51 research outputs found
Inclusion of fat in diets for early lactating holstein cows
No full textTwenty-four Holstein cows were used to
study the effect of dietary fat on milk production
and metabolic traits. Whole cottonseed
and tallow were used as fat sources and
substituted into the control diet on an isocaloric
basis. Chopped alfalfa hay and grain sorghum
silage constituted the forage in all diets.
Treatments were balanced for parity, body
weight, and previous lactation milk production
or genetic potential (primiparous cows). Cows
were housed in a tie-stall barn beginning 4
weeks prepartum, fed similar diets, and
assigned to treatment on the day of calving.
Diets were formulated to provide 3.3, 4.8 and
6.5% fat. Diets actually measured 2.1, 3.8, and
5.3% fat. Serum urea nitrogen and cholesterol
increased with increased dry matter intake and
with increasing dietary fat. Serum triglycerides
decreased at parturition and were similar
among diets through 20 days postpartum.
Thereafter, cows fed the 2.1% fat diet had
fewer serum triglycerides than cows receiving
3.8% and 5.3% fat diets. Similar differences
were observed with regard to mammary uptake
of triglycerides. Serum glucose peaked at
calving in all cows and tended to be similar
among diets. Glucose uptake by the mammary
gland increased with milk production. Cows
fed the 5.3% fat diet had less urine ketones by
3 weeks postpartum. Weeks to positive energy
balance were 8, 7, and 5 for cows fed 2.1, 3.8,
and 5.3% fat diets, respectively. Dry matter
intake in kg/day and as a percentage of body
weight tended to be greater in the high fat
group after 3 weeks of lactation. Milk yield
(total and 3.5% FCM) was similar among diets
through 10 weeks of lactation. Thereafter,
lactation curves in cows fed the 5.3% fat diet
were more persistent. Similar trends were
observed for milk fat and protein. Milk protein
percentage was slightly depressed on the 5.3%
fat diet, but protein yield increased
Performance of lactating dairy cows fed alfalfa haylage treated with bacterial inoculants at the time of ensilation
No full textSixty Holstein cows averaging 65 days in
milk at the initiation of a 13-week study were
used to evaluate three alfalfa haylages.
Haylages were treated at the time of ensilation
with either a Pioneer experimental inoculant
(Treatment A), no inoculant (Treatment B), or
Pioneer brand 1174® inoculant (Treatment C).
Cows fed A had greater peak yields and tended
to produce more milk than cows fed B and C.
Milk fat percentages were 3.7, 3.66, and 3.59
for A, B, and C, respectively. Greater milk
yield and butterfat percentage translated into
higher (P<.05) daily fat production by cows fed
A compared to C but not B
Determination of the amount of wet corn gluten feed to include in diets for lactating dairy cows
No full textTwenty-four multiparous Holstein cows
were used in six 4×4 Latin squares with 28-
day periods to determine inclusion rates for
wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) in diets for
lactating dairy cows. Cows were housed in a
tie-stall barn and fed diets to meet or exceed
NRC (1989) nutrient requirements. Experimental
treatments were 1) control, 2) WCGF
constituting 20%, 3) WCGF constituting
27.5%, and 4) WCGF constituting 35% of
the diet dry matter. Cows fed WCGF consumed
more dry matter (P<0.01) and produced
more (P<0.001) milk, energy-corrected
milk, and fat-corrected milk than cows
fed the control diet. Dry matter intakes were
58.9 lb/day for control and 60.2 lb/day for
those cows consuming WCGF diets. Cows
fed the control diet produced 83.2 lb/day of
milk, whereas those fed WCGF diets produced
91.5 lb/day. Production efficiency
was increased (P<0.001) on the WCGF diets.
The percentage of fat in milk, total protein
production, and milk urea nitrogen were
higher (P<0.01) for cows fed WCGF diets
than controls. Plasma glucose, total alphaamino
nitrogen, urea nitrogen, and tryglycerides
were similar between cows fed the
control and WCGF diets. No differences
occurred in percentages of protein, lactose,
or solids-not-fat content, nor was somatic
cell count affected by the addition of WCGF.
