Characterization of the Management Practices of the Top Milk Producing Herds in the Country

Jordan, Ellen R.; Fourdraine, R.H.

doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(93)77661-4

Cited by 65 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…A survey of high-producing herds in the United States showed that 91% used corn silage and 58 and 81% were using alfalfa hay and alfalfa silage, respectively (Kellogg et al, 2001). Most producers prefer feeding diets with mixtures of forages rather than a single forage (Jordan and Fourdraine, 1993). Highquality alfalfa silage (AS) and high-quality corn silage (CS) typically contain similar concentrations of NDF as a percentage of DM.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Effects of varying dietary ratios of corn silage to alfalfa silage on digestion of neutral detergent fiber in lactating dairy cows

Lopes

Cook

Combs

2015

Journal of Dairy Science

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An in vivo study was performed to test an in vitro procedure and model that predicts total-tract neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility for lactating dairy cattle. Corn silage (CS) and alfalfa silage (AS) were used as forages for this study. These forages had similar NDF composition, but fiber in the CS contained less indigestible NDF compared with AS (35.5 and 47.8% of indigestible NDF, respectively). The in vitro method estimated rate of digestion of alfalfa potentially digestible NDF to be approximately 2 times faster than CS fiber (6.11 and 3.21%/h, respectively). Four diets were formulated containing different proportions of CS to AS: 100CS:0AS, 67CS:33AS, 33CS:67AS, and 0CS:100AS, as percentage of diet DM basis. The objective was to construct diets that contained approximately similar levels of NDF but with different pool sizes and rates of digestion of potentially digestible NDF. Diets were fed to 8 ruminally cannulated, multiparous, lactating dairy cows in a replicated 4×4 Latin square with 21-d periods. Total-tract fiber digestibility and fiber digestion kinetic parameters observed in vivo were compared with the values predicted by the in vitro assay and model. Total-tract NDF digestibility coefficients were similar (41.8 and 40.6% of total NDF) for the in vitro and in vivo methods, respectively. As the proportion of dietary alfalfa increased, the digestibility of NDF increased. The rate of digestion of potentially digestible NDF predicted from the in vitro assay was also similar to what was observed in vivo. Results suggest that the in vitro total-tract NDF digestibility model could be used to predict rate of fiber digestion and NDF digestibility for lactating dairy cattle.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Effects of varying dietary ratios of corn silage to alfalfa silage on digestion of neutral detergent fiber in lactating dairy cows

Lopes

Cook

Combs

2015

Journal of Dairy Science

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“…A survey of the highest producing herds in the United States revealed that over 67% of producers used a TMR feeding system, and that these producers averaged 2.9 groups of cows that were fed 2.7 times daily (Jordan and Fourdraine, 1993). Several researchers have examined various grouping strategies and suggested that cows might best be grouped by nutrient requirements (Sniffen et al, 1993).…”

Section: Factors Influencing Group Size and Number Of Groupsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Animal Grouping on Feeding Behavior and Intake of Dairy Cattle

Grant¹,

Albright²

2001

Journal of Dairy Science

213

187

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Although data are scarce, it is clear that grouping strategy can have a significant impact on the feeding behavior and feed intake of dairy cattle. Feed intake is controlled by ruminoreticular fill and physiological mechanisms, but grouping is a component of the cow's feeding environment that can modulate intake as a result of its impact on cow comfort, competition for feed and other resources, and herd health. Social dominance and competition for feed impact feeding behavior and proper grouping strategy will minimize the negative impact of excessive competition on intake and enhance beneficial effects of group feeding such as social facilitation. Primiparous cows benefit from separate grouping from older animals by increased intake and productivity. Bunk space, accessibility of feed, and type of feeding system must be considered when determining the optimal group size. There appears to be no problem with large (>200 cows) groups of cows per se, but management decisions such as overcrowding with insufficient head gates or manger space play a role in determining cow well-being and feeding behavior. Research with group sizes larger than 400 cows needs to evaluate productivity, feeding and other behavior, and animal well-being. Significant overcrowding appears to reduce feeding activity, alter resting behavior, and decrease rumination activity. Negative social consequences of moving cows between groups last 3 to 7 d. Although the effect of grouping on feeding behavior remains largely unquantitated at this point, the effect is potentially large and requires further research to describe the impact of cow dynamics within a group on feed intake.

