scholarly journals Milk Production, Body Weight, Body Condition Score, Activity, and Rumination of Organic Dairy Cattle Grazing Two Different Pasture Systems Incorporating Cool- and Warm-Season Forages

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 264
Author(s):  
Kathryn E. Ritz ◽  
Bradley J. Heins ◽  
Roger D. Moon ◽  
Craig C. Sheaffer ◽  
Sharon L. Weyers
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Organic Dairy ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Annual Grasses ◽  
System 2 ◽  
System 1

Organic dairy cows were used to evaluate the effect of two organic pasture production systems (temperate grass species and warm-season annual grasses and cool-season annuals compared with temperate grasses only) across two grazing seasons (May to October of 2014 and 2015) on milk production, milk components (fat, protein, milk urea nitrogen (MUN), somatic cell score (SCS)), body weight, body condition score (BCS), and activity and rumination (min/day). Cows were assigned to two pasture systems across the grazing season at an organic research dairy in Morris, Minnesota. Pasture System 1 was cool-season perennials (CSP) and Pasture System 2 was a combination of System 1 and warm-season grasses and cool-season annuals. System 1 and System 2 cows had similar milk production (14.7 and 14.8 kg d−1), fat percentage (3.92% vs. 3.80%), protein percentage (3.21% vs. 3.17%), MUN (12.5 and 11.5 mg dL−1), and SCS (4.05 and 4.07), respectively. Cows in System 1 had greater daily rumination (530 min/day) compared to cows in System 2 (470 min/day). In summary, warm-season annual grasses may be incorporated into grazing systems for pastured dairy cattle.

scholarly journals Forage Yield and Nutritive Value of Cool-Season and Warm-Season Forages for Grazing Organic Dairy Cattle

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1963
Author(s):  
Kathryn E. Ritz ◽  
Bradley J. Heins ◽  
Roger Moon ◽  
Craig Sheaffer ◽  
Sharon L. Weyers
Keyword(s):  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Organic Dairy ◽  
Annual Grasses ◽  
System 2 ◽  
System 1 ◽  
Warm Season Grasses

The objective of this study was to compare the forage nutritive value of cool-season perennial grasses and legumes with that of warm-season annual grasses grazed by organic dairy cows. Two pasture systems were analyzed across the grazing season at an organic dairy in Morris, Minnesota. Pasture system 1 included perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rehmann), meadow fescue (Schedonorus pratensis (Huds.) P. Beauv), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.). Pasture system 2 was a combination of system 1 and monocultures of warm-season grasses (sorghum-sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench subsp. drummondii [Steud.]) and teff (Eragrostis tef L.)). Across the grazing season, forage yield was 39% greater for system 2 than system 1 due to greater forage yield during the summer. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were similar for cool-season and warm-season grasses. Warm-season grasses had greater forage yield during the summer months compared with cool-season grasses and legumes. The total tract NDF digestibility (TTNDFD) varied by month and year across the study for both pasture systems. Overall, weather may affect the forage nutritive value for both cool-season perennial grasses and legumes and warm-season annual grasses.

scholarly journals PSX-2 Growth and lactating performance of ewes fed with different energy levels

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 467-468
Author(s):  
Fernanda F Santos ◽  
Luciano Brochine ◽  
Vanderlei Benetel Junior ◽  
Maria Laura R Coelho ◽  
Augusto H Gameiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Energy Levels ◽  
The Body ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Condition Score

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the milk production, body weight, and body condition score (BCS) of ewes fed with different energy levels. Seventy-one ewes were used and distributed in three treatments according to the metabolizable energy (ME, Mcal/kg) levels in the diet: CTL = according to the NRC (2007) recommendation for each stage (gestation and lactation); PLUS = CTL plus 10% of ME per kilogram of dry matter; LESS = CTL less 10% ME per kilogram of dry matter. Body weight and body condition score were evaluated a week before the expected date of parturition, a week after giving birth, and at weaning (60 days). Dairy production was evaluated at 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 days after giving birth by the indirect method of the two weighing. The experimental design was analyzed as randomized complete blocks. There were no differences on milk production during almost all the lactation curve. Only on day 50 (P = 0.051), CTL was still at peak, while LESS and PLUS had already decreased their production. However, at 60 days, all treatments were already with low production, justifying weaning in this period. Results of weight and BCS showed a significant difference in all periods evaluates. Ewes in the PLUS diet had greater BW and BCS. The BCS before giving birth is expected to be over 3.5 and treatment LESS was the only one that did not achieve this score (2.66, 3.37, 3.83 for LESS, CTL, and PLUS, respectively). At weaning, ewes fed PLUS and CTL had BCS of 3.51 and 2.92, respectively, but treatment LESS had only 1.82. That is prejudicial for the next mating seasonal and this animal. We concluded that LESS diet interfered with the body reserves of sheep.

