Effects of early lactation concentrate level and glucogenic feed on feed intake, milk production and energy metabolism in dairy cows and heifers

In order to examine the effect of two levels of concentrate and the effect of glucogenic feed (0 1/d (GO) or 1 1/d (Gl)) 16 multiparous and 16 primiparous Friesian cows were used in a factorial 2x2 design. The concentrate levels for multiparous cows were 11 kg/d (CI 1) and 15 kg/d (CI 5) and for primiparous cows 9 kg/d (C9) and 12 kg/d (CI2). The glucogenic feed consisted of propylene glycol, polyols, molasses and niacin. All the animals were offered wilted silage ad libitum. The experimental period started from calving and lasted for 12 weeks.