Effect of Prepartum and Postpartum Dietary Energy on Growth and Lactation of Primiparous Cows

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Abstract
Sixty-seven Holstein replacement heifers (19 mo) were fed a standard (59.7% TDN) or a high energy (69.3% TDN) diet until parturition. After parturition, primiparous cows were fed either 0 or 2.8% supplemental tallow for 150 d in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement with prepartum treatments. High energy prepartum increased BW (693.5 vs. 663.7 kg) and body condition scores (3.72 vs. 3.55) at calving. Increased energy density of the diet prepartum did not affect milk yield or composition. Supplemental dietary fat postpartum increased milk yield approximately 1.5 kg/d, but the response was not observed until 7 wk postpartum. Heifers fed the standard diet prepartum and no supplemental fat postpartum had higher DMI than other treatments. Heifers fed high energy prepartum and supplemental fat postpartum lost the greatest BW and body condition from 1 to 5 wk postpartum. Heifers fed high energy diets prepartum had higher concentrations of blood NEFA, BHBA, and liver triglycerides. Increases in BW and body condition scores at calving above approximately 660 kg and 3.5, respectively, do not enhance lactation performance. When 2.8% supplemental fat was fed to primiparous cows, milk yield improved approximately 1.5 kg/d after wk 7 of lactation.