matter or organic matter in the dry matter of the experimental diets.Body condition at calving had little effect on daily milk yield (9·5 kg) and composition (33·5 g/kg fat; 30-0 g/kg protein) in experiment 1. Cows with higher body condition scores at calving lost 13·5 kg more live weight and 0·26 units more body condition (P < 0·05) during the 1st month post partum but remained in better condition throughout the trial period than cows with lower body condition scores. Cows on 130 MJ ME per day produced higher (P < 0·001) daily yields of milk, milk fat and protein (+2·0 kg; +151 g; +85 g) and lost 57 kg less live weight and 0·52 units less body condition (P < 0·001) than cows on 80 MJ ME per day. Elevated dietary levels of DUP promoted (P < 0·05) daily milk yields (by 1·25 kg) and reduced live-weight and body condition-score loss during the 1st month post partum in both experiments. Twin-suckling cows produced the highest average daily yields of milk throughout the 16-week trial period in both experiments but yields were not significantly higher after early lactation in experiment 1. Cow body condition score at calving and the level of DUP in the post-partum diet of cows had no effect on the post-partum performance of calves. Twin calves had slower growth rates (P < 0·001) than single calves (0·65 and 1·07 kg/day respectively) in experiment 1. However, twin calves sucking cows on 130 MJ ME per day in experiment 2 grew similarly to single sucking calves from week 8 of lactation (0·8 kg/day).


2017 ◽  
Vol 234 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joachim M Weitzel ◽  
Torsten Viergutz ◽  
Dirk Albrecht ◽  
Rupert Bruckmaier ◽  
Marion Schmicke ◽  
...  

During the transition between late gestation and early lactation, dairy cows experience severe metabolic stress due to the high energy and nutrient requirements of the fetus and the mammary gland. Additional thermal stress that occurs with rising temperatures during the ongoing climate change has further adverse implications on energy intake, metabolism and welfare. The thyroid hormone (TH)-mediated cellular signaling has a pivotal role in regulation of body temperature, energy intake and metabolic adaptation to heat. To distinguish between energy intake and heat stress-related effects, Holstein cows were first kept at thermoneutrality at 15°C followed by exposure to heat stress (HS) at 28°C or pair-feeding (PF) at 15°C for 6 days, in late pregnancy and again in early lactation. Herein, we focused on hepatic metabolic changes associated with alterations in the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid axis in HS and PF animals. T3 and T4 levels dropped with HS or PF; however, in HS animals, this decline was more pronounced. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels remain unaffected, while plasma cholesterol concentrations were lower in HS than PF animals. Hepatic marker genes for TH action (THRA, DIO1 and PPARGC1) decreased after HS and were lower compared to PF cows but only post-partum. Proteomics data revealed reduced hepatic amino acid catabolism ante-partum and a shift toward activated beta-oxidation and gluconeogenesis but declined oxidative stress defense post-partum. Thus, liver metabolism of HS and PF cows adapts differently to diminished energy intake both ante-partum and post-partum, and a different TH sensitivity is involved in the regulation of catabolic processes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 409 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Bannink ◽  
D. Warner ◽  
B. Hatew ◽  
J. L. Ellis ◽  
J. Dijkstra

Data on the effect of grassland management on the nutritional characteristics of fresh and conserved grass, and on enteric methane (CH4) emission in dairy cattle, are sparse. In the present study, an extant mechanistic model of enteric fermentation was evaluated against observations on the effect of grassland management on CH4 emission in three trials conducted in climate-controlled respiration chambers. Treatments were nitrogen fertilisation rate, stage of maturity of grass and level of feed intake, and mean data of a total of 18 treatments were used (4 grass herbage treatments and 14 grass silage treatments). There was a wide range of observed organic matter (OM) digestibility (from 68% to 84%) and CH4 emission intensity (from 5.6% to 7.3% of gross energy intake; from 27.4 to 36.9 g CH4/kg digested OM; from 19.7 to 24.6 g CH4/kg dry matter) among treatment means. The model predicted crude protein, fibre and OM digestibility with reasonable accuracy (root of mean square prediction errors as % of observed mean, RMSPE, 6.8%, 7.5% and 3.9%, respectively). For grass silages only, the model-predicted CH4 correlated well (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.73) with the observed CH4 (which varied from 5.7% to 7.2% of gross energy intake), after predicted CH4 was corrected for nitrate consumed with grass silage, acting as hydrogen sink in the rumen. After nitrate correction, there was a systematic under-prediction of 18%, which reduced to 9% when correcting the erroneously predicted rumen volatile fatty acid (VFA) profile (RMSPE 15%). Although a small over-prediction of 3% was obtained for the grass herbages, this increased to 14% when correcting VFA profile. The model predictions showed a systematic difference in CH4 emission from grass herbages and grass silages, which was not supported by the observed data. This is possibly related to the very high content of soluble carbohydrates in grass herbage (an extra 170 g/kg dry matter compared with grass silages) and an erroneous prediction of its fate and contribution to CH4 in the rumen. Erroneous prediction of the VFA profile is likely to be due to different types of diets included in the empirical database used to parameterise VFA yield in the model from those evaluated here. Model representations of feed digestion and VFA profile are key elements to predict enteric CH4 accurately, and with further evaluations, the latter aspect should be emphasised in particular.


