The Effect of Extended Calving Intervals in High Lactating Cows on Milk Production and Profitability

Arbel, R.; Bigun, Y.; Ezra, E.; Sturman, H.; Hojman, David E.

doi:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(01)74513-4

Cited by 167 publications

(178 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Milk yield per feeding day was shown to be maintained during extended lactations in experimental herds in Sweden (Österman and Bertilsson, 2003) and Denmark (Christiansen et al, 2005), as well as commercial herds in Israel (Arbel et al, 2001). On the other hand, Auldist et al (2007) showed a small negative effect and Kolver et al (2007) showed some gains and some losses in milk yield of cows, which had their lactations extended to up to 2 yr in a pastoral system.…”

Section: Effect Of Calving Interval and Parity On Milk Yield Per Feedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of calving interval and parity on milk yield per feeding day in Danish commercial dairy herds

Lehmann

Fadel

Mogensen

et al. 2016

Journal of Dairy Science

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The idea of managing cows for extended lactations rather than lactations of the traditional length of 1 yr primarily arose from observations of increasing problems with infertility and cows being dried off with high milk yields. However, it is vital for the success of extended lactation practices that cows are able to maintain milk yield per feeding day when the length of the calving interval (CInt) is increased. Milk yield per feeding day is defined as the cumulated lactation milk yield divided by the sum of days between 2 consecutive calvings. The main objective of this study was to investigate the milk production of cows managed for lactations of different lengths, and the primary aim was to investigate the relationship between CInt, parity, and milk yield. Five measurements of milk yield were used: energy-corrected milk (ECM) yield per feeding day, ECM yield per lactating day, cumulative ECM yield during the first 305 d of lactation, as well as ECM yield per day during early and late lactation. The analyses were based on a total of 1,379 completed lactations from cows calving between January 2007 and May 2013 in 4 Danish commercial dairy herds managed for extended lactation for several years. Herd-average CInt length ranged from 414 to 521 d. The herds had Holstein, Jersey, or crosses between Holstein, Jersey, and Red Danish cows with average milk yields ranging from 7,644 to 11,286 kg of ECM per cow per year. A significant effect of the CInt was noted on all 5 measurements of milk yield, and this effect interacted with parity for ECM per feeding day, ECM per lactating day and ECM per day during late lactation. The results showed that cows were at least able to produce equivalent ECM per feeding day with increasing CInt, and that first-and second-parity cows maintained ECM per lactating day. Cows with a CInt between 17 and 19 mo produced 476 kg of ECM more during the first 305 d compared with cows with a CInt of less than 13 mo. Furthermore, early-lactation ECM yield was greater for all cows and late-lactation ECM yield was less for second-parity and older cows when undergoing an extended compared with a shorter lactation. Increasing CInt increased the dry period length with 3 to 5 d. In conclusion, the group of cows with longer CInt were able to produce at least equivalent amounts of ECM per feeding day when the CInt was up to 17 to 19 mo on these 4 commercial dairy farms.

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Section: Effect Of Calving Interval and Parity On Milk Yield Per Feedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of calving interval and parity on milk yield per feeding day in Danish commercial dairy herds

Lehmann

Fadel

Mogensen

et al. 2016

Journal of Dairy Science

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“…However, Shoshani et al (2014) have suggested that, in the herds with less than optimal reproductive performance, farmers must find a balance between income loss caused by the excessive days open and the income loss caused by high culling rates. Several studies have focused on the economics of managing this aspect in relation to the milk production, whereas others have considered the involvement of general farm management in addition to the milk production (Arbel et al 2001;Butler et al 2010;Dono et al 2013). In our study, the group of herds with the longest CI (≥ 410 d) had the lowest mean milk yield (7369 ± 237 kg) and the highest average SCC (P < 0.05).…”

