Theme 19: Use of Supplements
Description
Reports of the depression in dry matter intake in the periparturient period have been inconsistent and little dry matter intake data is available for an all-forage diet prior to calving. Data to examine intake depression prior to calving was obtained from two experiments. In experiment 1, sixteen non-lactating, periparturient cows ate 1.3% of pre-calving body weight of grass-hay and freshly cut grass for two weeks pre-calving (restricted). Experiment 2 comprised thiry-six cows that ate 1.6% of pre-calving body weight of grass-hay and freshly cut grass for the final two weeks of pregnancy (ad libitum). Individual dry matter intakes were recorded for 14 days pre-calving. Intake pre-calving was not depressed, irrespective of feeding level, until two days pre-calving. This suggests that when an all-forage diet is fed pre-calving, increasing the energy density of the diet to compensate for a depression in dry matter intake may not be necessary.
Included in
Dry Matter Intake of Periparturient Cows on a Fresh Pasture/Pasture-Hay Diet
Reports of the depression in dry matter intake in the periparturient period have been inconsistent and little dry matter intake data is available for an all-forage diet prior to calving. Data to examine intake depression prior to calving was obtained from two experiments. In experiment 1, sixteen non-lactating, periparturient cows ate 1.3% of pre-calving body weight of grass-hay and freshly cut grass for two weeks pre-calving (restricted). Experiment 2 comprised thiry-six cows that ate 1.6% of pre-calving body weight of grass-hay and freshly cut grass for the final two weeks of pregnancy (ad libitum). Individual dry matter intakes were recorded for 14 days pre-calving. Intake pre-calving was not depressed, irrespective of feeding level, until two days pre-calving. This suggests that when an all-forage diet is fed pre-calving, increasing the energy density of the diet to compensate for a depression in dry matter intake may not be necessary.
