The Deviation between Dairy Cow Metabolizable Energy Requirements and Pasture Supply on a Dairy Farm Using Proximal Hyperspectral Sensing

Abstract

This study aimed at determining the extent to which the deviation of daily total metabolizable energy (MEt) requirements of individual cows from the metabolizable energy (ME) supplied per cow (DME) varied throughout the production season in a pasture-based dairy farm using proximal hyperspectral sensing (PHS). Herd tests, milk production, herbage and feed allocation data were collected during the 2016–2017 and 2017–2018 production seasons at Dairy 1, Massey University, New Zealand. Herbage ME was determined from canopy reflectance acquired using PHS. Orthogonal polynomials were used to model lactation curves for yields of milk, fat, protein and live weights of cows. Daily dietary ME supplied per cow to the herd and ME requirements of cows were calculated using the Agricultural Food and Research Council (AFRC) energy system of 1993. A linear model including the random effects of breed and cow was used to estimate variance components for DME. Daily herd MEt estimated requirements oscillated between a fifth above or below the ME supplied throughout the production seasons. DME was mostly explained by observations made within a cow rather than between cows or breeds. Having daily estimates of individual cow requirements for MEt in addition to ME dietary supply can potentially contribute to achieving a more precise fit between supply and demand for feed in a pasture-based dairy farm by devising feeding strategies aimed at reducing DME.

Evaluation of trait preferences and effect of parity, season and lactation stage on production performance of indigenous dairy cow in kaffa zone, southwest Ethiopia

“…Bhardwaj et al [ 61 ] reported the mean average DMY at early, mid, and late lactation stages were 2.0 ± 0.08 L, 2.99 ± 0.08 L, and 1.84 ± 0.09 L, respectively, which was dissimilar to the current study result. Furthermore, DMY at early, mid, and late lactation stages were 1.99 ± 0.08 L, 3.46 ± 0.10 L and 1.57 ± 0.084 L [ 62 ].…”

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“…It is reported that the dry matter (DM) concentrations of alfalfa and corn silage in samples collected within farms exhibit large variability in both long-term and short-term periods [99]. In addition, the daily demand for the nutrition of individual lactating cows, such as metabolizable energy (ME), exhibited deviations due to the climate, diet, and animal factors [100]. Duranovich et al (2021) observed that the deviation of the estimated daily total metabolizable energy requirements of individual cows (MEt) from the actual ME supplied per cow in the herd varied greatly [100] (Table 3).…”

“…In addition, the daily demand for the nutrition of individual lactating cows, such as metabolizable energy (ME), exhibited deviations due to the climate, diet, and animal factors [100]. Duranovich et al (2021) observed that the deviation of the estimated daily total metabolizable energy requirements of individual cows (MEt) from the actual ME supplied per cow in the herd varied greatly [100] (Table 3). Moreover, many minerals have vital functions in mammals [101]; for example, phosphorus (P) has a role in energy metabolism, whereas copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are involved in immune functions [102].…”

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