Effect of Level of Feeding on the Performance of Crossbred Cows during Pre- and Post-partum Periods

Abstract

The study was undertaken to see the effect of elevated feeding during pre-partum or pre-as well as post-partum period on the productive and reproductive performance of crossbred cows. The experiment lasted for 60 d pre-partum to 120 d post-partum. Eighteen dry pregnant crossbred cows divided into three equal groups were fed either as per NRC feeding standard (C) or 20% above NRC during 60 d pre-partum (T 1 ) or fed 20% above NRC during both 60 d pre-partum to 120 d post-partum (T 2 ) period. During prepartum period body weight gain was significantly (p≤0.05) higher in T 1 and T 2 groups than that of control group. The animals fed at higher plane of nutrition (T 1 and T 2 ) took significantly lesser time for complete relaxation of pelvic muscles, act of calving and for expulsion of placenta than that of control group. Moreover, such cows delivered 2 to 3 kg heavier calves as compared to normal fed dams. During post-partum period, the average daily milk yield was significantly higher in T 2 group than that in T 1 and control groups. The peak yield was significantly higher in T 2 group, it took longer time to reach peak production but it was more persistent in this group as compared to T 1 and control groups. Average milk fat, solids-not-fat (SNF) and total solids were significantly higher in T 1 and T 2 groups as compared to control group. Body weight losses incurred during early lactation were not even compensated by end of 4th month of lactation in C and T 1 groups whereas the animals in T 2 group gained 2.0 kg. The 1st post-partum estrus and conception rate were better in high fed groups (T 1 and T 2 ) than that of control group. The returns over feed cost of milk production were higher in T 2 group followed by T 1 and control groups indicating the advantage of elevated feeding during pre-and post-partum periods. (Asian-Aust.

Effect of Challenge Feeding on Calf Birth Weight and Cow Body Weight Gain

“…The birth weight of calves was increased by 18.09 and 23.61 percent in treatment T 2 and T 3 group respectively. The result of this experiment regarding birth weight agreement with the findings of Kale (1984), Usmani andInskeep (1989), Chokhataridi (1995), Singh et al, (2003) and Das et al, (2007) reported that increased feeding of challenge feeds before calving increased average body weight of calves.…”

A Case Study of Bear Reintroduction in Pakistan: Art and Politics in Conservation

“…Similarly, postcalving dietary strategy could also impact the milk components. Cows fed diet above NRC recommendation (NRC1989+20%) in pre and post-partum stage had higher milk fat, SNF and total solid (Singh et al, 2003), however, protein and lactose were not affected by treatments.…”

“…2017;Zhang et al, 2015). The increasing nutrient density of the diet with the increasing ratio of concentrate from Low to High resulted in increased TDMI (Singh et al, 2003). Literature showed that increased density of the diet improves the palatability and therefore increase the DMI (Gaafar et al, 2009;Little et al, 2017).…”

“…The loss in BCS during early lactation was 3 times greater in cows having BCS ≥ 4 at calving as compared to BCS ≤ 3.5 (Gheise et al 2017). Cross bred dairy cows fed beyond requirements (NRC1989+20%) during pre and post calving period had higher body weight at calving (486 vs. 517kg) but had similar BW loss trend (71 vs. 76) at 45 day of lactation compared to restricted fed (80% of NRC1989) group (Singh et al 2003). The excessive mobilization of body fat leads to higher oxidative stress in buffaloes with higher BCS around calving (Delfino et al, 2017).…”

Effect of challenge feeding on body condition scores and calf birth weight of Sahiwal cattle

“…(1993) [23] , Prasad and Tomer (1995) [18] , Keady et al (2001) [11] , Khan et al (2002a) [12] , Panigrahi et al (2005) [17] , Kamboj et al (2016) [10] , Prima et al (2018) [19] and Raval et al (2019) [20] who reported that calf birth weights were not significantly affected by plane of precalving nutrition. Contrary to these findings Corah et al (1975) [2] , Kroker and Cummins (1979) [13] , Kale (1984) [9] , Usmani and Inskeep (1989) [27] , Chokhataridi (1995) [1] , Singh et al (2003) [24] , Das et al (2007) [4] and Ojha et al (2015) [15] reported that increased feeding before calving increased average body weight of calves.…”