AN examination of the effects of level of concentrate supplementation of dairy cattle in late gestation on subsequent reproductive performance

摘要

The transition period of the dairy cow is physiologically and nutritionally stressful as feed intake is reduced hilt nutrient demand for the support of foetal growth and initiation of milk synthesis are increased. Also during this period the diet of dairy cows changes from being predominantly forage, often of mediocre quality, to a diet often containing high levels of concentrate and high quality forage or mixture of forages. In the recent past nutritional management of the dairy cows during the transition period has centred on protein nutrition. While some studies have shown responses to milk yield or composition from protein nutrition in late gestation, many have shown no response. The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of level of concentrate in late gestation on subsequent reproductive performance. The effects of treatment on animal performance have been presented by Keady et RAID. (1999).