Persian clover and maize silage. II. Effects of variations in clover and silage consumption on the productivity of dairy cows at various stages of lactation

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 1767 ◽  
Author(s):  
CR Stockdale
Keyword(s):  
Zea Mays ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Ammonia Concentration ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Nitrogen Concentrations ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Persian Clover ◽  
Positive Correlations

Four experiments, involving 62 animals, were undertaken to establish the effects of variations in Persian clover (Trifolium resupinaturn) and maize (Zea mays) silage consumption on the productivity of dairy cows at various stages of lactation. The research was specifically designed to exclude the effects of the substitution of one feed for another on the responses obtained. Feeding maize silage to cows fed 7-8 kg DM day-1 of Persian clover in early lactation resulted in marginal responses of 1.3-1.4 kg of milk per kg DM of supplement. As level of feeding increased, whether due to additional Persian clover or maize silage, returns to maize silage diminished. In late lactation, 0.9 kg of extra milk was produced from each additional kg DM of maize silage eaten. All of these responses were greater than expected and approached those reported for the use of high energy concentrates. However, there were two exceptions to this general conclusion. Firstly, at very low levels of Persian clover (4.0 kg DM/cow day-1), a protein deficiency prevented responses in milk as more maize silage was offered. Secondly, it was demonstrated that maize silage starch was also important to achieving good responses in milk yield. With only 5% grain in the maize silage in one experiment in mid lactation, the return to extra feeding was only 0.7 kg of milk/kg DM, which was below that obtained in both early and late lactation. The relationships of rumen parameters to differential feeding were variable. Ammonia concentration and acetate proportion both decreased as maize silage intake increased. Of the faecal variables measured, nitrogen concentrations were variable while lignin concentrations were negatively related to maize silage intake, and starch contents showed strong positive correlations.

Persian clover and maize silage. III. Rumen fermentation and balance of nutrients when clover and silage are fed to lactating dairy cows

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 1783 ◽  
Author(s):  
CR Stockdale
Keyword(s):  
Zea Mays ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Degradation Rates ◽  
Persian Clover ◽  
Yield Responses ◽  
Trifolium Resupinatum

Six rumen fistulated dairy cows, at various stages of lactation, were housed in metabolism stalls on a total of nine occasions in three experiments in which various combinations of Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum) and maize (Zea mays) silage were offered. These experiments considered some aspects of digestion of Persian clover and Persian clover/maize silage diets in order to understand the good milk yield responses attributed to maize silage measured in previous research. Rumen ammonia concentrations and nylon bag degradation rates suggested that the cows made better use of one or both feeds when Persian clover and maize silage were offered together than they did when Persian clover was offered alone. While Persian clover and maize silage appeared to be a substantially inferior diet in terms of apparent in vivo digestibility coefficients and availability of nutrients when compared with Persian clover offered alone, milk yields were unaffected. In addition, no matter how much maize silage was offered, milk fat content remained constant. These results were attributed to an improved balance of absorbed nutrients.

scholarly journals Determination metabolic and nutritional status in dairy cows during early and mid lactation

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radojica Djokovic ◽  
Zoran Ilic ◽  
Vladimir Kurcubic ◽  
Milan Petrovic ◽  
Violeta Caro-Petrovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Serum ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Metabolic Status ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Serum Concentrations ◽  
Nonesterified Fatty Acids ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Lower Blood ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Beta Hydroxybutyrate

The objective of the present study was to investigate nutritional and metabolic status in Simmental cows during early and mid-lactation. Fifteen early lactating cows and 15 mid lactating cows were chosen for the investigation. Blood samples were collected to measure beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), triglycerides (TG), glucose and the activity of aspartate transaminase (AST). Early lactation as compared to mid lactating cows were found to have significantly higher (P<0.05) blood serum concentrations of NEFA, BHB and AST and lower blood serum concentrations of glucose (P<0.05) and TG (P>0.05). Significantly negative correlations were observed between BHB and glucose (P<0.01), BHB and TG (P<0.05), NEFA and glucose (P<0.05). Significantly positive correlations were observed between NEFA and BHB (P<0.05), NEFA and AST (P<0.05), glucose and TG (P<0.01). The results suggest that these parameters can serve as useful indicators of the nutritional and metabolic status of dairy cows during lactation.

