Net energy efficiencies were calculated from data of an experimental herd with respect to type of cow, lactation number, stage of lactation and diet. The trial consisted of 71 Holstein-Friesians, 71 Jerseys and 71 Holstein-Jersey F1-crosses in 1st, 2nd and > 2nd lactation. Data were collected during 210 days of lactation, from calving to week 30 and included total dry matter intake, energy content of foods, milk yield, milk solids, body weight, body condition scores and several body measurements. The cows were divided into four feeding groups : high and low energy content of roughage as well as high and low proportion of concentrates. Net energy efficiency was calculated as the ratio of milk energy to total net energy intake after subtracting energy utilized for maintenance and body tissue change. Body tissue change was calculated either via body-weight changes or body condition-score changes. Due to the distribution of the efficiencies being skewed, efficiencies were transformed applying a Box-Cox transformation. Transformed net energy efficiencies were analysed using a repeated measurements design considering the sequential nature of the observations. Mixed models with a compound symmetry structure for the variance components were applied. Final models contained the fixed effects of type, lactation number, feeding group and the covariates week of lactation and its square. Holstein-Jersey crosses were more efficient than purebreds, second lactation cows were least efficient, cows given low energy roughage and a lower proportion of concentrates were more efficient than cows on the other diets. Least efficient were the cows belonging to the high energy roughage and higher proportion of concentrates group. The coefficients of determination of the final models were between 0·357 and 0·492.
In the present study body condition scores (BCS), ultrasound fat thickness and ultrasound m. longissimus dorsi thickness as well as body measurements and management factors were recorded repeatedly during lactation in 71 Holstein-Friesians, 71 Jerseys and 71 Holstein-Jersey F1-crosses (first to ninth lactation) on four feeding regimens. BCS were analysed with ultrasound measurements as explanatory variables by mixed models. A compound symmetry structure for the variance components was applied. The models were also tested for an autoregressive error structure [AR (1)]. Ultrasound fat thickness and ultrasound m. longissimus dorsi thickness explained most of the variability in BCS. Coefficients of determination were between 0·84 and 0·85. Management factors such as feeding group and stage of lactation (week of taking measurements) and the breed type ! lactation interaction were, although significant, not relevant for the fit. Holsteins tended to have lower scores than F1-crosses and Jerseys and younger cows tended to have higher scores than older cows. Despite small differences between breeds, Edmonson's BCS proved to be consistent within each breed type; thus BCS can be applied to various dairy breeds.
Individual energy balances (EB) and total net energy intake (NEI) were modelled to quantify the energy content of the explanatory variables body-weight change corrected for gut fill (BWC) and body condition-score change (BCSC). A total of 6147 records from 213 lactating dairy cows, 71 Holstein-Friesians, 71 Jerseys and 71 HolsteinJersey F1-crosses was analysed (1st, 2nd and >2nd lactation). Data were collected during 210 days of lactation, from calving to week 30. Individual EB were calculated as total energy for lactation (MJ NEL) minus estimated energy necessary for maintenance and production. Body-weight changes were calculated as differences between weekly means of body weight corrected for gut fill (BWCw) as well as from polynomial regression (BWCp). BCSC were differences between assessed body condition scores. The study included analyses of 1- and of 4-week periods for BWCw and BWCp, of differences between measuring periods for BCSC as well as separate analyses of data from cows in either negative or positive energy balance.Analysis of repeated measurements were performed applying mixed model theory. Models for EB contained type of dairy cow, lactation and type of roughage as fixed effects, week of lactation and either BWCw, BWCp or BCSC. Models for NEI contained type of dairy cow, lactation and quality of roughage as fixed effects, week of lactation as well as energy corrected milk, metabolic body weight and either BWCw, BWCp or BCSC as covariates.Most plausible energy contents per unit body tissue change were estimated for BWCp from weekly data with either EB (with energy partitioned into milk production and maintenance fixed) or NEI (no restrictions concerning partitioning) as the response variable. The estimated energy contents for BWCp were 15·40 and 10·47 MJ NEL, respectively.
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