Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T16:09:21.517Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A comparison of two methods for allocating concentrates to dairy cows according to yield

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

T. W. Griffiths
Affiliation:
Spillers Limited, Animal Nutrition Research Laboratories, Middle Aston House, Steeple Aston, Oxford
Get access

Summary

An experiment was carried out with 123 pairs of cows located at 11 centres and extending over 3 years, to compare the performance of cows fed at a fixed rate of starch equivalent per gallon with similar cows fed according to an experimental scale, in which the rate of feeding per gallon increased with increasing milk yield.

Records of milk yields and concentrate consumption were made. Feeding according to the experimental scale produced significantly more milk during the first 14 weeks of the lactation. The increase in milk yield for 52 pairs observed over 28 weeks was not significant in either the first 14 or first 28 weeks.

The economic response (lb. milk for each addition lb. starch equivalent for all pairs over 14 weeks was 1·42 and was very near the predicted value. A slightly larger response of 1·64 was obtained from the highest yielding cows. The response over 28 weeks (for 52 pairs only) was 1·30. Considerable variation in this response was found between seasons and between centres.

These results are discussed in terms of the practical application of the feeding scales used and the responses obtained.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1965

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Blaxter, K. L., 1950. Energy feeding standards for dairy cattle. Nutr. Abstr. Rev., 20: 1.Google Scholar
Blaxter, K. L., 1956. Starch equivalents, ration standards and milk production. Proc. Brit. Soc. Anim. Prod., p. 3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blaxter, K. L., 1959. In Scientific Principles of Feeding Farm Livestock. Farmer & Stockbreeder Publications Ltd., London, p. 40.Google Scholar
Blaxter, K. L., 1962. Energy Metabolism of Ruminants. Hutchinson, London.Google Scholar
Broster, W. H., 1963. Control of milk yield by nutrition. N.A.A.S. Quart. Rev., 15: 76.Google Scholar
Broster, W. H., Ridler, B., & Foot, A. S., 1958. Levels of feeding of concentrates for dairy heifers before and after calving. J. Dairy Res., 25: 373.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burt, A. W. A., 1957a. The effect of variations in nutrient intake upon the yield and composition of milk. I. Variations in the amount and type of concentrate fed in winter rations. J. Dairy Res., 24: 283.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burt, A. W. A., 1957b. The influence of level of feeding during lactation upon yield and composition of milk. Dairy Sci. Abstr., 19: 436.Google Scholar
Evans, H. E., 1960. Rations for livestock. Bull. Minist. Agric, Lond., no. 48.Google Scholar
Griffiths, T. W., 1963. Experiments on the rate of feeding concentrates to dairy cattle. Anim. Prod., 5: 224.Google Scholar
Holmes, W., Reid, D., MaClusky, D. S., & Watson, J. N., 1957. Winter feeding of dairy cows. IV. The influence of four levels of concentrate feeding in addition to grass products on the production obtained from milking cows. J. Dairy Res., 24: 1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jawetz, M. B., 1956. Input-output relationships in feeding dairy cows. Dairy Sci. Abstr., 18: 2.Google Scholar
Johannson, I., 1962. Genetic Aspects of Dairy Cattle Breeding. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Reid, D., & Holmes, W., 1956. Winter feeding of dairy cows. Iii. The influence on milk yield of high and low protein concentrates each fed at two levels in addition to dried grass and grass silage. J. Dairy Res., 23: 159.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rook, J. A. F., & Line, C., 1961. Effects of level of protein in the ration of the cow on the yield and composition of milk. Ann. Rep. Nat. Inst. Res. Dairy, p. 89.Google Scholar
Trinder, N., 1963. The energy and protein requirements of dairy cattle: an appraisal of British Standards. Vet. Rec., 75: 1413.Google Scholar
Yates, F., Boyd, D. A., & Pettit, G. H. N., 1942. Influence of changes in level of feeding on milk production. J. agric. Sci., 32: 428.CrossRefGoogle Scholar