Loading...
Comparison of breed of dairy cow under grass-based spring milk production systems
Citations
Altmetric:
Date
2006-01-01
Files
Loading...
EOPR-4980.pdf
Adobe PDF, 2.14 MB
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Citation
Buckley, F., Walsh, S., Dillon, P., Comparison of breed of dairy cow under grass-based spring milk production systems, End of Project report, Teagasc, 2006.
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the potential differences among
different dairy cow breeds across two feeding systems on milk production,
udder health, milking characteristics, body weight, body condition score,
hormone parameters, ovarian function, survival and overall reproductive
efficiency. The breeds investigated included Holstein-Friesian (HF),
Montbéliarde (MB), Normande (NM), Norwegian Red (NRF) and Holstein-
Friesian × Montbéliarde (MBX) and Holstein- Friesian × Normande (NMX).
Selection within the HF breed has, until recently, been predominantly for milk
production with little or no direct selection for functional traits other than those
correlated with superior type. The MB and the NM have been simultaneously
selected for both milk and beef production in the past. The NRF were imported
as calves and come from a more balanced total merit index incorporating
production and cow functionality since the early 1970s. The dairy cow breeds
were grouped into blocks of two within breed groups and randomized across
two spring-calving grass-based feeding systems: low concentrate feeding
system (LC) and high concentrate feeding system (HC). Those on LC feeding
system were offered approximately 530 kg/cow over the total lactation, while
those on HC feeding system were offered approximately 1030 kg/cow.