title: Effects of short dry periods on performance and metabolic status in Holstein dairy cows.
abstract: To evaluate effects of different dry period lengths on milk yield, milk composition, and energy balance of dairy cows, 122 multiparous and primiparous Holstein dairy cows were used in a completely randomized experimental design with 56-, 42-, and 35-d dry period lengths. Actual dry period lengths for respective treatments (TRT) were 56 +/- 5.1 d, 42 +/- 2.1 d, and 35 +/- 2.7 d. Overall, cows in the 42- and 56-d TRT gained more body condition than those in 35-d TRT during the dry period; however, postpartum body condition score did not change substantially among the TRT. Although from 3 to 210 DIM, differences were not detected in the milk yield of multiparous cows between the 35- and 56-d TRT, primiparous cows in the 35-d TRT produced less milk than those in 56-d TRT. In primiparous cows, the milk production at wk 9, 10, and 11 of lactation was lower in the 35-d compared with the 56-d TRT. Primiparous cows in the 35-d compared with the 56-d TRT produced less milk protein. In the 35-d TRT, serum triglyceride concentration was greater in primiparous cows than in multiparous cows during the peripartum period. Among primiparous cows, those in the 56-d TRT had greater concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids than those in the 35-d TRT during the peripartum period. No significant differences were observed in concentrations of serum glucose, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor-I during early lactation among TRT. There was also no difference among TRT for incidence of metabolic disorders. Thus, this study indicates that shortening the dry period to 35 d may be beneficial in multiparous and overconditioned cows, but not in primiparous cows.
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Physiology and Biometrics, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pezeshki
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mehrzad
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Ghorbani
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Rahmani
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Collier
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burvenich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D008894:Milk Proteins