Prediction of body weight and composition in lactating dairy cows: Relationship between body condition score and body composition

2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 ◽  
pp. 19-19
Author(s):  
T. Yan ◽  
R. E. Agnew ◽  
C. S. Mayne
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Body Concentration

Body condition of lactating dairy cows varies at different stages of lactation. Cows usually mobilise their body reserves to provide energy and protein for milk production in early lactation, and gain weight to deposit energy and protein for pregnancy at a later stage. The objective of the present study was to examine relationships between body condition score (CS) and body concentration of lipid, CP and energy.

Effect of α-tocopherol acetate and zinc supplementation on body condition, energy metabolites and milk production in Karan Fries cows

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pankaj Kumar Maurya ◽  
Anjali Aggarwal ◽  
A. K. Singh ◽  
B. K. Chaudhari
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Treatment Group ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Experimental Animals ◽  
Tocopherol Acetate ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Karan Fries

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of α-tocopherol acetate and zinc on body condition, energy metabolites and milk production in Karan Fries cows. Sixteen pregnant Karan Fries cows were selected two months before expected date of calving. The experimental animals were randomly divided in to two groups namely control group (eight cows) and treatment group (eight cows). Treatment group cows were supplemented with α-tocopherol acetate @ 1000 IU/day/cow and zinc @ 60 ppm/day/cow. Blood samples were collected on the days -60, -45, -30, -15, -7, 0, +7, +15, +30, +45 and +60 with respect to expected date of calving. The body weight and body condition score of all the experimental animals was recorded on the day of blood collection. After calving milk yield of the experimental animals was recorded till 60 days in milk. At parturition, body weight and body condition score differ significantly (P<0.001) in treatment group than control group (448.00 vs. 416.33 Kg and 4.42 vs. 4.17, respectively). The overall mean (±SEM) of plasma glucose was found to be significantly (P<0.001) higher in treatment group as compared to control group (62.39±1.23 vs. 57.44±1.59 mg/dl). The overall mean of non-esterified fatty acids was found to be significantly (P<0.001) lower in treatment group as compared to control group (197.10±3.38 vs. 239.21±3.48 μM/L). The overall mean of milk yield was found significantly (P<0.001) higher in treatment group as compared to control group (20.48±1.16 vs. 16.94±1.38 Kg/day i.e. 20.90%). The results of this study indicated that supplementation of antioxidants like α-tocopherol acetate and zinc have beneficial effects on milk production along with improved body condition and metabolic status of the animals.

scholarly journals EFFECT OF SHEARING DURING PREGNANCY ON PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE IN THE POST-PARTUM PERIOD OF EWES ON EXTENSIVE HUSBANDRY

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-224
Author(s):  
Viviane Marques Guyoti ◽  
Mariana de Souza Farias ◽  
Magnus Larruscaim Dalmolin ◽  
César Henrique Poli ◽  
Verônica Schmidt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Perinatal Mortality ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Productive Performance ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Beta Hydroxybutyrate

The use of shearing during pregnancy has been described as a tool for improving productivity in sheep and for minimizing perinatal mortality in lambs through the increase of fetal development. This study assessed the effect of shearing around 74 days of gestation on the productive performance of ewes and lambs during the first month of life. Forty Corriedale ewes were inseminated in autumn in Southern Brazil. All ewes were kept together at the same pasture under extensive husbandry conditions. The ewes were randomly separated into two treatment groups: twenty animals were completely sheared at 74 ± 6 days of pregnancy, and twenty were kept without sheared during pregnancy, composing the control group. Ewes and their lambs were evaluated at three different times during the experiment: at birth, between 15 and 21 days post-partum and between 22 and 45 days post-partum. Ewes had their body condition score, body weight, placental weight, milk production and serum concentrations of beta-hydroxybutyrate measured, while lambs had hematocrit, hemoglobin, and plasma lactate and glucose, as well as body weight at birth and until wean determined. Values of hematocrit and hemoglobin were lower and body weight at birth and at wean was higher in the group of lambs born from sheared ewes. Placenta weight was higher in sheared ewes. Body condition score and beta-hydroxybutyrate showed no differences between groups. Milk production of sheared ewes (1.26 L/day) was higher than in control group (0.93 L/day). Shearing ewes at 74 days of pregnancy was efficient for the better development of lambs at post-birth, reducing perinatal mortality rates.

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