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“…Severe symptoms of hypocalcemia lead to milk fever (Oetzel and Goff 1998). In the United States, milk fever is reported to directly affect 5 to 11% of fresh lactating cows, while subclinical symptoms were evident in up to 50% of the dairy herds [Jordan and Fourdraine 1993;Beede 1996;National Research Council (NRC) 2001]. Economic losses not only include the direct costs of treating animals and decreased milk production, but also secondary problems such as inappetance and predisposition to develop ketosis, retained placenta, displaced abomasum, mastitis, as well as a reduced productive life (Curtis et al 1983;Horst et al 1997;NRC 2001).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships between soil cations and plant characteristics based on spatial variability in a forage field

Gagnon¹,

Bélanger²,

Nolin³

et al. 2003

Can. J. Plant Sci.

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2003. Relationships between soil cations and plant characteristics based on spatial variability in a forage field. Can. J. Plant Sci. 83: 343-350. Spatial variability within a forage field can be used to assess how soil properties relate to forage characteristics of yield, mineral composition, and nutritive value. The relationship between the dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) of the forage and soil cations is of particular interest to dairy farmers because of problems related to hypocalcemia. An experiment was conducted on a dairy farm in southern Québec (Canada) to determine the variability in soil cations (K, Mg, Ca) and forage characteristics (yield, mineral composition, and nutritive value) and to establish relationships between them, primarily with respect to DCAD. A 10-ha field with a tile-drained silty loam soil was seeded in 1998 with a mixture of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.). Soil samples were collected on a systematic grid in spring (n = 151) and fall (n = 38) 1999. Forage samples were collected at these sampling points at the first harvest in June 1999 and 2000. Soil K and K-related properties (K/CEC, Mg/K, Ca/K) displayed the largest variability among selected soil cation properties in both samplings, with coefficients of variation (CV) ranging from 35 to 58%. Dry matter (DM) yield, plant mineral composition, and forage nutritive value had low to moderate variabilities (8 < CV < 38%). Dry matter yield was not closely related to soil cations. High correlation coefficients were found between plant K and soil K (0.62 < r < 0.67), and between DCAD and soil K (0.67 < r < 0.72). Other plant mineral composition (P, Mg, Ca, S, Cl, and Na), CP, K/(Ca + Mg) and relative feed value showed low correlations and inconsistent trends with soil cations. Considering the importance of DCAD in predisposing dry cows to milk fever, the spatial variability of soil K should be considered to reduce the incidence of this metabolic disorder. Gagnon, B., Bélanger, G., Nolin, M. C. et Simard, R. R. 2003. Relations entre les cations du sol et les characteristiques des plantes basés sur la variabilité spatiale dans un champ de fourrage. Can. J. Plant Sci. 83: 343-350. La variabilité spatiale à l'intérieur d'un champ de fourrage peut être utilisée pour évaluer comment les propriétés du sol sont reliées aux caractéristiques du rendement, de la composition minérale, et de la valeur nutritive du fourrage. La relation entre le déficit alimentaire cations-anions (DACA) du fourrage et les cations du sol est d'un intérêt particulier pour les producteurs laitiers à cause des problèmes reliés à l'hypocalcémie. Une expérience a été conduite sur une ferme laitière du sud du Québec (Canada) afin de déterminer la variabilité en cations (K, Mg, Ca) du sol et les caractéristiques du fourrage (rendement, composition minérale et valeur nutritive) et pour établir les relations entre eux, en l'occurrence avec le DACA. Le champ de 10 ha était un loam limoneux drainé semé en 1998 avec un mélange de fléole des...

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Characterization of the Management Practices of the Top Milk Producing Herds in the Country

Cited by 65 publications

References 21 publications

Effects of varying dietary ratios of corn silage to alfalfa silage on digestion of neutral detergent fiber in lactating dairy cows

Effects of varying dietary ratios of corn silage to alfalfa silage on digestion of neutral detergent fiber in lactating dairy cows

Effect of Animal Grouping on Feeding Behavior and Intake of Dairy Cattle

Relationships between soil cations and plant characteristics based on spatial variability in a forage field

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