Effects of Two Different Feeding Strategies During Dry-Off on Metabolism in High-Yielding Dairy Cows

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to investigate different feeding strategies of high-yielding dairy cows during dry-off. With a 12- to 13-mo calving interval and increasing milk yield, metabolic and health problems during the dry-off period will increase. Twenty-two dairy primiparous and multiparous cows were randomly assigned to 2 feeding treatments. One group was fed straw ad libitum (straw), and the other group was fed silage (4 kg/d of dry matter) daily and straw ad libitum (silage). At the dry-off point (d 0), the cows had an average milk yield of 17.1 +/- 0.8 kg/d. All cows were milked in the morning on d 3 and 5 during the dry-off period. Rumen fluid was analyzed for volatile fatty acids (VFA), pH, NH3-N, and protozoa were counted from samples collected at d -3, 4, and 17. Total VFA concentration decreased at dry-off in both treatments and the drop was most pronounced among cows fed straw. Rumen pH increased significantly in both groups, and cows fed straw had significantly higher pH during dry-off. Ammonia N in rumen decreased significantly at dry-off and there was a tendency to lowered NH(3)-N in cows fed straw at dry-off. The plasma concentration of nonesterified fatty acids was markedly elevated during the dry-off period among cows in the straw treatment group, but was less pronounced among the cows fed silage with straw. The glucose level in plasma was not significantly affected during the dry-off period, and the insulin concentration was markedly reduced in both treatment groups. Plasma leptin concentration was lower in the lactating state than in the dry period. Both the beta-hydroxybutyrate and urea concentrations in plasma were significantly reduced during dry-off. Our results indicate that dry-off markedly affected the metabolism in the blood and in the rumen of the cows, and that the cows offered only straw during the dry-off were most affected.

Effects of dry period management and parity on rumen fermentation, blood metabolites, and liver triacylglyceride in dairy cows

“…In agreement with the VFA data, the rumen pH of the PAR 3' cows was higher than those of the PAR 2 cows across the 3 wk before calving. Our results are in contrast to those of Odensten et al (2005), who reported that the concentrations of total VFA before calving were lower in primiparous compared with multiparous cows. This discrepancy is probably due to the exclusion of primiparous cows in our study, which only allowed comparisons between second parity and older cows.…”

Metabolism and Udder Health at Dry-Off in Cows of Different Breeds and Production Levels

“…The low insulin level probably aided the increase in glucose. We have previously observed that plasma glucose was elevated during DO in cows receiving silage during DO (Odensten et al, 2005). These results show that the cows adapted to the physiological changes induced by the DO procedure.…”

Intestinal development of bovine foetuses during gestation is affected by foetal sex and maternal nutrition

“…None of the previous studies in cattle (Meyer et al, 2010;Duarte et al, 2013) used dairy cows. Such animals are often subject to different nutritional plans during gestation according to previous lactation and dry periods (Holtenius et al, 2003;Odensten et al, 2005;March et al, 2014) and even then producing significant amounts of colostrum in the post-natal period (Kessler et al, 2013;Garcia et al, 2014).…”