Effects of Feeding Concentrates to Maintain Body Weight of Dairy Cows in Early Lactation

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
To provide adequate energy intake during early lactation, 2 18-week trials were conducted in which concentrates were increased after calving to essentially ad libitum levels but adjusted weekly to maintain or stabilize weight to the postpartum level. In Trial I, 12 Holsteins, and in Trial n, 13 Holsteins and 3 Ayrshires, were fed forage ad libitum starting 3 weeks before parturition. Lead feeding was utilized prior to parturition, with daily concentrate increases of 0.45 kg/day until 9.1 kg/day was achieved or parturition occurred. After calving, concentrates were increased 0.45 kg/day until the cow began to increase from the postpartum body weight, then the grain allowance was reduced. Solids-corrected milk (SCM) production peaked at Week 3 in both trials. The total digestible nutrients (TDN) requirements were met by the 3rd and 6th week of each trial, respectively. Grain dry matter (DM) intake was maximum and forage dry matter intake minimum at Week 5 in the 2 trials. As the grain allowance was reduced because of body weight increases the cows compensated for the energy formerly suppliedfrom grain by increasing forage consumption. After early initial average losses up to 14 kg, body weight was stabilized within +3.6 kg of the postpartum weight by Week 12.