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Transition heifers face multiple stressors during the periparturient period, including first exposure to milking, that may adversely impact dry matter intake (DMI), reduce milk production, compromise immune function, and increase susceptibility to disease. It was hypothesized that reducing the combined stressors experienced at calving would improve the periparturient performance, health, and well-being of heifers. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of initiating the milking procedure 3 wk before expected calving on production, DMI, body weight, energy balance, udder health, calving traits, and health status, as indicated by plasma acute phase protein concentrations. Twenty-two primigravid heifers, blocked by expected calving date, were assigned randomly either to a prepartum milking (PM) group or control group. The PM heifers were milked twice daily beginning at 21 d before expected calving, and control heifers were not milked until after calving. All heifers had access to the same precalving and postcalving diets. Results indicated that PM heifers produced more milk during the first 2 wk after calving and had greater DMI as a percentage of body weight during the first month after calving than did control heifers, although energy balance was more negative for PM heifers. The PM heifers had reduced somatic cell counts through the first month after calving and lower average somatic cell scores during lactation despite having more quarters with mastitis infection at calving. The PM heifers had less udder edema at the third milking postcalving, and had reduced concentrations of haptoglobin in blood sooner than did control heifers. These results indicate that prepartum milking is an alternative management practice that has beneficial effects on the production, health, and well-being of first-lactation cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective was to evaluate the effects of speciflc plant botanicals on performance of lactating dairy cows in commercial settings under different management and forage conditions. Holstein cows (n = 173) were allotted to treatment in a completely randomized design on four herds in Pennsylvania and were fed standard lactation diets for 30 days before treatments were applied. Cows were housed in tie stalls and fed individually. The standard lactation diet served as the control (CTL), while the treatment diet (TRT) had an additional 56 g/cow/d of a speciflc blend of botanicals (RumeNext D™; ADM Alliance Nutrition, Inc., Quincy, IL). The TRT was fed for 60 days. Individual parameters for intake and production produced grouped means from repeated measures. Milk yield improved by 1.2 kg/d (P<0.5) for TRT. There were trends (P<0.13) for decreased milk fat and protein content when TRT was fed. However, milk fat (P<0.30) and protein (P<0.10) yield tended to increase because of increased milk yield. On a farm-speciflc basis, Farm C had a decrease (P<0.05) in milk fat content, but there tended to be increases (P<0.15) in total milk and milk protein yields for TRT. There were positive responses (P<0.10) to TRT for milk, fat-corrected milk and fat yield at Farm D, as well as a tendency (P<0.11) for increased protein yield. Both Farms A and B recorded numeric performance beneflts for TRT. Results indicate that there may be farm-speciflc interactions with plant botanicals including management, basal diet, or production level. Plant botanicals may beneflt performance of lactating cattle through a potential increase in milk and fat yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective was to examine the effect of speciflc plant botanicals on performance of lactating dairy cattle. Holstein cows (n=260) were divided into three groups balanced upon parity, stage of lactation (DIM), and mean milk production measured one week before the co-variant adjustment period. A 1-week, co-variant adjustment period was followed by a 42-day study. The standard lactation diet served as the control ration (CTL). Treatment diet was supplemented to provide 28 g/cow/d (LO) or 56 g/cow/d (HI) of plant botanicals (RumeNext D™; ADM Alliance Nutrition, Inc., Quincy, IL) to deliver 250 and 500 mg/d, respectively, of the active botanical components. Individual data was collected for milk production on a daily basis and milk composition on a weekly basis, while group DMI was calculated daily. Data was analyzed using the Proc Mixed procedure of SAS for a repeated measures, completely randomized design. There was no effect of treatment on milk protein content, milk yield or SCC. Milk urea nitrogen linearly decreased with treatment (P<0.05). There was an increase (P<0.05) in milk fat content for LO (3.20%, 3.33% for CTL and LO respectively) and a tendency (P<0.06) for increased fat yield (1277, 1328 g/d for CTL and LO, respectively). Feeding HI decreased (P<0.01) dry matter intake (23.5, 23.2 kg/d for CT and HI, respectively) and fat yield (1277, 1218 g/d for CT and HI, respectively; P<0.01). Milk fat yield decreased (P<0.01) by 110 g/d, which is indicative of the 1.9 kg/d decrease (P<0.01) in FCM yield for HI compared to LO. Additionally, HI cows consumed 0.2 kg/d less DM than LO (P<0.01). Plant botanicals improved animal performance at the LO feeding rate, but had negative effects at the HI rate. The negative effect of HI appeared related to intake. These results suggest feeding recommendations be based at 28 g/d to supply 250 mg/d of active botanical components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective was to examine if Biuret (ADM Alliance Nutrition, Inc., Quincy, IL) is a suitable replacement for ruminally degradable true protein in dairy lactation diets. Lactating Holstein cows (n=237) were divided into three groups balanced based upon parity, stage of lactation (DIM), and mean milk production measured one week before the co-variant adjustment period. The standard lactation ration served as the control ration (CT). A 2-week co-variant adjustment period in which CT was fed was followed by a 28-day test period during which cows received diets containing 0, 45 (LO), or 77 (HI) g/cow/day of Biuret. Biuret replaced an equivalent amount of soybean meal-nitrogen in the diet. Urea and total crude protein of diets were similar among diets. Estimated bypass protein content of diets decreased and non-fiber carbohydrate increased with addition of Biuret. Data was analyzed using the Proc Mixed procedure of SAS for a repeated measures, completely randomized design. Milk yield and components were covariant adjusted using data collected in the pre-test period. Substitution of Biuret for ruminally degradable true protein did not affect milk yield (P>0.10). Dry matter intake linearly decreased (P<0.05) with Biuret feeding. Efficiency of milk yield (milk/feed DMI) improved when Biuret was fed. The HI treatment decreased (P<0.05) daily milk fat yield (1371, 1374, 1305 g for CT, LO and HI, respectively) and decreased (P<0.05) milk lactose percentage (4.86%, 4.85%, 4.82% for CT, LO and HI, respectively). Data were parsed into high and low production groups based on pre-study median performance to examine treatment effects of Biuret on milk yield and composition. Milk composition of lower-producing cows was affected by Biuret whereas milk yield was more responsive to Biuret in higher-producing cows. For all cows, MUN levels increased with Biuret feeding. Milk urea nitrogen may be an appropriate tracking variable to evaluate efficiency of nitrogen use when slowly degradable NPN sources, such as Biuret, are fed to lactating dairy cows. In lactating cow diets balanced for RDP and RUP, Biuret was an effective substitute for ruminally degradable true protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]