Body weight and condition score were not
affected by treatment. We conclude that
WCGF is an excellent feed for lactating
dairy cows when included in the diet at 20%,
27.5%, or 35% of the dry matter
The use of somatic cell counts to identify cows with subclinical mastitis at calving
No full textThe dynamics of somatic cell counts
during the first 10 days in milk were compared
among udder quarters of cows with
intra-mammary infection at the time of calving
and those with no infection present. The
study group consisted of 81 cows calving at
the Kansas State University dairy research
herd between July of 1998 and February of
1999. Cows with an intramammary infection
had greater, average, somatic cell counts at
calving, and this difference continued
throughout the 10-day period. Using a breakpoint
of 1,000,000 somatic cells/ml at calving
to select animals for culture would have
correctly selected 81% of the quarters that
were actually infected with major mastitis
pathogens
Effect of two new teat dip prepatations on teat condition, somatic cell count, and incidence of mastitis under natural exposure
No full textApplication of an iodophor teat dip before
and after milking is a common practice in the
dairy industry as an effective method of preventing
mastitis by reducing microbial populations
at the teat end. Overall effectiveness of a
teat dip is a function of its ability to reduce the
microbial population and maintain a pliable
teat skin condition. The objective of this study
was to evaluate a new conditioning component
in iodophor teat dips containing either
0.5% or 1.0% iodine. Two experiments were
conducted during late winter (133 cows) and
during summer (104 cows) to evaluate two
new iodophor teat dips developed by KO
Manufacturing, Inc., Springfield, Mo. The two
teat dips contain a nontraditional conditioning
agent designed to sustain the lipid bilayer of
the teat skin and improve skin condition. Dinerin
(0.5% iodine) was equally effective as
Westfalia-Surge Derma-Kote during the winter
study in preventing new mammary infections
based on the number of new clinical
cases of mastitis and somatic cell counts. Teat
and teat end condition were similarly maintained
by both teat dips during the winter
study. Two Dinerin teat dips, 0.5% and 1.0%
iodine, were compared to Westfalia-Surge
Teat-Kote 10-3 (0.5% iodine) during the
summer. The Dinerin 0.5% iodine dip was
most effective in preventing new cases of
clinical mastitis. Teat and teat end conditions
were maintained similarly by all three dips.
Somatic cell counts were similar among
treatments when cows that developed clinical
mastitis were deleted from the analysis. The
numbers of clinical mastitis cases were 5, 0,
and 6 for cows dipped with Westfalia-Surge
Teat-Kote 10-3, Dinerin 0.5% iodine, and
Dinerin 1.0% iodine, respectively
Expeller soybean meal as a source of rumen undegradable protein for lactating dairy cows
No full textThe loss of meat and bone meal as a source of high quality protein for lactating cows creates an increased need for nonanimal sources. Fifty six Holstein cows were used to evaluate expeller soybean meal as a source of rumen undegradable intake (by-pass) protein for high producing cows. Expeller soybean meal tended to improve 3.5% contain fat-corrected milk yield and increased milk fat percentage relative to diets containing either solvent soybean meal or a meat and bone meal:blood meal mixture. In contrast, the protein percentage in milk was depressed significantly when cows were fed expeller soybean meal compared to animal protein. A limiting amino acid (possibly methionine) is implicated
Performance of dairy heifers fed high forage diets supplemented with bambermycins, lasalocid or monesin
No full textOne hundred and twenty Holstein heifers
weighing approximately 450 lb at the beginning
of the study were used to evaluate the impact of
bambermycins (Gainpro®), monensin
(Rumensin®), and lasalocid (Bovatec®) on
performance when included in high forage diets
fed ad libitum. Heifers were housed in 24 pens
(5 hf/pen) containing a super hutch. Pens were
blocked (3 pens/block) from heaviest to lightest
and randomly assigned within blocks to
bambermycins, lasalocid, or monensin treatment.
Bambermycins, lasalocid, and monensin
were mixed with fine ground corn and fed as
topdressing to deliver 20.25, 150, and 150
mg/hd daily, respectively. Diets were formulated
(NRC 2001) to support body weight gains
of less than 2 lb/hd daily using a mix of
chopped alfalfa hay and corn silage (lighter
weight heifers) or chopped alfalfa hay, chopped
prairie hay, and corn silage (heavier weight
heifers) supplemented with a mineral/vitamin
premix. All heifers were fed a common total
mixed ration, differing only in topdressing.
Diets were fed once daily for ad libitum intake.
The study continued until the average
bodyweight exceeded 800 lbs. (140 days on
study) at which time they were inseminated and
first service conception rate determined.