Section: Optimal Calving Interval and Profitmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, some studies do not agree with this and consider that the problem lies in the inadequate management of high-producing herds, the level of the lactation persistency, and the genetic potential of animals (Pryce et al 2001;Kadokawa and Martin 2006). Arbel et al (2001) investigated the effect that extending the lactation has on the milk production and profitability in the following lactation. The overall benefit for both monitored lactations (that extended and that following) increased by an average $127 per cow.…”

Section: Optimal Calving Interval and Profitmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations of reproduction and health with the performance and profit of dairy cows

Krpálková¹,

Cabrera²,

Kvapilík³

et al. 2016

AGR ECON-CZECH

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The objective of the study was to evaluate the associations of the variable intensity in culling of dairy cows and culling due to the movement disorders, mammary gland diseases, long calving interval, low fertility and postpartum complications with production, reproduction and economic parameters on 60 commercial dairy herds. The data encompassed 34 632 cow records from the Czech Republic 12 regions and were collected during a 1-yr period (2012). The milk yield during the production period was analysed relative to the reproduction and economic parameters. The main reasons for culling cows were fertility problems and movement disorders, followed by the low milk yield, mammary gland diseases, and postpartum complications. The analysis of fertility showed that the herds with the longest calving intervals (≥ 410 d) and the highest culling due to fertility (≥ 25% of the total) achieved the lowest milk yields. The average difference between the highest and lowest calving interval (≤ 389 d) groups was 721 kg/cow per yr. The lowest reported profitability of costs was for the longest calving interval and the highest postpartum complications groups. Although the reproductive performance directly affects the dairy farm profitability, the dairy cows’ production potential should be considered when making culling decisions in order to achieve the most profitable management strategy.

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“…With an earlier version of the SimHerd model, Sørensen and Østergaard (2003) demonstrated that an analysis based on two subsequent lactations, as performed by Arbel et al (2001), overestimated profitability of extending first insemination. Replacement of cows affected the results and changed the conclusions drawn at the cow level.…”

Section: Practical Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of including genetic progress in milk yield on evaluating the use of sexed semen and other reproduction strategies in a dairy herd

Ettema

Østergaard

Sørensen

2011

Animal

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The objective of this study was to explore the importance of including genetic progress in milk yield when evaluating different reproductive strategies in a dairy herd by simulation modeling. The model used in this study was SimHerd V, a dynamic and mechanistic Monte Carlo simulation model of a dairy herd including young stock. A daily increasing trend describing genetic milk yield potential of the sire population was included in the model. The inaccuracy of assuming that replacement heifers have the same (milk yield) potential as the cows present in the herd was hereby dealt with. Improving estrus detection rate from 0.45 to 0.80 increased gross margin (GM) per cow-year by h20 when genetic progress was not included in the model. When genetic progress was included in the model, then the same improvement in estrus detection decreased the GM per cow-year by h7.4. This reduced effect was explained by a lower replacement rate in consequence of the improved estrus detection and thereby a slower genetic progress in the herd. There was a reduced effect of including genetic progress on GM when surplus heifers were sold selectively based on breeding values. Repeated insemination with sexed semen on the superior half of all heifers reduced GM by h8 per cow-year when genetic progress was not included and increased the GM by h16 per cow-year when genetic progress was included in the model. Including genetic progress reduced the losses caused by lower conception and estrus detection rates and had a minimal effect with regard to postponing first insemination. This study has proven that it is important to include genetic progress in decisions on reproduction strategies in a dairy herd.

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The Effect of Extended Calving Intervals in High Lactating Cows on Milk Production and Profitability

Cited by 167 publications

References 13 publications

Effect of calving interval and parity on milk yield per feeding day in Danish commercial dairy herds

Effect of calving interval and parity on milk yield per feeding day in Danish commercial dairy herds

Associations of reproduction and health with the performance and profit of dairy cows

Effect of including genetic progress in milk yield on evaluating the use of sexed semen and other reproduction strategies in a dairy herd

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