1995 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Tauveron ◽  
E. Debras ◽  
S. Tesseraud ◽  
Y. Bonnet ◽  
Ph. Thiéblot ◽  
...  

AbstractThe present experiment was undertaken to investigate adaptations to insulin action on metabolism during lactation by using plasma concentrations of β hydroxybutyrate (β OH) free fatty acids (FFA) and lactate (L) as indicators. The study included three groups each of four goats. One group was used at 12 to 31 days post partum (early lactation), one group at 98 to 143 days post partum (mid lactation) and one group at 1 year post partum (dry period). For a given physiological state, each goat was examined four times to study the effect of insulin infused for 2·5 h at two rates, medium (0·36 nmol/min) followed by high (1·79 nmol/min) in two protocols: under normal aminoacidaemia in study 1 followed by hyperaminoacidaemia in study 2. Appropriate amino acid infusions were used to blunt insulin-induced hypoaminoacidaemia under eukaliaemic and euglycaemic clamp conditions or to create hyperaminoacidaemia and maintain this state under insulin treatment. In the basal state βOH (P < 0·05), mid lactation) and FFA (P < 0·05 early lactation) were higher during lactation than in the dry period. Plasma L was unmodified. Insulin infusion always resulted in a decrease in βOH levels (P < 0·05). In both studies, the change in βOH concentration as a function of changes in plasma insulin (an index of insulin sensitivity) was greater during early lactation than in the dry period (P < 0·05); this was also the case of mid lactation in study 1. Insulin infusion decreased plasma FFA during early lactation and in the dry period in study 1 (P < 0·05), and there was a trend for insulin sensitivity to be greater during early lactation. In both studies insulin infusion did not affect plasma L in lactating goats whereas plasma L was increased in dry animals (P < 0·05). The results demonstrate that during early lactation, compared with the dry period, there is an increased ability of insulin to lower βOH and FFA concentrations. These effects were not altered by increasing plasma amino acid concentrations during insulin infusion.


1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
CR Stockdale

Eight experiments were conducted over 2 years with 92 lactating dairy cows individually fed various combinations of irrigated perennial pasture and maize silage in an indoor feeding facility. Responses to different amounts of maize silage and pasture in early and late lactation were measured. Daily pasture intake ranged from 6.2 to 12.4 kg dry matter (DM)/cow, while maize silage intake ranged from 0 to 12.4 kg DM/cow. The marginal return to feeding maize silage at up to 5 kg DM/cow.day to cows in early lactation eating about 7 kg DM/day of pasture as their basal ration was 0.89 kg extra milk for each kg DM maize silage eaten. In late lactation, this was reduced to 0.63 kg milk/kg DM. Milk yield responses to maize silage at both stages of lactation were lower at higher levels of pasture feeding. Although milk fat content was maintained over a wide range of maize silage, feeding large quantities of maize silage in early lactation was detrimental to milk production. The likely explanation for poor animal performance at the high levels of maize silage was dietary protein insufficiency.


