By Coulon, J. B. and Garel, J. P. and P, D. Hour and Petit, M., 2emes rencontres autour des recherches sur les ruminants Paris, 1995
Description
In 148 cows, the effects of 3 concentrate levels (high (H), medium (M) and low (L)) given during the winter period in addition to grass silage (ad libitum) and hay (4 kg/day) on milk yield, reproduction, health and longevity were compared. Cows in their first lactation were allocated to an experimental treatment in which they remained until their fourth lactation or until culling (if this occurred before). During summer, all cows grazed together as a single group. The occurrence of mastitis, reproductive performances and longevity were not significantly different between treatments. Foot lesions were more frequent in group H than in other groups. Effect of treatments on production performances was studied in cows having achieved at least 3 successive lactations of a winter duration more than or equal to 12 weeks. Between the first and third lactation, liveweight at calving increased by 72, 44 and 36 kg, and milk yield over the first 12 weeks of lactation by 8.3, 5.9 and 6.1 kg/day (P<0,01) in groups H, M and L, respectively. These differences were more pronounced in the highest producing cows. Over the first 40 weeks of lactation, the differences in milk yield between the first and third lactation were not significant (1175, 997 and 1159 kg in groups H, M and L, respectively), due to a greater compensation during the summer period for groups M and L during the third lactation
In 148 cows, the effects of 3 concentrate levels (high (H), medium (M) and low (L)) given during the winter period in addition to grass silage (ad libitum) and hay (4 kg/day) on milk yield, reproduction, health and longevity were compared. Cows in their first lactation were allocated to an experimental treatment in which they remained until their fourth lactation or until culling (if this occurred before). During summer, all cows grazed together as a single group. The occurrence of mastitis, reproductive performances and longevity were not significantly different between treatments. Foot lesions were more frequent in group H than in other groups. Effect of treatments on production performances was studied in cows having achieved at least 3 successive lactations of a winter duration more than or equal to 12 weeks. Between the first and third lactation, liveweight at calving increased by 72, 44 and 36 kg, and milk yield over the first 12 weeks of lactation by 8.3, 5.9 and 6.1 kg/day (P<0,01) in groups H, M and L, respectively. These differences were more pronounced in the highest producing cows. Over the first 40 weeks of lactation, the differences in milk yield between the first and third lactation were not significant (1175, 997 and 1159 kg in groups H, M and L, respectively), due to a greater compensation during the summer period for groups M and L during the third lactation
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