Improving the lifetime performance of dairy cows is linked to higher profits, can benefit the environment, and enhance the public perception of dairy farming.
However, analysis of data from National Milk Records (NMR) suggests that the average lifetime performance of dairy herds in the UK is around 27,000 litres per cow, well short of a 50,000-litre target.
Nevertheless, advances in animal husbandry have already raised lifetime performance over the years. In addition, recent research has shown that stress created by a range of factors, has an effect on lifetime performance.
Transition cow management, heifer rearing and breeding policies can all affect the stress of an animal. These factors were examined in more detail during a study tour to North America, the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland. It involved visiting a number of research centres, and farms that ranged in size from 35 to 35,000 cows.
Transition cow
management
The management programme adopted with a dairy cow during the transition period (three weeks pre to three weeks post calving) will have a major impact on its production performance. Work carried out by Drs Stephen LeBlanc and Trevor DeVries at the University of Guelph, Canada has shown that cows suffering from hypocalcaemia and/or ketosis were at greater risk of developing other transition cow disorders, resulting in a reduction in milk output of up to 650kg per lactation.
Production effects were further compounded by the fact that incidences of sub-clinical ketosis in herds may be as high as 40%, and that cows that contracted ketosis were at a greater risk of contracting it again in subsequent lactations.
Work by Stephen and Trevor has focused on setting up management programmes to minimise the risk of transition cow disorders occurring. A summary of their findings, include:
Record all incidences of transition cow disorders and benchmark them against industry standards.Set up a monitoring programme to identify potential problem cases at an early stage and allow them to be dealt with before they develop. Metabolites that should be measured include serum calcium (Ca), beta hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA).Put measures in place that minimise the reduction in feed intake that cows experience as they approach calving. It is critical that cows have adequate feeding space (greater than 75cm per cow).Ensure that diets fed to transition cows at the various stages of the dry period meet their nutrient requirements.Implement changes which help to maximise the feed intake of cows after calving. For example, changes in feed space per cow (greater than 60cm per cow) and the timing and frequency of feed delivery had all been shown to have a positive effect on the feed intake of early-lactation cows.Heifer rearing
Rearing heifers to calve at two years of age is an essential element of maximising lifetime performance. Work by Professor Mike Van Amburgh (Cornell University), and also by staff at Trouw Nutreco, has shown that calves which achieve growth rates approaching 1kg/calf/ day in the period between birth and weaning will develop into cows with an enhanced lifetime yield. In order to achieve this target, a number of points must be implemented:
Calves must receive at least 10 % bodyweight colostrum at birth and continue to receive colostrum for another four days.Calves must be reared in a warm, dry, draught free environment.Milk replacers should be fed at a higher rate than traditional milk replacers (900kg to 1,000g per calf per day) and the crude protein concentration should be raised to 24% to 28 % CP to encourage growth.Calves should be offered increasing quantities of concentrate (25% CP) from a few days after birth. Weaning should be a gradual process carried out at 56 to 63 days.Crossbreeding
Crossbreeding is defined as the mating of parents of two or more breeds or strains or species together. Some milk producers have been using hybrid vigour as a means of improving fertility, health and longevity within their dairy herds.
Work at Teagasc, Moorepark, outlined by Dr Frank Buckley, has shown that under a low-input, spring-calving system:
Holstein Friesian x Jersey cows had a higher fat + protein yield than the Holstein Friesian breed.Holstein Friesian x Jersey cows also had better fertility and survival rates.Farmers in Ireland who used crossbreeding were €90/ha more profitable than farmers who did not.However, the low milk yields recorded in this system make it difficult to achieve an average lifetime performance of 50,000 litres per cow without adversely affecting the introduction of new genetics, given that it would take nine to 10 lactations to reach the target.
In addition, it is difficult to judge if the same effect would be achieved on a moderate to high-input concentrate feeding system more typical in the UK.
As a result, I visited Dr Brad Heins (University of Minnesota) to discuss his research. Brad has focused on identifying a three-way cross to optimise production and longevity. The work has suggested that the optimum crossing pattern involved Holstein x Montbéliarde x Viking Red. The latter breed was recently formed as a result of combining genetic improvement programmes for Swedish Red, Finnish Ayshire and Danish Red breeds.
The programme is known commercially as Procross, and is currently being assessed on eight commercial dairy units across Minnesota. Results from the initial crosses have shown that:
Montbéliarde cross heifers produced a similar milk volume to Holsteins but had a higher fat and protein yield.Montbéliarde and Viking Red crosses were shown to have improved fertility and survival rates compared with Holsteins. The studies suggest that using the Procross approach may have some merit in a moderate to high concentrate feeding input system. However, further investigations are required under local conditions.
*Dr Aidan Cushnahan is a CAFRE dairying development adviser. His study tour was funded through an Agricultural Educator Award given by the Farmers Club Charitable Trust. The report can be read in full at www.farmersclub.com.
