NR 24. Effect of two lead feeding systems prepartum on the performance of the Holstein dairy cow early in lactation

• J. R. Moya ^[1] ; C. Coppock ^[2]
  1. [1] University of Puerto Rico System

     University of Puerto Rico System

     Puerto Rico

     
  2. [2] Texas A & M Univesity, College Station, USA
• Localización: Archivos Latinoamericanos de Producción Animal, ISSN 1022-1301, ISSN-e 1022-1301, Vol. 5, Nº. 3, 1997 (Ejemplar dedicado a: Proceedings XV ALPA meeting 1)
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • In a randomized block design, 30 dry Holstein cows during the last 3 wk of gestation were assigned to diets of low (A) and high (B) energy to study the effects of the lead feeding concept prepartum on the nutritional transition of the dairy cow into lactation. At parturition the cows were fed a complete ration of concentrate, hay, whole cottonseed, and corn silage for 28 d. Prepartum dry matter and energy intakes were higher for cows fed the higher energy diet. No significant differences in body weights due to higher energy consumption prepartum were noted, except for wk 4 postpartum where cows fed the higher energy diet prepartum displayed higher body weights. A tendency was noted in which cows receiving higher energy prepartum exhibited higher standard deviations of body weight than cows the lower energy diet. Body condition scores were similar but a tendency was evident for all cows to decrease in condition as they advanced in lactation. Cows receiving supplemental corn prepartum had a tendency for higher postpartum dry matter intake and milk yield than cows receiving hay and concentrate only.