Forty crossbred (75-87.5% HF) dairy cows were included in a 2 x 2 factorial experiment composed of hand milking (HM) or machine milking (MM), and artificial rearing (bucket feeding, BR) or restricted suckling (RS). Calf suckling and milk feeding was done until 84 days postpartum. Milking was continued until the end of lactation. MM cows had a significantly (p<0.05) higher daily saleable milk production (SMP) (7.49 vs. 6.97 kg/day), daily total milk production (TMP) (8.60 vs. 7.96 kg/day) and total lactation milk yield (TLMY

The experiment to investigate the effect of restricted suckling (RS) and bucket rearing (BR) involved 40 calves from crossbred dairy cows with 75 % or 87.5 % Holstein-Friesian (HF) genes from 4 days after birth to weaning at 84 days of age. From days 4 to 84 of age restricted suckling calves were allowed to suckle their dams up to 15 minutes post milking. Bucket reared calves were fed a total of 236 kg whole milk and received concentrate supplementation after day 56. All calves were kept indoor, received Brachiaria ruziziensis grass ad libitum from day 56 and had free access to water. RS calves exhibited no losses and only 3 illnesses, whereas three BR calves died and nine developed illnesses. Up to 84 days of age RS calves had a highly significant faster average daily gain (ADG) than BR calves (620 g vrs. 390 g) and a significant larger heart-girth. RS and BR calves had an estimated adjusted daily metabolisable energy (ME) intake from milk of 18.9 ME and 12.6 ME and from the whole ration of 18.9 ME and 14.3 ME, respectively. Intake of milk fat, milk protein, Ca and P were highly significant higher in RS calves. Total protein intake from the whole ration was higher in BR calves. The daily intake of 18.9 MJ and 14.3 MJ ME for RS and BR calves exceeded the need for the realised ADG of 620 g and 390 g (average demand: 16.3 and 11.8 MJ ME) which suggest an oversupply of energy. Demand calculation for protein of 115 g and 103 g crude protein for RS and BR calves corresponded to an intake of 107.7 g and 118.9 g crude protein, respectively. This indicates that the efficiency in utilisation of crude protein seems to be grossly underestimated in suckling calves. Restricted suckling has been demonstrated to be an efficient method for calf rearing. Die RS-Kälber hatten keine Verluste und nur 3 Tiere zeigten leichte Erkrankungen, dagegen starben in der BRGruppe 3 Kälber und 9 erkrankten im Verlauf des Versuches. In der Wachstumsentwicklung waren die RS-Kälber den BR-Tieren deutlich überlegen mit 620 g täglicher Lebendmassezunahme gegenüber 390 g. Die aus der Zusammensetzung der Milch und dem Konzentrat ermittelte durchschnittliche tägliche Energieaufnahme betrug in der RS-Gruppe 18,9 MJ ME bzw. 14,3 MJ ME in der BR-Gruppe. BOONBRAHM et al.: Influence of calf rearing methods and milking methods on performance traits of crossbred dairy cattle 406 Die Aufnahme von Milchfett, -protein, Ca und P war in der RS-Gruppe hoch signifikant höher als in der BRGruppe. Durch die Konzentratzulage hatte die BR-Gruppe einen gesteigerten Proteinkonsum. Die tägliche Energieaufnahme überstieg für das realisierte Wachstum der Kälber den Bedarf in beiden Gruppen (18,9 MJ ME und 14,3 MJ ME gegenüber dem Bedarf von 16,3 und 11,8 MJ ME). Die für das Wachstum notwendige Proteinmenge (Bedarfswerte nach NRC, 1989) wurde in der RS-Gruppe nicht aufgenommen (115 gegenüber 108 g / Tag). Das deutet auf eine höhere Effizienz der Verwertung des Proteins aus der Milch, als in den Bedarfstabellen angegeben, hin. Es wurde nachgewiesen, dass restriktives...

Forty Thai x Holstein-Friesian (HF) crossbred dairy cows (75 % and 87.5 % HF upgrade level) with calves were used in experiments to investigate restricted suckling (RS) versus bucket rearing (BR) and hand versus machine milking in Thailand. Calves were kept indoors and remained with their dams during the first 4 days and were then allocated to the RS or BS treatment. Milking was done twice daily and RS-calves were allowed to suckle for 15 minutes after milking. All experimental animals were fed according to requirements with concentrate supplements, minerals and water ad lib. This paper reports effects on reproductive performance and weight of cows. Calving to first oestrus interval in cows with RS and BR calves were 72.2 ± 2.5 and 54.7 ± 2.5 (p < 0.001), respectively, and days open 114.2 ± 6.68 and 86.5 ± 6.7 (p < 0.01). Milking method (hand or machine) had no effect on days to first oestrus and days open. Primiparous cows had a longer calving to first oestrus interval than multiparous cows (p < 0.001) (72.3 ± 2.8 vs 54.5 ± 2.3) and a longer days open period (p < 0.01) (114.4 ± 7.4 vs 86.2 ± 6.1). Body weight change of cows during the first 2 months of lactation was not affected by any treatment or systematic factor tested. Die Rastzeit und die Serviceperiode der Kühe mit partiellem Säugen, respektive ohne Säugen der Kälber, war 72,2 ± 2,5 und 54,7 ± 2,5 (p<0,001), und 114,2 ± 6,68 und 86,5 ± 6,7 (p<0,01). Die Melkmethode (Hand oder Maschine) zeigte keinen Effekt auf die Rastzeit und die Serviceperiode. Erstlaktierende Kühe hatten eine längere Rastzeit (p<0,001) (72,3 ± 2,8 bzw. 54,5 ± 2,3) und eine längere Serviceperiode (p<0,01) (114,4 ± 7,4 bzw. 86,2 ± 6,1) als Kühe in späteren Laktationen. In den ersten 2 Monaten der Laktation verloren die Kühe 4 -5 % ihres Körpergewichtes. Es war kein Einfluss der Behandlungen festzustellen. Schlüsselwörter: Milchkühe, Thailand, Melkmethode, Reproduktionsleistungen, partielles Säugen BOONBRAHM et al.: Calf rearing methods and milking methods on performance traits of crossbred dairy cattle 304 Introduction Small holder dairy production is increasing in importance in Thailand and adequate methods for milking and calf rearing are required to secure the sustainable use of crossbred dairy cows. This paper reports results of an experiment comparing the effect of hand or machine milking and restricted suckling or bucket rearing of calves on reproduction and cow body weight of crossbred dairy cows.