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Effects of rearing regime on milk production and metabolic hormone concentrations in high genetic merit Holstein-Friesian dairy heifers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

S.M. Woods ,
A.F. Carson ,
A.R.G. Wylie  and
J.D. McEvoy
S.M. Woods
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, Co Down BT26 6DR
A.F. Carson
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, Co Down BT26 6DR Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland and, The Queen’s University of Belfast
A.R.G. Wylie
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, Co Down BT26 6DR
J.D. McEvoy
Affiliation:
Veterinary Sciences Division, Stoney Road, Belfast BT4 3SD
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Extract

Nutrition during the rearing period has significant effects on subsequent milk production and reproductive performance of dairy herd replacements. Carson et al. (2002) reported that heifers reared to calve down at 620 kg, in contrast to 540 kg live weight, produced 11% more milk, lost more weight and body condition score (BCS) post-calving and had a 30 day longer calving interval. This suggests that a higher BCS at calving and/or a greater rate of BCS loss during lactation appear to be correlated with poorer fertility. The objectives of this experiment were to investigate the effect of (1) diet composition during the rearing period and (2) live weight at first calving on body size and condition score changes during the first lactation and to assess linkages with metabolic hormone concentrations.

Type
Theatre Presentations
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 2003 , 2003 , pp. 3
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2003

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References

Carson, A.F., Dawson, L.E.R., McCoy, M.A., Kilpatrick, D.J. Gordon, F.J. 2002) Effects of rearing regime on body size, reproductive performance and milk production during the first lactation in high genetic merit dairy herd replacements. Animal Science 74: 553–565.Google Scholar