1999 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 473-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Zerbini ◽  
Alemu Gebre Wold

AbstractThis study examined whether work applied at different stages of lactation had any effect on reproduction of cows under two feeding regimes. Twenty-four F1 crossbred dairy cows (12 Friesian × Boran and 12 Simmental × Boran) were allocated one of two diets (H + 3: natural pasture hay + 3 kg concentrate per day; and H + 5: natural pasture hay + 5 kg concentrate per day) and one of three work treatments — starting 45 days (D45), 90 days (D90) and 135 days (D135) post partum — using a principal component analysis score based on milk yield, live weight, calving interval and parity. Cows pulled sledges for 50 days (pull = 108 N per 100 kg live weight). Over the experimental period of 315 days, cows on diet H + 5 travelled a similar distance and produced amounts of fat-corrected milk (FCM) similar to those of cows on diet H + 3. Total intake of dry matter per kg live weight 0·75 was higher for cows on diet H + 5 than for cows on diet H + 3 and was similar across work times. Hay dry-matter intake was greater for the H + 3 group than for the H + 5 group at 180 days post partum and thereafter. Cows on diet H + 5 lost less weight in early lactation and gained more in mid and late lactation than cows on diet H + 3. During the work period, live-weight change was similar across diets but it was different between work treatments D45 and D135. The interval from calving to conception decreased by 63 and 101 days when start of work was delayed from D45 to D90 and from D45 to D 135, respectively. Output/input ratios of metabolizable energy equivalents were 0·35 for H + 3 and 0·37 for H + 5 diet, and 0·34, 0·37 and 0·40 for work times D45, D90 and D135, respectively. These results indicate that work started in early lactation significantly increased days to conception and decreased overall productivity of lactating working cows. Farmers must weigh the relative importance and cost of delayed ploughing against those of delayed oestrus or against the cost of borrowing draught power.


2019 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-155
Author(s):  
Maja Došenović Marinković ◽  
Branislava Belić ◽  
Marko R. Cincović ◽  
Radojica Đoković ◽  
Ivana Lakić ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to determine to relationship between glucose, insulin, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and indices of insulin resistance in the dry period (DP) and early lactation (EL). The importance of this study was in determining the relation between insulin sensitivity in DP and insulin resistance in EL. A total of 30 normally fed Holstein-Friesian cows with a high body condition score (> 3.75) were included in the study. Blood samples were collected in DP (weeks 5-7 ante partum) and EL (weeks 1-2 post partum). Cows in EL showed higher insulin resistance in comparison to DP due to a lower concentration of glucose and insulin, higher concentration of NEFA, lower value of revised quantitative insulin sensitivity check index and higher values of glucose:insulin and NEFA:insulin ratios (lower pancreas responsivnes to glucose and antilipolytic effect of insulin). Higher concentrations of insulin and glucose in the DP lead to a decrease in their concentrations and an increase in glucose:insulin and NEFA:insulin ratios in the EL. The revised quantitative insulin sensitivity check index in DP negatively correlates with the same index in EL, while positively correlating with the NEFA and NEFA:insulin ratio in EL. The EL revised quantitative insulin sensitivity check index value was influenced by dynamic changes (DP minus EL) in the insulin, NEFA, and glucose concentrations. The relationship between the indicators shows that higher insulin sensitivity in the DP increases resistance in EL in normally fed obese dairy cows.


1971 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Marsh ◽  
M. K. Curran ◽  
R. C. Campling

SUMMARY1. Effects of late pregnancy and early lactation on the voluntary intake of dried grass (Expt 1) and a poor quality seeds hay (Expt 2) by dairy cows are described. Each cow received a constant daily allocation of concentrates throughout late pregnancy. After calving half the cows received an 80% increase in concentrates, and the remainder continued to receive their pre-partum allowance.2. Mean daily intakes of dried grass were higher than those of poor quality seeds hay. Intake of dried grass in week 2 of lactation was significantly correlated with the live weight of the cows, but a non-significant correlation was observed when seeds hay was offered.3. During late pregnancy mean daily intakes of both roughages were approximately constant until the week immediately before par turition, when a significant decline occurred.4. After calving mean daily intakes of both roughages increased throughout the first six weeks of lactation by 20–30% of the intake at week 1 post partum.5. The 80% increase in daily concentrate allocation in early lactation caused a significant decline of 0·55 kg dried grass dry-matter intake per kg concentrate dry matter; the decline of 0·17 kg poor quality hay dry matter per kg concentrate dry matter was not significant.


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