Effect of Parity on Dry Matter Intake at Parturition in Dairy Cattle

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Abstract
Ten 1st and 2nd parity (young) and 10 3rd parity or more (aged) animals were fed wilted alfalfa-brome silage free choice plus 1.8 kg grain daily for at least 3 wk prepartum and to 6.4 kg grain by day 7 postpartum. Average daily dry matter (kg), Ca (g), and P (g) intakes for young, nonparetic aged and paretic aged cows on day 14 prepartum were 7.45, 8.71, 9.37; 61, 72, 78 and 28, 33, 35. Depression of dry matter intake on day 1 prepartum and calving day vs. day 14 prepartum for young, nonparetic aged and paretic aged cows averaged 24.5, 25, and 52%. Incidence of parturient paresis in young and aged cows was 0 (0/10) and 30% (3/10). Aged paretic cows consumed less dry matter on calving day than aged nonparetic cows. Aged cows had lower plasma concentration of Ca (days 0, 1, 2) and P (days -1, 0, 2, 3), higher free fatty acids in plasma (days 1, 3, 7), and higher Mg in plasma than young cows. Paretic aged cows had a lower rate of rumen contractions (days 0, 1, 2, 3, 7) than nonparetic aged and young cows. The importance of keeping cows on feed immediately pre- and postpartum must be stressed.