What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate whether varying complete diet composition across lactation stages improves milk yield and body weight maintenance compared to feeding a single uniform diet in autumn-calving dairy cows.

April 1, 1986The Journal of Agricultural Science

Variation in the complete diet composition given during the winter period to an autumn-calving herd

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Authors

OKO. KrollHachaklait (Israel)JOJ. B. OwenUniversity College of the North CWChris WhitakerBangor University

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Implication

Comparative feeding trial reveals equivalent milk yields between step and uniform diets in autumn-calving cows, suggesting single-diet systems reduce early lactation weight loss.

Key Points

To evaluate whether varying complete diet composition across lactation stages improves milk yield and body weight maintenance compared to feeding a single uniform diet in autumn-calving dairy cows.
Monitored autumn-calving cows receiving equal total concentrate quantities over two consecutive winter seasons (1980–1981 and 1981–1982).
Compared a step feeding system (adjusting diets based on stage of lactation) against a uniform feeding system (providing one constant diet throughout the winter).
Fat-corrected milk yield was similar between the step and uniform feeding systems (P > 0.05), reaching 5.32 vs. 5.37 t/cow in Year 1 and 4.75 vs. 4.35 t/cow in Year 2.
Overall winter weight gain did not differ between dietary systems, but cows on the uniform system experienced lower weight loss during early lactation.

Cite This Study

Kroll et al. (1986) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a905a702a22b8e8a92dab2a https://doi.org/10.1017/s0021859600063887

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Implication

Comparative feeding trial reveals equivalent milk yields between step and uniform diets in autumn-calving cows, suggesting single-diet systems reduce early lactation weight loss.

Variation in the complete diet composition given during the winter period to an autumn-calving herd

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Variation in the complete diet composition given during the winter period to an autumn-calving herd

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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