A/14. Feeding and Nutrition of Dairy Cow in the Dry Period.

Question 1

How long does the dry period last for in dairy cows?

Answer 1

60 days (2 months)

Question 2

What is Phase IV in dairy cycle?

Answer 2

Dry period, 60 to 14 days before parturition, 305 350 days postpartum

Question 3

What pathway dominates in this period?

Answer 3

Anabolic pathway dominates in this period( growth of the calve)

Question 4

What is the goal of the dry period?

Answer 4

A good, sound dry program can increase milk yield during the following lactation and minimize metabolic problems at or immediately after calving

Question 5

Describe the diet of the dry period( stage IV)?

Answer 5

• Diets should be formulated to specifically meet the nutrient requirements of dry cows: body maintenance and foetal growth

Question 6

Dm intake(stage IV)?

Answer 6

• DM intake will be 1.75% of the cows body weight.
• Limiting Dm intake to less than 2% may be necessary when rations contain only corn silage or other high energy feeds, to avoid over conditioning cows
• feeding low quality forages such as corn stalks or grass hay is preferrable to limit feeding

Question 7

what is the CP % reccomendation in the DM?

Answer 7

12%

Question 8

What is the forage intake in stage IV(dry period)?

Answer 8

Forage intake should be min 1% of Bw or 50% dietary DM

Question 9

Grain feeding during stage IV(dry period)?

Answer 9

Grain feeding should be according to needs but not exceeding 1% of BW

Question 10

What is the Ca and P requirement for the dry period stage (IV)?

Answer 10

Ca(60-80 g) and P (30-40g) needs, but avoid large excesses: dry cow rations above 6% Ca and 4% P (DM basis) have substantially increased milk fever problems

Question 11

What vitamins should be provided during dry period(stage IV)?

Answer 11

Vitamin A, D, E in rations to improve calf survival and lower retained placenta and milk fever problems

Question 12

What trace element/mineral should be included in the dry period(stage IV) diet?

Answer 12

Selenium

Question 13

What are the common diseases of fat cows at freshening( phase I) ?

Answer 13

1. Milk fever
2. displaced abomasum
3. retained placenta
4. fatty liver syndrome
5. fatty liver formation
6. poor appetite along with other metabolic disorders and diseases

Question 14

Key management factors during the dry period stage (IV)?

Answer 14

1. meet nutrient requirement and avoid excessive feeding
2. change to a transition ration starting 2 weeks before calving (the rumen needs 2 weeks for the ruminal diet to adjust to a new diet)
3. Avoid excess calcium and phosphorus intakes
4. limit salt and other sodium based minerals in the dry cow ration to reduce udder edema problems

Question 15

Describe phase V(transition period), 14 days before parturition, 350-365 days postpartum ?

Answer 15

• Preparing the ruminal flora for the highly conentrated feed given to the cow after parturition→ stepwise increase in cc, 2-4 kg of cc by day of calving
• decrease calcium supply to prevent milk fever(by activating PTH) and udder edema after parturition.

Question 16

Describe protein and fat requirements for stage V(last 14 days)?

Answer 16

• Increase protein in the ration to 14-15% of the ration DM. feeding some of this additional protein in the form of undegradable protein may be beneficial in supplying amino acids for fetal growth
• limit fat at the ration to 12kg. high fat feeding will depress dm intake.

Question 17

Summarise stage IV of the dry period?

Answer 17

1. Generally only feed the maintenance requirement
2. good utilisation of the feed
3. only feed roughages to avoid fatty cow syndrome
4. regeneration of the udder
5. if grains after fed during this period , fat might accumulate and be mobilised after calving , when the cow is in negative energy balance. This might lead to ketoacidosis(fat cow syndrome) Important fed maintenance diet requirement
6. Good feeding: meadow hay, corn silage wheat straw

Question 18

Why shouldnt you feed legume grass hay during stage IV?

Answer 18

• Because legumes contain high amount of Ca and are low in P.
• Higher amounts f Ca increases the incidence of milk fever

Question 19

DMI Requiremnts (W= 600 kg)?

Answer 19

DMI: 1.75-3% of the Bw

the first 6 weeks 1.75%

last 14 days 3%

NB! for lactation DMI req is 2-3%

Question 20

CF requirements (W=600KG)?

Answer 20

CF: 34-20% of the DM

last 6 weeks 34%

last 14 days 20%

NB! for lactation req is 18-23%