Plasma essential amino acids concentrations of early lactating Holstein dairy cows fed diet containing raw or roasted Iranian soybean

2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 ◽  
pp. 182-182
Author(s):  
Forouzan Tabatabaie ◽  
Hassan Fathi ◽  
Mohsen Danesh
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Physical Method ◽  
Essential Amino Acids ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
High Amino Acid ◽  
Amino Acid Requirements ◽  
Physical Treatments

Whole soybean has 40-42 percent CP and used as high energy-protein supplement for early lactation dairy cows. However, the protein is highly degradable, so small amounts of amino acids can be reached to small intestine to meet high amino acid requirements of early lactating cows. Therefore, various chemical and physical treatments have been suggested to decrease ruminal protein degradability of soybeans. The practical use and application of any one method to lower ruminal feed degradability is dependent not only on its efficacy but also on its cost effectiveness, safety and ease of application. For these reasons, heat treatment is the most commonly used physical method (Plegge et al., 1985). The purpose of this study was to determine how roasting of soybeans affect plasma essential amino acid concentrations in early lactation cows.

Response of early lactation dairy cows to the inclusion of the liver technology product ABN-LiFT in the total mixed ration

2002 ◽  
Vol 2002 ◽  
pp. 197-197
Author(s):  
C A Middlemass ◽  
C M Minter ◽  
M Marsden
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Vitamin B12 ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Energy Requirement ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Total Mixed Ration ◽  
Methyl Group ◽  
Technology Product

Through the dry period to early lactation the cow goes through a dramatic change in her metabolism. To supply the high energy requirement in early lactation fat supply from the diet and body mobilisation increases substantially. As a result, the liver accumulates fat, the rate of detoxification slows down, ammonia accumulates and there’s a reduced supply of fat, glucose and protein to the udder. This trial was designed to evaluate the response of dairy cows to product called ABN-LiFT a proprietary mixture of B-group vitamins and methyl group donors (rumen protected choline, niacin, vitamin B12, biotin, folic acid and thiamine) designed to reduce the accumulation of triglycerides in the liver and accelerate VLDL export.

Body condition at calving and the performance of dairy cows in early lactation under Australian conditions: a review

2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 823 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. Stockdale
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Dietary Protein ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Negative Energy ◽  
Considerable Proportion ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Protein Supplements ◽  
Grazed Pasture ◽  
Feeding Experiments

With the current increases in genetic merit and feeding occurring at farm level, dairy cows are under increasing nutritional stress in early lactation. Cows obtain their energy at this time from the feeds they eat and from body reserves. The relationship between body condition at calving and productivity of dairy cows has been reviewed, with particular emphasis on interactions between body condition and nutrition in early lactation. Recent research on the influence of body condition at calving on subsequent milk productivity, conducted mainly in the United Kingdom with complete diets fed indoors, has produced results in apparent conflict with the previous results from southern Australia and New Zealand where cows grazed pasture. In particular, the overseas research suggests considerably less advantage to improvements in body condition than had been previously thought. It is concluded that more information is needed concerning the interaction between body condition at calving and nutrition in early lactation, with dietary energy and protein both being important. There is a suggestion that, when complete diets are fed, it is better to achieve high energy concentrations in post-calving diets by the use of high-fibre concentrates with a fat supplement, rather than with high-starch concentrates. This has implications for dairying in Australia, since cereal grains are the major energy supplement used on many farms in early lactation and recent research has indicated that immediate marginal milk production responses to the use of concentrates may be poorer with fat cows than with thin cows. Reports from controlled feeding experiments indicate that fat cows need more dietary protein than thin cows and undegradable dietary protein might be of more concern than rumen degradable protein. However, in dairy systems where pasture is a considerable proportion of the diet, benefits of supplying specific undegradable dietary protein supplements still need to be established. Recent research has suggested that pasture appears to provide considerable quantities of undegradable dietary protein, even though the crude protein in pasture is potentially highly degradable in the rumen. Body condition at calving may also affect subsequent reproductive performance. This is due to its association with the degree of negative energy balance occurring in early lactation and because fat cows may be more susceptible to metabolic disease(s). While the mechanisms involved are probably quite complex, increases in animal productivity will generate more stress in cows at a time of their annual cycle when stress needs to be minimised. Further understanding is required to link the relevancy of overseas research to Australian dairy farming conditions where pasture is a key input.

