The effects of various levels of dietary protein on high producing dairy cows in early lactation

This project was designed to test the biological effects of three levels of dietary protein (12.7, 16.3 and 19.3% CP on a dry matter basis) on high producing Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. Forty five second lactation or older cows that showed the potential to produce over 31.75 kg (70 lbs) per day were selected. Cows were randomly assigned to treatments on day four postpartum and remained on the trial for 90 days. A complete isocaloric ration was fed, consisting of corn or grass silage, alfalfa hay and a grain concentrate. Four percent fat-corrected milk production did not differ significantly between groups averaging 29.4, 31.3 and 32.0 kg/cow/day for the 12.7, 16.3 and 19.3% CP rations, respectively. Actual milk production was significantly higher in the 16.3% CP group than the 12.7% CP group. Group averages were 30.94, 35.52 and 34.79 kg/cow/day for the 12.7, 16.3 and 19.3% CP rations, respectively. Milk fat concentration averaged 3.66, 3.21 and 3.46% for the 12.7, 16.3 and 19.3% CP rations, respectively. The average for 16.3% CP ration cows was significantly different from the averages of the 12.7 and 19.3% CP ration cows. Milk fat concentration for all cows was 3.7% for period one (1-30 days), 3.21% for period two (31-60 days) and 3.46% for period three (61-90 days). Milk fat % was greater (P < .01) for period one. Milk protein was not significantly affected by level of dietary protein. Significant differences were found between period one relative to periods two and three. The period averages were 3.76, 3.36 and 3.46 for period one, two and three, respectively. Persistancy of lactation was significantly different between periods, averaging 106.5% in the first period, 100.2% in the'second period and 98.4% in the third period. Persistancy was not affected by treatment. Feed intake differed significantly due to treatment averaging 17.7, 18.18 and 18.67 kg/cow/day for the 12.7, 16.3 and 19.3% CP rations, respectively. There were no significant differences between periods. Bodyweight changes were not significant between the three treatments, although they were (P < .01) between periods. During the first period all cows averaged a 24 kg weight loss; however, cows gained 3.8 kg in the second period and 13.5 kg in the third period. Rumen fluid ammonia increased with each level of protein (4.29, 7.66 and 19.3 mg% for the 12.7, 16.3 and 19.3% CP rations, respectively), but was only significant between the 19.3% CP ration relative to the 16.3 and 12.7% CP rations. Rumen fluid pH did not differ between treatment means. Blood samples were analyzed for several factors. Plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) measured at six weeks postpartum, averaged 7.89, 10.27 and 18.25 mg% for the 12.7, 16.3 and 19.3% CP rations, respectively. Plasma albumin showed the same trend, being significantly higher in cows on the 19.3% CP ration. Average values were 3.45 mg% for the 12.7% CP level, 3.47 mg% for the 16.3% CP level and 3.85 mg% for the 19.3% CP ration. Blood ammonia levels, determined in 30 cows at various stages of lactation, were not significantly different. An economic analysis of the profitability of feeding the various levels was completed using actual milk and milk fat yields and actual feed consumption per cow over the 90 day period. Using August, 1977 commercial milk and ration constituent prices, returns above feed costs per cow for the 90 day periods were $459.58 for the cow fed the 12.7CP ration,$477.67 for cows fed the ration containing 16.3% CP and $456.88 for cows fed the 19.3% CP ration

Dairy farming with reduced inductions

The New Zealand (NZ) dairy industry is reliant on seasonal pasture production and a concentrated calving interval to best match pasture supply and animal demand. To achieve this goal, some farmers induce lactation in late calving cows. This has animal welfare implications, which could result in non-tariff trade barriers to NZ dairy products (Blackett, Compton and Glassey, C. 2006, Stevens, J., Burton, L, Rendel, J. 2000). Additionally there are concerns with drug residues in the milk from herds where a large percentage of cows are induced. New standards were introduced in the 2010-11 season by the NZ Veterinarians Association (NZVA), Dairy NZ, Dairy Companies Association of NZ (DCANZ) and Federated Farmers. In the 2011-12 season the level of inductions within an individual herd will not exceed 8% reducing to 4% in 2012-13. There will be requirements for information about the stage of pregnancy; the age of the cow (under eight years old) and body condition score (4.5 to 6.5). Although this reduction may seem onerous, the NZVA has stated that only 3% of the national herd was induced in the season just finished, with 98% of farms being under 15% (Benny 2011). A survey of Canterbury dairy farmers in 2008 found that 36% operate a nil induction policy (Pangborn, 2008). With reduced levels of inductions farmers will be forced to adopt an eight week mating system if they are to maintain the traditional calving patterns. If the number of late calving cows cannot be reduced to fewer than 4%, then a larger number of cows will be culled. If a pregnant cow is worth $2,000 and a non-pregnant cow$500 there could be significant capital losses. The purpose of this paper is to review the basics of getting cows in calf and strategies for reduced inductions, discuss the results of the nil induction policy of the Lincoln University Dairy Farm (LUDF), and look at the plan of one Canterbury farm to meet the new guidelines

