The effect of winter fodder beet or kale allocation on behaviour and blood metabolite status of non-lactating dairy cows

Abstract

Fodder beet (FB) was at first rapidly adopted by farmers, however, there is uncertainty around the impact of feeding high rates of FB on metabolic diseases and cow behaviour. This study aimed to establish if there was an effect of crop type and feed allocation on blood metabolites and behaviour of dairy cows.
 In winter 2017, 328 mixed-aged pregnant non-lactating Friesian x Jersey cows were allocated to feeding treatments of either FB or kale, offered at two allocation rates: “target” (to achieve 0.5 BCS gain) or “high” (ad libitum allocation), supplemented with pasture baleage. Blood metabolites were monitored for 20 animals per treatment, 15 of those animals per treatment had an activity sensor fitted for 8 days in late July.
 Cows fed FB had higher plasma magnesium and lower sodium, phosphate, total protein and urea levels than cows fed kale. The FB cows spent less time lying (9.4 vs 11.1 h/d), walked more (2113 vs 1737 steps/day), had fewer lying bouts per day (6.1 vs 9.3 bouts/day), but had longer bout duration (102 vs 81 min) than kale cows. These results indicate differences between winter crops in susceptibility to metabolic diseases and grazing activity which require further investigation.

Variation in kale and fodder beet yield and quality over winter affects nutrient supply to non-lactating dairy cows at the Southern Dairy Hub

“…Quality results indicated that FB had lower levels of P, S, Ca and NDF than kale, in agreement with findings from Dalley et al (2020a). Phosphorus levels in FB were numerically lower than the recommended levels over winter (NASEM 2021) which is similar to previous findings (Dalley et al 2021). These observations reinforce the need for P supplementation when feeding FB to pregnant, nonlactating cows over winter.…”

“…Nutritional deficiencies associated with kale feeding are less common. However, Dalley et al (2021) has reported that cows wintered on a kale diet had lower blood Ca than cows on FB. Research at the Southern Dairy Hub (SDH) also reported blood magnesium (Mg) levels in the lower end (0.75-0.8 mmol/l) of the normal range in cows grazing kale (Dalley 2018;Dalley et al 2021).…”

“…However, Dalley et al (2021) has reported that cows wintered on a kale diet had lower blood Ca than cows on FB. Research at the Southern Dairy Hub (SDH) also reported blood magnesium (Mg) levels in the lower end (0.75-0.8 mmol/l) of the normal range in cows grazing kale (Dalley 2018;Dalley et al 2021). The kale leaf accounts for a higher proportion of the total DM (aboveground plant) compared to FB leaf.…”

“…Phosphorus (P) requirements for nonlactating cows in late pregnancy are 0.19% and 0.21% for cows 60-21 days, and <21 days prepartum, respectively (NASEM 2021). Phosphorus concentrations in FB are typically below this level, driven by lower levels in the bulb (Dalley et al 2021). In the absence of P supplementation, blood P concentrations can rapidly deplete (Dalley et al 2021).…”

“…Phosphorus concentrations in FB are typically below this level, driven by lower levels in the bulb (Dalley et al 2021). In the absence of P supplementation, blood P concentrations can rapidly deplete (Dalley et al 2021).…”