Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T19:36:27.543Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The feed intake of milk cows I. Intake of winter rations during pregnancy and lactation and the influence of change to pasture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

W. Holmes ,
J. G. W. Jones ,
R. M. Drake-Brockman  and
N. White
W. Holmes
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), Ashford, Kent
J. G. W. Jones
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), Ashford, Kent
R. M. Drake-Brockman
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), Ashford, Kent
N. White
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), Ashford, Kent
Get access

Summary

1. For 4 weeks before calving in December or January a group of 7 Ayrshire cows each received daily 6 lb. hay and silage to appetite, whilst a second group of 9 received the same roughages and 6–10 lb. concentrates. After calving, cows from both of the pre-calving treatments were placed in each of two post-calving groups of 8 cows. A High treatment received approximately 8 lb./day more concentrates at the same milk yield than the Low treatment. Both groups continued to receive 6 lb. hay/cow/day and silage to appetite. The cows were allowed to graze by day from 21 February and by day and night from 13 April. Hay, at 5 lb./cow/day and reducing rates of concentrates were offered until 8 May.

2. Individual feed intakes were estimated from faecal output and digestibility. Direct measures of the intakes of different treatment groups on indoor feeding agreed fairly closely with the mean individual estimates.

3. The digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) of 1,300 lb. cows in the last stages of pregnancy was increased from 10 up to 14–16 lb./day by giving 8–10 lb./day concentrates. Immediately after calving, the increases in DOMI compared with pre-calving levels were about 2.5 lb./day for cows which received concentrates before calving and 8.5 lb./day for cows which received no concentrates before calving.

4. When all cows had calved and were in full milk production there were no significant differences in DOMI, milk yield or rate of live-weight gain attributable to pre-calving treatment. Mean DOMI on the High and Low post-calving treatments were 23.8 and 19.4 lb./day, mean fat-corrected milk yields 44.5 and 38.8 lb./day and mean rates of live-weight gain 05 and nil lb./day, respectively.

5. DOMI increased by 0.7 and 4.9 lb./day for High and Low post-calving treatments when cows were turned out to night as well as day grazing, and milk yields increased by 1.0 and 2.2 lb./day respectively.

6. Regression equations relating animal production and feed intake, and substitution rates of concentrate usage were calculated. Faecal output and DOMI were closely related to milk yield. When additional concentrates were given the resulting increase in total DOMI was greater when the bulk feed was of low digestibility than when it was of high digestibility.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 7 , Issue 1 , January 1965 , pp. 27 - 37
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., 1962. The Energy Metabolism of Ruminants. Hutchinson, London, p. 256.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.Google Scholar
Castle, M. E., & Watson, J. N., 1961. The effect of level of concentrate feeding before and after calving on the production of dairy cows. J. Dairy Res., 28: 231.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Christian, K. R., & Coup, M. R., 1954. Measurement of feed intake of grazing cattle and sheep. VI. The determination of chromic oxide in faeces. N.Z. J. Sci. Tech. A, 36: 328.Google Scholar
Corbett, J. L., Greenhalgh, J. F. D., & Macdonald, A. P., 1958. Paper as a carrier of chromium sesquioxide. Nature, Lond., 182: 1014.Google Scholar
Corbett, J. L., Langlands, J. P., & Boyne, A. W., 1962. An estimate of energy expended for maintenance by strip grazed dairy cows. Proc. VIIIth int. Congr. Anim. Prod., Hamburg, 3: 245.Google Scholar
Evans, R. E., 1960. Rations for Livestock. Bull. Minist. Agric, Lond., no. 48.Google Scholar
Greenhalgh, J. F. D., & Gardner, K. E., 1958. Effect of heavy concentrate feeding before calving upon lactation and mammary gland edema. J. Dairy Sci., 41: 822.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holmes, W., Jones, J. G. W., & Drake-Brockman, R. M., 1961. The feed intake of grazing cattle. II. The influence of size of animal on feed intake. Anim. Prod., 3: 251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holmes, W., & Jones, J. G. W., 1964. The efficiency of utilisation of fresh grass. Proc. Nutr. Soc, 23: 88.Google Scholar
Hutton, J. B., 1962. The maintenance requirement of New Zealand dairy cattle. Proc. N.Z. Soc. Anim. Prod., 22: 12.Google Scholar
Jones, J. G. W., Holmes, W., & Drake-Brockman, R. M., 1965. The feed intake of grazing cattle. III. The influence of level of milk yield. Anim. Prod, (in press).Google Scholar
Langlands, J. P., Corbett, J. L., McDonald, I., & Pullar, J. D., 1963. Estimates of the energy required for maintenance by adult sheep. Anim. Prod., 5: 1.Google Scholar
National Research Council, 1958. Recommended Nutrient Allowances. 3. Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle. Nat. Acad. Sci. (U.S.A.)—Nat. Res. Council. Publ.Google Scholar