Limiting factors for milk production in dairy cows: perspectives from physiology and nutrition

Abstract

Milk production in dairy cows increases worldwide since many decades. With rising milk yields, however, potential limiting factors are increasingly discussed. Particularly the availability of glucose and amino acids is crucial to maintain milk production as well as animal health. Limitations arise from feed sources, the rumen and digestive tract, tissue mobilization, intermediary metabolism and transport, and the uptake of circulating nutrients by the lactating mammary gland. The limiting character can change depending on the stage of lactation. Although physiological boundaries are prevalent throughout the gestation-lactation cycle, limitations are aggravated during the early lactation period when high milk production is accompanied by low feed intake and high mobilization of body reserves. The knowledge about physiological constraints may help to improve animal health and make milk production more sustainably. The scope of this review is to address contemporary factors related to production limits in dairy cows from a physiological perspective. Besides acknowledged physiological constraints, selected environmental and management-related factors affecting animal performance and physiology will be discussed. Potential solutions and strategies to overcome or to alleviate these constraints can only be presented briefly. Instead, they are thought to address existing shortcomings and to identify possibilities for optimization. Despite a scientific-based view on physiological limits, we should keep in mind that only healthy animals could use their genetic capacity and produce high amounts of milk.

Impact of Plant Spacing and Nitrogen Rates on Growth Characteristics and Yield Attributes of Egyptian Cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.)

“…High nitrogen requirements are a common limiting factor in crop growth based on their role in cotton photosynthesis and canopy development ( Devkota et al, 2013 ; Muhammad et al, 2019 ; Gross, 2022 ; Rivero et al, 2022 ; Van Der Sluijs, 2022 ; Zhi et al, 2022 ). Because of this, it is the most crucial component in cotton fertilization to get a desirable yield ( Bondada and Oosterhuis, 2001 ).…”

Potential role of hypoxia in maintaining lactation persistency of dairy cows

“…Although lactation persistency is an important economic trait for dairy cows, the biological mechanism underlying lactation persistency difference among cows is still unclear. Physiological factors, such as hormone secretion and absorption of nutrients, play important role in the lactation characteristics of dairy cows (Gross 2022). Although the role of hypoxia in multiple tissues is revealed, how oxygen metabolism influences mammary physiology remain to be investigated.…”

Progress in Research on Key Factors Regulating Lactation Initiation in the Mammary Glands of Dairy Cows

“…The duration of light exposure also influences the content of hormones (e.g., PRL, melatonin, and IGF-1) in the organism. Therefore, the role of light in the regulation of lactogenesis cannot be underestimated [ 52 ] ( Figure 3 ).…”