Integration of crop and dairy farms

In this article we report on case study investigations in 2012 of seven farm businesses in mid-Canterbury. These are part of a further evolution within some of the region’s dairy industry towards the integration of crop and dairy. The purpose of the project was to establish the reasons for the land use change from crop to crop and dairy, together with the benefits of integration for both crop and dairy systems

The impact of the Lincoln University dairy farm and the South Island Dairying Development Centre on Canterbury and North Otago farmers

In June of 2008, a postal survey was conducted of dairy farmers in the LUDF catchment area of Canterbury and North Otago. The objective of the survey was to determine the demographics of farmers in the area and to gauge whether farmers had adopted the technologies demonstrated by the LUDF. The data was analysed by staff in the Agriculture and Life Sciences Division of Lincoln University using the software SPPS 15

Perceptions of sustainability of dairy support land farmers

This project investigated how successful dairy support land (DSL) farmers perceive sustainability, how they use DSL to achieve their goals and the way that these perceptions vary across locations and types of DSL. Seventeen farmers were interviewed using Yin’s case study method (Yin, 2003). The list of interviewees was derived from focus group meetings with rural professionals undertaken to assist with developing a set of theoretical propositions regarding sustainability. Separation into economic, environmental and social sustainability does not reflect how farmers understand or perceive sustainability of DSL. Their perceptions are better described by separation into issues internal to the farm system and issues external to the farm system. Those who acquire DSL do so primarily in order to reduce the number of factors that fall outside the farm and outside their control. For those interviewed, feed grown is the best measure of the effectiveness of DSL management; more feed grown means more control over cost of bought in feed and cow condition. For DSL to be sustainable (i.e. to grow feed), it must be fully resourced. There must be time to plan and carry out essential tasks and environmentally important developments such as riparian fences and stockwater systems should be in place. If the DSL is not fully resourced, loss of control will result in unreliable supply of feed, cows calving in poor condition and overextended farm staff and management. Poor control over environmental effects is also highly likely. There is little difference in farmers’ perceptions of sustainability and practice across a variety of soil and climatic conditions in Canterbury and Southland.Funding for this project was through a grant from the Sustainable Farming Fund to the South Island Dairying Development Centre (SIDDC)

Canterbury dairying - a study in land use change and increasing production

The purpose of this research was to quantify the extent of the increase in dairy farming in Canterbury, New Zealand, and to examine factors that have led to the changes in land use and production. In this paper we present data on land use change, production and productivity, together with product price data for the alternative activities. Data were obtained from a variety of printed sources and personal communications. Between 1980 and 2009 the land used for dairying in Canterbury increased from about 20,000 ha to nearly 190,000 ha. Per cow and per hectare production also increased both in absolute terms and also relative to elsewhere in New Zealand. Total production increased about fifteen fold during this period. On a national basis Canterbury produced 15% of New Zealand’s milk in 2008-09 compared to 2% in 1982-83. Drivers of this land use change were the development of irrigation, lower land prices relative to elsewhere in New Zealand, the adoption of new technologies and reduced profitability of some aspects of traditional farming systems. It is suggested that, given the current price relativities and some further irrigation development, the Canterbury land area involved in dairy farming could double in the next 20 years

Irish workers experiences in dairy employment in Canterbury

Through an arrangement with University College, Dublin (UCD), a group of 24 Irish agricultural students came to Canterbury, New Zealand, to carry out their degrees' practical dairy work of approximately four months over the summer/autumn of 2011. Lincoln University researchers had been carrying out a dairy employee survey of AglTO students across New Zealand at this time. The availability of the Irish students presented an opportunity to use the survey to gauge their impressions of employment in New Zealand's dairy industry compared to equivalent work in Ireland. The results from their responses to the questionnaire are compared to the results from the 33 respondents from the mid-Canterbury block survey and the 40 mid-Canterbury AglTO respondents