Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-cjp7w Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-30T13:30:19.892Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The composition of body-weight changes in underfed lactating beef cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

P. R. N. Chigaru  and
J. H. Topps
P. R. N. Chigaru
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, University of Aberdeen, 581 King Street, Aberdeen AB9 1UD
J. H. Topps
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, University of Aberdeen, 581 King Street, Aberdeen AB9 1UD
Get access

Abstract

The effects of reducing the feed intake of 12 winter-calving (Hereford male × British Friesian female) cows to the maintenance level for 6 weeks from week 10 of lactation were investigated during two consecutive lactation periods. Initially, six cows were in their first and six in their third lactation. In each year the period of ‘underfeeding’ was preceded by a period of ‘adequate feeding’ (maintenance plus milk production requirements) and succeeded by a period of ‘refeeding’ (2 × maintenance). Changes in body water, estimated by the dilution of tritiated water and deuterium oxide at the end of each feeding period, were used to calculate changes in body tissue. Milk yield during the period of ‘adequate feeding’ indicated that individual cows differed markedly in milk production potential. During ‘underfeeding’ milk yield was related to lactation potential. Cows of higher potential tended to maintain higher yields than those of lower potential but in doing so they incurred higher body-weight losses. The ‘refeeding’ period did not result in significant increases in milk yield. The weight losses during ‘underfeeding’ consisted mainly of fat but some cows apparently mobilized relatively large amounts of protein. More fat per unit body weight loss was mobilized by the heifers than by the cows, which, on the other hand appeared to mobilize relatively more protein. On ‘refeeding’, only a few cows were able to achieve complete tissue repletion.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 32 , Issue 1 , February 1981 , pp. 95 - 103
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1981

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Baker, R. D. and Barker, J. M. 1976. Effect of plane of nutrition in early lactation on suckler cow and calf performance. Anim. Prod. 22: 141–142 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Bauman, D. E., Davis, C. L., Frobish, R. A. and Sachan, D. S. 1971. Evaluation of polyethylene glycol method in determining rumen fluid volume in dairy cows fed different diets. J. Dairy Sci Sci. 54: 928–930.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Belyea, R. L., Frost, G. R., Martz, F. A., Clark, J. L. and Forkner, L. G. 1978. Body composition of dairy cattle by potassium-40 liquid scintillation detection. J. Dairy Sci. 61: 206–211.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Broster, W. H., Broster, Valerie J. and Smith, T. 1969. Experiments on the nutrition of the dairy heifer. VIII. Effect on milk production of level of feeding at two stages of the lactation. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 72: 229–245.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Broster, W. H., Broster, Valerie J., Smith, T. and Siviter, J. W. 1975. Experiments on the nutrition of the dairy heifer. IX. Food utilization in lactation. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 84: 173–186.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crabtree, R. M. 1976. Studies of the body composition of beef cattle as affected by type of food and the efficiency of energy utilisation. Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. Aberdeen.Google Scholar
Crabtree, R. M., Houseman, R. A. and Kay, M. 1974. The estimation of body composition in beef cattle by deuterium oxide dilution. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 33: 74A (Abstr.).Google ScholarPubMed
Cowan, R. T., Robinson, J. J., Greenhalgh, J. F. D. and Mchattie, I. 1979. Body composition changes in lactating ewes estimated by serial slaughter and deuterium dilution. Anim. Prod. 29: 81–90.Google Scholar
Deutscher, G. H. and Whiteman, J. V. 1971. Productivity as two-year-olds of Angus Holstein crossbreds compared to Angus heifers under range conditions. J. Anim. Sci. 33: 337–342.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Economides, S. J., Miller, T. B., Topps, J. H., Gelman, A. L. and Keith, D. G. 1973. A preliminary study of the milk production, bodyweight changes and some blood characteristics of underfed beef cows. Br. vet. J. 129: 63–72.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Flatt, W. P., Moe, P. W., Munson, A. W. and Cooper, T. 1969. Energy utilisation by high producing dairy cows. II. Summary of energy balance experiments with lactating Holstein cows. Proc. 4th Symp. Energy Metabolism, Eur. Ass. Anim. Prod. Publ. No. 12 (ed. Blaxter, K. L., Kielanowski, J. and Thorbek, Greta), pp. 235–249. Oriel Press, Newcastle upon Tyne.Google Scholar
Foot, Janet Z. and Greenhalgh, J. F. D. 1970. The use of deuterium oxide space to determine the amount of body fat i n pregnant Blackface ewes. Br. J. Nutr. 24: 815–825.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Foot, Janet Z., Skedd, E. and Mcfarlane, D. N. 1979. Body composition in lactating sheep and its indirect measurement in the live animal using tritiated water. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 92: 69–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland and Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland. 1975. Energy allowances and feeding systems for ruminants. Tech. Bull. 33. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London.Google Scholar
Moe, P. W., Tyrrell, H. F. and Flatt, W. P. 1971. Loss of fat from dairy cows. Energetics of body tissue mobilization. J. Dairy Sci. 54: 548–553.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Paquay, R., De Baere, R. and Lousse, A. 1972. The capacity of the mature cow to lose and recover nitrogen and the significance of protein reserves. Br. J. Nutr. 27: 27–37.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reid, I. M., Roberts, C. J. and Baird, G. D. 1980. The effects of underfeeding during pregnancy and lactation on structure and chemistry of bovine liver and muscle. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 94: 239–245.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reid, J. T., Bensadoon, A., Bull, L. S., Burton, J. H., Gleeson, P. A., Han, I. K., Joo, Y. D., Johnson, D. E., McManus, W. R., Paladines, O., Stroud, J. W., Tyrrell, H. F., Van Neikerk, B. D. H., Wellington, G. H. and Wood, J. D. 1968. Some peculiarities in the body composition of animals. In Body Composition in Animals and Man. Nat. Acad. Set, Wash., D. C, Publ. 1598, pp. 19–45.Google Scholar
Scottish Agricultural Colleges. 1978. Nutrient allowances for cattle and sheep. Scot, agric. Coll. Publ. No. 29.Google Scholar
Searle, T. W. 1970. Body composition in lambs and young sheep and its prediction in vivo from tritiated water space and body weight. J. agric. Set, Camb. 74; 357–362.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Somerville, S. H., Lowman, B. G. and Edwards, R. A. 1976. Effects of plane of nutrition during lactation on the milk yield and weight change of suckled beef cows. Anim. Prod. 22: 141 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Trigg, T. E. 1974. Body composition of ruminants in relation to plane of nutrition and production. Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. Aberdeen.Google Scholar
Webster, A. J. F., Smith, J. S., Crabtree, R. M. and Mollison, G. S. 1976. Prediction of the energy requirements for growth in beef cattle. 2. Hereford × British Friesian steers given dried grass or barley. Anim. Prod. 23: 329–340.Google Scholar
Zahra, S. A. 1976. Protein requirements and nitrogen metabolism of lactating beef cows and the performance of their calves. Ph.D. Thesis. Univ. Aberdeen.Google Scholar