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The biometry of lactation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

P. D. P. Wood
P. D. P. Wood
Affiliation:
Milk Marketing BoardThames Ditton, Surrey
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Summary

A consideration of input-output relationships relating energy intake to its probable utilization for growth, condition and lactation by dairy cows leads to a series of equations describing observable responses. Energy is expressed in terms of units of milk equivalent, common to all equations, and the lactation curve, yn = anò e−cn is shown to be capable of biological interpretation, having regard to the subordinate equations from which it is derived. This expression relates milk production yn during a time interval n through the parameters a, b and c. The validity of the steps by which the function is developed is examined by reference to published work.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 88 , Issue 2 , April 1977 , pp. 333 - 339
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

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