A 2-Year compapison of in-parlour and out-of-parlour concentrate feeding on the production and health of dairy cows

1984 ◽  
Vol 1984 ◽  
pp. 5-5
Author(s):  
R. J. Treacher ◽  
W. Little ◽  
I. M. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Energy Density ◽  
Fatty Liver ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Energy Deficit ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
High Feed ◽  
Increased Susceptibility

Dairy cows mobilise fat during early lactation to meet the energy deficit produced by increasing milk yield and reduced appetite. This can result in the deposition of fat in liver, kidney, muscle and other tissues. This “fatty liver syndrome” is associated with reduced fertility and an increased susceptibility to metabolic and infectious disease. Attempts to prevent the development of fatty liver are aimed at reducing fat mobilisation by: 1) calving cows in lean condition, thus increasing appetite and 2) by encouraging high feed intakes immediately after calving by the provision of feed of high energy density on a little and often basis. A useful system in this context might be out-of-parlour concentrate dispensers

Maize silage and Italian ryegrass silage as high-energy forages in organic dairy cow diets: Differences in feed intake, milk yield and quality, and nitrogen efficiency

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 378-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Baldinger ◽  
W. Zollitsch ◽  
W.F. Knaus
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Organic Dairy

AbstractDuring the winter feeding period in organic dairy production systems in the alpine and pre-alpine regions of Austria and its neighboring countries, maize silage is an energy-rich forage that is regularly included in grass-silage-based diets to improve the energy supply of the cows. Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorumLam.) is also a high-energy fodder grass popular as forage for dairy cows, but it is rarely cultivated in Austrian organic agriculture. The two crops differ in their cultivation demands and characteristics. Italian ryegrass establishes rapidly and may reduce the risk of soil erosion. Italian ryegrass would be a beneficial addition to crop rotation, which is an essential tool in successful organic farming. In a 15-week feeding trial, Italian ryegrass silage and maize silage were fed to 22 lactating Holstein dairy cows. Organically produced Italian ryegrass silage and maize silage were included at a rate of 40% [of dry matter (DM)] in grass-silage-based mixed basal diets. The mixed basal diets were supplemented with modest amounts of additional concentrates (2.7–3.0 kg DM day−1). Owing to the higher energy content of maize silage as compared to Italian ryegrass silage, the maize diet provided more energy [6.3 MJ net energy for lactation (NEL) kg−1DM] than the ryegrass diet (6.15 MJ NEL kg−1DM). The protein supply of the maize diet and the ryegrass diet was intended to be equal, but in fact the protein content of the maize diet was significantly lower (122 g crude protein kg−1DM) than that of the ryegrass diet (141 g kg−1DM). When the maize diet was fed, feed intake, milk yield and milk protein content were significantly higher as compared to the ryegrass diet. Also, intake of crude protein was significantly lower when feeding the maize diet, and in combination with the higher milk protein yield, this enabled an efficiency of gross nitrogen (N) utilization as high as 0.304. This level of N efficiency can be considered as above average and was significantly and considerably higher than the level of 0.259 observed when the ryegrass diet was fed. Therefore, maize silage upholds its reputation as an ideal energy-rich component in grass-silage-based dairy cow diets.

