Effect of concentrate feeding strategy on the performance of dairy cows fed total mixed rations

Abstract

Little information is available concerning the effects of offering additional concentrates with total mixed ration (TMR) on milk production. The aim of the present study was to compare TMR representing simplified feeding (TMR1) with TMR combined with a decreasing amount of additional concentrate (TMR2C). Finnish Ayrshire cows (39) were housed in a loose housing barn. TMR1 consisted of a mixed ration of grass silage (0.49) and concentrates (0.51). In TMR2C, the same grass silage and concentrate were mixed in a ratio of 55:45. In TMR2C, cows were offered additional concentrates from automatic feeders differing in composition from the concentrate in TMR1 [6.5 kg d -1 (first 100 days, Phase 1), 3.0 kg d -1 (subsequent 50 days, Phase 2) and no concentrate thereafter (Phase 3)]. During the whole experiment (224 days), total consumption of concentrates per cow averaged 2426 kg dry matter (TMR1) and 2414 kg dry matter (TMR2C). There were no significant differences in mean total dry matter, metabolizable energy, crude protein or absorbed amino acid intakes. During Phase 2, total intake of all cows fed TMR2C was one kg lower (P = 0.10) than for cows fed TMR1. This was due to differences in total feed intake of multiparous cows. Average yields (kg d -1 ) of milk, energy corrected milk, protein, fat and lactose were not significantly different between diets. During Phase 2, primiparous cows tended to produce more energy corrected milk on TMR2C than on TMR1. The results showed that both TMR1 and TMR2C were equal feeding strategies for early lactating cows and cows did not benefit from greater concentrate consumption in early stage of lactation when total consumption of concentrates was similar.Key words: dairy cows, concentrates, grass silage, total mixed ration, milk yield, feed intake IntroductionDuring the EU membership since 1995 the number of Finnish farms has fallen, but the average size has increased (Niemi and Ahlstedt 2003). Considering the housing of cows, loose housing is currently often the housing type used in Finland in production units of 50-60 cows or more. Mixing concentrates and silage in a total mixed A G R I C U L T U R A L A N D F O O D S C I E N C EVol. 15 (2006): 268-279. ration (TMR) or feeding silage and concentrates separately are both commonly used feeding strategies on dairy farms. In free stall barns, separate concentrate feeding has been accomplished using automatic computerised concentrate feeders (Maltz et al. 1992, Yan et al. 1998, Yrjänen et al. 2003.In the case of TMR feeding the farm manager decides whether to use one TMR for the whole milking herd or to prepare multiple TMRs (having e.g. high and medium nutrient concentrations) for several groups of cows. In Finland, multiple TMRs and grouping of cows are difficult because of the relatively small herd sizes on farms. Therefore, one TMR for all milking cows would be a practical feeding strategy. Recently, Mäntysaari et al. (2004) reported that feeding fixed or decreasing proportions of concentrates in the TMR to primiparous cows durin...

Modeling of daily body weights and body weight changes of Nordic Red cows

“…During the years 2003 to 2004 cows were fed a TMR containing grass silage and commercial concentrate mix (45-57% of DM). Feeding of the cows during years 2003 to 2004 is described in detail in Khalili et al (2006) and Mäntysaari et al (2006). During the indoor period from 2009 to 2013 all cows were fed grass silage and home blend concentrate mix.…”

“…Milk composition were analyzed once in 2 wk during years 2003 to 2004 and once in 4 wk during years 2009 to 2013. The feed sampling and analysis procedures used during years 2003 to 2004 are explained by Khalili et al (2006) and Mäntysaari et al (2006). During years 2009 to 2013, a sample of grass silage for feed analysis was taken twice a week.…”

Whey protein content and fatty acids profile in milk of cows used in intensiveand conventional production systems with regard to stage of lactation

“…These farms use a single, complete system of feeding (total mixed ration, TMR, or portion mixed ration, PMR) throughout the whole year. Compared with the conventional system, this system requires more financing, but it guarantees the optimal coverage of the nutritional needs of cows, thus maximizing their genetic potential for milk production (9). The intensive production of milk allows for maximizing productivity of cows and concentrations of basic milk components at the cost of minimizing the content of biologically active substances and worsening technological parameters of milk (5,7,(10)(11)(12).…”