Large animal maternal nutrition Flashcards
Mare gestation, lactation and weaning lengths
Gestation = 11 months 11 days
-Early = first 4 months
-Late = last 4 months
Lactation
-Early = first 2 months
-Late = months 3+
Weaning @ 4-6 months
Maintenance
Beef cow gestation, lactation, weaning length
Gestation
-Late = last 2 months
Lactation
-Early = first 80 days
Weaning = 6-10 months
calf 400-600lb
Dairy cow gestation, lactation, weaning length
Gestation = 275-280 days
-Late (close-up) = last 2-3 weeks
transition dairy cow
Lactation
-Peak @ 45-90 days, w/in 1st 150 days in milk
Weaning w/in 24hr
Nutritional Goals for the Dam
Maximize production (offspring, milk)
Maintain rumen and hindgut health
Reduce risk of …
Negative energy balance
Ketosis / Pregnancy toxemia
Hepatic lipidosis
Increased risk of infection
Hypocalcemia
Ideal BCS for mare prior to pregnancy
5/9-6/9
IMPROVE BEFORE BREEDING
Ideal Dairy Cow BCS prior to pregnancy
Target 3.0/5-3.5/5
< 3 associated with lower milk yield & greater risk of milk fever
> 3.5-4 associated with lower DM intake during lactation, lower milk yield, higher risk of ketosis
Adjust in late lactation
Dairy Cow BCS loss >1 during lactation is associated with…
Longer time to first ovulation
Longer time to first service
Lower conception rate at first service
Ideal Beef Cow BCS prior to pregnancy
Target 5/9-6/9
1/9-4/9 associated with reduced pregnancy rates, longer postpartum intervals & conception later in breeding season and thus calves born later
8/9-9/9 fat
Water requirements in the mare and cow during lactation
> 120ml/kg BW
2-3x higher during lactation than maintenance (~60ml/kg BW)
Free choice potable & palatable
Parallels energy requirement
Protein in addition to maintenance requirements (e.g. for muscle, hormones, enzymes, etc.), needed for feti and associated….
Tissue development
Protein source in the mare and cow
Diet (mare)
Diet AND microbial (cow)
Crude protein (nitrogen)
Metabolizable protein represents absorbed AA
Net protein represents retained protein
Protein deficiency in pregnancy adverse effects
Reduced weight gain in the dam
Reduced birth weights +/- growth rate post-weaning
Reduced immunity
Fat requirements in cows and mares
Requirement UNCLEAR
Energy density (very)
Rumen microbial hydrolysis, hydrogenation & conjugation of PUFAs
-Odd chain fatty acid
-Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)
Excess ->
Diarrhea
Reduced microbial fermentation
Vitamin E protects PUFAs
Hypocalcemia in the Dairy Cow
CS – tetany (milk fever)
Risk factors:
Lactation (2 months post calving)
Anorexia / hyporexia
Inappropriate diet i.e. high Ca diets prior to calving
Treatment: parenteral calcium
Prevent with proper transition diet
Calcium is needed in cows for…
Milk production
Bone/endochondral ossification
Copper bioavailability is reduced with excess…
dietary phosphorus, zinc and/or molybdenum
A deficiency in copper is associated with offspring __________.
physitis
Carbohydrate sources in mare/cow diet
Physical fiber
VFA production
Euglycemia (horse)
Cow/mare ration should consist of…
Forage
+/- concentrate
Commonly fed to mares
Depends on forage quality & availability
Vitamin/mineral
If not feeding enough concentrate to meet needs
Dairy Cow Ration is typically…
Total mixed ration (TMR)
Higher milk fat & milk production with TMR vs. pasture + concentrate
Anticipated dry matter (DM) intake in the mare
Varies deepening on stage
Early gestation 2% (varies!)
Late gestation 2% BW
Lactation 2.5% BW
Anticipated dry matter (DM) intake
in the dairy cow
Varies depending on the stage
Limited in late gestation
Week 1-6 of lactation 2.5 – 3.5% BW
Week 8-16 of lactation 3.5 – 4.0% BW
Week 16+ of lactation 2.5 – 3.0% BW
Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) is negatively correlated with…
Forage quality
As NDF increases (more mature plant), quality decreases
Generally, alfalfa is more energy and protein dense than grass
The % of NDF should be lower during (early or late gesation)
Late gestation (NDF adds bulk and not a lot of space in stomach during late pregnancy)
