Performance, body fat reserves and plasma metabolites in Brown Swiss dairy cows: Indoor feeding versus pasture-based feeding

Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition
H-J FreyP Hofstetter

Abstract

Feeding dairy cows indoors or on pasture affects not only labour, machinery and housing costs, but also animals' performance and metabolism. This study investigates the effects of indoor feeding (IF) with a partial-mixed ration (PMR) versus pasture-based feeding (PF) on milk production, fertility, backfat thickness (BFT), body weight (BW) loss and energy metabolism of Brown Swiss (BS) dairy cows with similar genetic production potential. The IF herd consisted of 13 cows fed a PMR composed of maize and grass silage plus protein concentrate according to each cow's requirements. The PF herd consisted of 14 cows offered barn-ventilated hay ad libitum after calving from January until March and grazed on semi-continuous pastures during the vegetation period. The IF cows produced more energy-corrected milk (ECM) per standard lactation (9,407 vs. 5,960 kg; p < .01), more milk fat (378 vs. 227 kg; p < .01) and milk protein (326 vs. 215 kg; p < .01). The calving interval (377 vs. 405 days; p < .01) and time empty (86 vs. 118 days; p < .01) were shorter in the PF compared to IF, possibly also due to different selection criteria for maintaining the respective seasonal calving rhythm. The empty body fat loss calculated according to BCS unti...Continue Reading

References

Jul 24, 2004·Animal Reproduction Science·C R Barb, R R Kraeling
Nov 16, 2006·Journal of Dairy Science·L W Tauer, A K Mishra
May 16, 2008·Biometrical Journal. Biometrische Zeitschrift·Torsten HothornPeter Westfall
Aug 15, 2008·The Journal of Dairy Research·Ronaldo E VibartJames T Green
Feb 24, 2016·Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde·S ReichertA Liesegang

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