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Effects of dry period diet on feed intake, body composition and subsequent lactational performance of dairy cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 November 2021

R.J. Dewhurst
Affiliation:
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Plas Gogerddan, Aberystwyth, Dyfed SY23 3EB, UK
D.W.R. Davies
Affiliation:
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Trawsgoed Research Farm, Trawsgoed, Dyfed SY23 4LL, UK
W.J. Fisher
Affiliation:
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Trawsgoed Research Farm, Trawsgoed, Dyfed SY23 4LL, UK
K. Aston
Affiliation:
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Trawsgoed Research Farm, Trawsgoed, Dyfed SY23 4LL, UK
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Extract

Previous studies (Moorby et al, 1994) have shown that supplementing grass silage with undegradable protein (UDP) during the dry period can lead to increased yields of milk protein and lactose. These studies have often involved restriction of forage intake through limitation of access time and the feeding of straw. This experiment was conducted to assess the effect of UDP supplementation with ad libitum access to grass silage as well as the effects of restricting forage intakes by including straw in the diets of dry cows.

Type
Milk Production 1
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 1996

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References

Dewhurst, R.J., Davies, D.W.R., Fisher, W.J. and Aston, K. 1996. Effect of undegradable protein given for six weeks before calving on the performance of dairy cows in the subsequent lactation, (this meeting).10.1017/S0308229600030555CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moorby, J.M., Dewhurst, R.J. and Marsden, S. 1994. Effects of supplementary protein in the dry period on milk production in the subsequent lactation. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 51: 251A Google Scholar