Comparison of shortened and conventional dry period management strategies

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare 2 dry-cow management strategies and evaluate the effect of shortened dry period strategy on feed intake, metabolism, and postpartum performance of dairy cows in early lactation. Twenty-nine high-yielding dairy cows were divided into 2 groups. The control (CON) group (n=14) was assigned to a traditional dry period of approximately 60 d (57±5.9 d) and was fed a far-off dry cow ration from dry-off to -21 d relative to expected parturition. From d -21 relative to expected parturition, the cows were switched to a precalving ration containing an additional 3kg of concentrates. The cows of the experimental group (n=15) were assigned to a shortened dry period (SDP; 35±6.3 d) and were continuously fed a late-lactation diet from d -60 d relative to expected parturition until calving. After calving, both groups were fed the same lactation diet corresponding to their lactation requirements and cows were followed for 100 d of lactation. Prepartum dry matter intake of the cows assigned to an SDP and fed a late-lactation diet was approximately 4.11kg/cow per day greater compared with the CON group during the 60 d. However, no effect of dry period strategy on postpartum dry matter intake was detected. The cows with an SDP produced approximately 2.78kg/d (6.9%) less milk in the first 100 d of lactation than CON cows; the difference was not statistically significant. No differences were observed in live body weight, body condition score, or back-fat thickness between the treatments. Similarly, no differences existed in concentrations of plasma metabolites. The cows of the SDP group showed lower pH and increased concentrations of lactic acid and volatile fatty acids prepartum than the CON cows. Postpartum concentrations of lactic acid, volatile fatty acids, and NH3 and pH in rumen fluid did not differ between the treatments. Shortening of the dry period did not affect the colostrum quality or birth weights of the calves. Based on the results of this study, a traditional dry period management strategy appeared to be more favorable, considering the dry matter intake and milk production, compared with an SDP and feeding a late-lactation diet throughout the dry period.

Effects of dry period length on metabolic status, fertility, udder health, and colostrum production in 2 cow breeds

“…The 4W cows produced less colostrum, but colostrum quality was not affected, confirming findings in other studies (Rastani et al, 2005;Watters et al, 2008;Klusmeyer et al, 2009;Cermakova et al, 2014;Mayasari et al, 2015). The IgG content in colostrum was not analyzed, but the higher protein content in colostrum of 4W cows than of 8W cows presumably reflects higher IgG content (Fleenor and Stott, 1980).…”

Intramammary Infusion of Casein Hydrolysate for Involution of Single Mastitic Mammary Quarters Elevating Cow-Level Somatic Cell Count

“…In many cases, mammary involution is believed to be a contributor to the spontaneous cure of previous IMIs from one lactation to the next [20]. By design, the mastitic quarters in our study were dry for longer than the typical dry period of approximately 60 days [21], with more than 200 days in some cases. Bacterial cure was observed in over 85% of the treated and involuted quarters in this study, while two-thirds contracted a new IMI while dry.…”

Effects of non-lactating period length on the subsequent calving ease and reproductive performance of Holstein, Brown Swiss and the crosses

“…Furthermore, there was a 9.8% decrease in the relative contribution that the 30-d dry half udders made to the total daily amount of milk produced compared with half udders of the control group had 70-d NLP . Jolicoeur et al (2010), however, reported that shortening the NLP to 35 d augmented the milk yield by 3% compared with a NLP of 65 d. Other reports indicate that a shortening of the NLP had no effect on milk yield in the first 60 d postpartum (Soleimani et al, 2012;Cermakova et al, 2014). Accordingly, various rationales subsist for a decreased milk yield due to a short NLP.…”

“…Similarly, recent retrospective studies indicated that reducing the NLP length resulted in a reduction in milk yield in the subsequent lactation (Bachman and Schairer, 2003;Watters et al, 2008;Mantovani et al, 2010;Atashi et al, 2013;Cermakova et al, 2014). When the NLP has been shortened, additional milk is produced in the ongoing lactation which may be advantageous if there is no yield depression in the subsequent lactation.…”