Effects of an acute feed restriction at the onset of the seasonal breeding period on reproductive performance and milk production in pasture-grazed dairy cows.
Reproduction and milk production responses were compared between dairy cows offered a high (HPA; n=453 in 4 replicates) or low (LPA; n=317 in 3 replicates) pasture allowance for the first 14 d after the planned start of mating (d 0 of experiment) in 2 seasonal, pasture-based dairy herds. Estimated pasture dry matter intake (DMI) between d -1 and 13 were 14.3+/-2.8 and 8.0+/-1.7kg of DM/cow per day for HPA and LPA cows, respectively. The LPA cows produced 22% less energy-corrected milk during the 14-d feeding treatment period, and milk yield remained less in LPA cows at d 53 despite all cows receiving pasture allowances to support DMI of 16kg of dry matter/cow per day from d 14 onwards. The 3-wk submission rate (percentage of cows inseminated at least once from d 0 to 20) and the 3- and 6-wk pregnancy rates of LPA cows (88, 45, and 71%, respectively) were lower than those of HPA cows (94, 53, and 78%, respectively), but conception rates to first (50%) or second (47%) service and final pregnancy rates (93%) did not differ between treatments. These results quantify the immediate and subsequent responses in reproductive performance and milk production to a severe restriction in DMI at the onset of a seasonal breeding period in pasture-grazed dairy cows.
Burke
C R
CR
DairyNZ Limited, Hamilton, New Zealand. chris.burke@dairynz.co.nz
Williams
Y J
YJ
Hofmann
L
L
Kay
J K
JK
Phyn
C V C
CV
Meier
S
S
D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D031204:Caloric Restriction / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D003612:Dairying; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011374:Progesterone; D011897:Random Allocation; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D013997:Time Factors
D011374:Progesterone