Heifers fed monensin consumed less dry
matter (DMI) (P<0.05) than those fed
bambermycins and lasalocid during the periods
d 29 to 56, 57 to 84, and 113 to 140 but DMI
was similar across treatments during the 140-
day study. No differences were observed for
ADG over the 140-d study but heifers fed
bambermycins and monensin tended (P=0.06)
to gain faster during days 85 to 112 than heifers
fed lasalocid. Feed efficiency (gain/feed)
varied, but heifers consuming diets containing
bambermycins and monensin were more efficient
(P<0.05) during days 85 to 112 and tended
to be more efficient (P=0.051) during the 140-
day study than heifers consuming lasalocid.
Bodyweight, condition score, and hip height
were similarly influenced by dietary treatments.
First service conception rates were 60, 47 and
55% for heifers fed bambermycins, lasalocid,
and monensin, respectively
Effects of rumensin and bovatec on growth, feed intake, and feed efficiency in dairy calves
No full textOne hundred Holstein heifers were used
to examine the effects of monensin
(Rumensin®) and lasalocid (Bovatec®)
included in calf starter and grower diets.
Heifers were assigned alternately at birth to a starter feed containing either Rumensin (28
g/ton, 90% dry matter basis) or Bovatec (40
g/ton, 90% dry matter basis). The Bovatec
group was switched to a starter feed containing
28 g Bovatec/ton (90% dry matter basis)
at 6 weeks of age. Both groups were
switched at 8 weeks of age to grower diets
designed to deliver 100 mg/head/day of either
Rumensin or Bovatec. No treatment differences
were observed between birth and 8
weeks of age. Heifers were moved from
individual hutches at 8 weeks of age to group
pens (five heifers/pen) and remained on the
same treatment for the next 84 days. During
this 84-day period, heifers receiving
Rumensin gained more weight at a faster rate
and tended to be more efficient than heifers
fed Bovatec. No differences were observed
in feed intake, skeletal growth as measured by
hip height, or body condition score
Effect of protein level in prepartum diets on postpartum performance of dairy cows
No full textSeventy-five Holstein cows were used in
a randomized complete block design to determine
the level of dietary protein required to
support metabolic functions and maintain
body reserves during the periparturient period
and subsequent lactation. Cows fed the
14.7% protein diet prepartum had a more
ideal body condition score during the entire
prepartum and postpartum periods. During
the first 90 days of lactation, few consistent
differences occurred among prepartum diets
for milk production, but the response to rbST
was greatest for cows fed 11.7, 13.7 or
14.7% protein prepartum. Full 305-day
lactation records showed the most milk, fat,
and protein for cows consuming 13.7 or
14.7% protein prepartum. Results of our
study indicate that using 13.7 to 14.7% crude
protein with approximately 45% undegradable
protein in the close-up diet for dairy
cattle produces beneficial outcomes during
the subsequent lactation
Extruded-expelled cottonseed meal with lint at a source of rumen undegradable protein for lactating dairy cows
No full textTwenty-four pluriparous Holstein cows
were used in six 4×4 Latin squares to evaluate
the value of extruded-expelled cottonseed
meal (EECM) with lint as a source of rumen
undegradable protein (RUP) for lactating
dairy cows. Cows were fed diets typical of
those used by commercial dairies with all the
cereal grain supplied as corn. Tallow was
used to balance the fat level across diets.
Experimental diets were: solvent soybean
meal (16% CP:35% RUP)=SBM 16-35;
solvent soybean meal (18% CP:35% RUP)=
SBM 18-35; extruded-expelled cottonseed
meal (16% CP:40% RUP)=EC16-40; bloodmeal/
fishmeal (16% CP:40% RUP)=BMFM
16-40. Average milk production was approximately
82 lbs and did not differ among treatments.
Cows fed BMFM 16-40 consumed
less dry matter than cows fed the other diets
and were more efficient in converting feed to
milk. No difference was observed in body
weight gain among treatments. Percentages
of milk fat and protein were similar, but
percentage of lactose was less in milk from
cows fed BMFM 16-40. Urea nitrogen was
highest in milk from cows fed SBM 18-35.
Increasing RUP from 35 to 40% of the dietary
protein tended to depress dry matter
intake with no effect on milk production,
whereas efficiency of milk production increased.
The casein fraction of milk protein
was not affected by diet, but the nonprotein
nitrogen fraction was greater in milk from
cows fed SBM 18-35. Feed costs/cwt milk
were 4.29, 5.18 for SBM
16-35, SBM 18-35, EC 16-40, and BMFM
16-40, respectively, based on commodity
prices in northeast Kansas. Extruded-expelled
cottonseed meal with lint
is an acceptable source of rumen
undegradable protein for lactating dairy cows
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