The dawning of a new technological age in dairy farming
Balanced breeding goals a priority in west Cork
Improving the lifetime performance of dairy cows is linked to higher profits, can benefit the environment, and enhance the public perception of dairy farming.
However, analysis of data from National Milk Records (NMR) suggests that the average lifetime performance of dairy herds in the UK is around 27,000 litres per cow, well short of a 50,000-litre target.
Nevertheless, advances in animal husbandry have already raised lifetime performance over the years. In addition, recent research has shown that stress created by a range of factors, has an effect on lifetime performance.
Transition cow management, heifer rearing and breeding policies can all affect the stress of an animal. These factors were examined in more detail during a study tour to North America, the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland. It involved visiting a number of research centres, and farms that ranged in size from 35 to 35,000 cows.
Transition cow
management
The management programme adopted with a dairy cow during the transition period (three weeks pre to three weeks post calving) will have a major impact on its production performance. Work carried out by Drs Stephen LeBlanc and Trevor DeVries at the University of Guelph, Canada has shown that cows suffering from hypocalcaemia and/or ketosis were at greater risk of developing other transition cow disorders, resulting in a reduction in milk output of up to 650kg per lactation.
Production effects were further compounded by the fact that incidences of sub-clinical ketosis in herds may be as high as 40%, and that cows that contracted ketosis were at a greater risk of contracting it again in subsequent lactations.
Work by Stephen and Trevor has focused on setting up management programmes to minimise the risk of transition cow disorders occurring. A summary of their findings, include:
Record all incidences of transition cow disorders and benchmark them against industry standards.Set up a monitoring programme to identify potential problem cases at an early stage and allow them to be dealt with before they develop. Metabolites that should be measured include serum calcium (Ca), beta hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA).Put measures in place that minimise the reduction in feed intake that cows experience as they approach calving. It is critical that cows have adequate feeding space (greater than 75cm per cow).Ensure that diets fed to transition cows at the various stages of the dry period meet their nutrient requirements.Implement changes which help to maximise the feed intake of cows after calving. For example, changes in feed space per cow (greater than 60cm per cow) and the timing and frequency of feed delivery had all been shown to have a positive effect on the feed intake of early-lactation cows.Heifer rearing
Rearing heifers to calve at two years of age is an essential element of maximising lifetime performance. Work by Professor Mike Van Amburgh (Cornell University), and also by staff at Trouw Nutreco, has shown that calves which achieve growth rates approaching 1kg/calf/ day in the period between birth and weaning will develop into cows with an enhanced lifetime yield. In order to achieve this target, a number of points must be implemented:
Calves must receive at least 10 % bodyweight colostrum at birth and continue to receive colostrum for another four days.Calves must be reared in a warm, dry, draught free environment.Milk replacers should be fed at a higher rate than traditional milk replacers (900kg to 1,000g per calf per day) and the crude protein concentration should be raised to 24% to 28 % CP to encourage growth.Calves should be offered increasing quantities of concentrate (25% CP) from a few days after birth. Weaning should be a gradual process carried out at 56 to 63 days.Crossbreeding
Crossbreeding is defined as the mating of parents of two or more breeds or strains or species together. Some milk producers have been using hybrid vigour as a means of improving fertility, health and longevity within their dairy herds.
Work at Teagasc, Moorepark, outlined by Dr Frank Buckley, has shown that under a low-input, spring-calving system:
Holstein Friesian x Jersey cows had a higher fat + protein yield than the Holstein Friesian breed.Holstein Friesian x Jersey cows also had better fertility and survival rates.Farmers in Ireland who used crossbreeding were €90/ha more profitable than farmers who did not.However, the low milk yields recorded in this system make it difficult to achieve an average lifetime performance of 50,000 litres per cow without adversely affecting the introduction of new genetics, given that it would take nine to 10 lactations to reach the target.
In addition, it is difficult to judge if the same effect would be achieved on a moderate to high-input concentrate feeding system more typical in the UK.
As a result, I visited Dr Brad Heins (University of Minnesota) to discuss his research. Brad has focused on identifying a three-way cross to optimise production and longevity. The work has suggested that the optimum crossing pattern involved Holstein x Montbéliarde x Viking Red. The latter breed was recently formed as a result of combining genetic improvement programmes for Swedish Red, Finnish Ayshire and Danish Red breeds.
The programme is known commercially as Procross, and is currently being assessed on eight commercial dairy units across Minnesota. Results from the initial crosses have shown that:
Montbéliarde cross heifers produced a similar milk volume to Holsteins but had a higher fat and protein yield.Montbéliarde and Viking Red crosses were shown to have improved fertility and survival rates compared with Holsteins. The studies suggest that using the Procross approach may have some merit in a moderate to high concentrate feeding input system. However, further investigations are required under local conditions.
*Dr Aidan Cushnahan is a CAFRE dairying development adviser. His study tour was funded through an Agricultural Educator Award given by the Farmers Club Charitable Trust. The report can be read in full at www.farmersclub.com.
The dawning of a new technological age in dairy farming
Balanced breeding goals a priority in west Cork
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