Persian clover and maize silage. I. Silage as a supplement for lactating dairy cows offered herbage of different quality

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 1751 ◽  
Author(s):  
CR Stockdale
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Protein Content ◽  
Persian Clover ◽  
Basal Ration

A penfeeding experiment, involving 29 lactating dairy cows, was undertaken to assess the use of Persian clover (Trifolium resupinaturn) herbage instead of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)-dominant herbage as the basal ration in diets in which maize silage (0 to 10.6 kg DM/cow day-1) was used as a supplement. This was supported by a second experiment in which 16 cows grazed limited amounts of Persian clover pasture (herbage allowance of 16.5 kg DM/cow day-1) and were supplemented with various amounts of maize silage (0 to 8.3 kg DM/cow daym-1). In the pen experiment, feeding maize silage to cows grossly underfed with perennial ryegrass pasture resulted in a marginal response to additional feeding of 0.9 kg milk for each of the first 5 kg DM of supplement eaten. This level of supplementary feeding constituted about 40% of the diet. Thereafter, maize silage resulted in virtually no additional milk and the best fed cows only produced about 20 kg of milk. A much greater response in milk yield (1.4 kg milk/kg DM of additional maize silage eaten) was obtained when Persian clover was substituted as the basal ration. There were no differences in milk composition or changes in body condition between cows offered the different basal herbages. Milk fat content averaged 3.9% across all cows, while milk protein content and change in body condition increased by 0.03% and 0.13 units for each additional kg DM of maize silage eaten each day. In the grazing experiment, when a small amount of maize silage was fed to the cows, the marginal return was 1.2 kg milk for each additional kg DM of maize silage eaten. This is only slightly lower than that reported for the indoor feeding study. A major reason for the good response was the negligible substitution of maize silage for Persian clover that occurred with the first increment of supplement in the diet. With higher levels of maize silage feeding, no extra milk was produced. It was the increase in the level of substitution at the higher levels of maize silage that eliminated the possibility of additional responses in milk production.

Efficacy of a lasalocid supplement in the diet of dairy cows in early lactation in a pasture-based dairy system

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 658 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. Stockdale
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Production History ◽  
Equivalent Control ◽  
Yield Responses ◽  
Daily Milk Yield ◽  
Daily Milk

The lasalocid supplement, Bovatec, was fed to dairy cows at 300 mg of active ingredient for ~3 weeks precalving to up to 16 weeks postcalving in a pasture-based system. Sixty primiparous cows and 120 multiparous cows were allocated to equivalent control and lasalocid groups based on expected calving date, size and previous production history. To facilitate the feeding of the lasalocid, it was mixed with maize silage (~1 kg DM/cow.day) and fed as one feed on a concrete feed pad early in the morning each day before calving and before the afternoon milking during lactation. The control group received the maize silage without lasalocid. Otherwise, the feeding of both groups was exactly the same. The key response associated with adding lasalocid to the diet differed between the primiparous and multiparous cows. Although the average daily milk yield responses to lasalocid were not significant (P > 0.05) at 1.1 and 0.6 kg/cow for the primiparous and multiparous cows, respectively, significant (P < 0.05) increases in the milk yield of the primiparous cows were consistently recorded between weeks 5 and 15 of lactation. With the multiparous cows, there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the circulating concentrations of serum β-hydroxybutyrate in those fed the lasalocid, with this being related to a tendency (P = 0.087) for these animals to maintain higher body condition scores for much of the early lactation treatment period. There were no other treatment differences of biological importance.

Maize silage as a supplement for pasture-fed dairy cows in early and late lactation

1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
CR Stockdale
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Dietary Protein ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Marginal Return ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Yield Responses

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.

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