A University of Wisconsin study shows that stage of lactation influences a cow’s response to a reduced dry period. The chart below shows that cows about to enter their second lactation don’t benefit as much from a 34-day dry period as cows entering their third or greater lactation. For instance, first-lactation cows given a 34-day dry period gave 5.7 pounds less fat-corrected milk during the first 100 days of their second lactation than first-lactation cows given a 55-day dry period. In contrast, older cows given a short-dry period saw no loss in milk production versus older cows given a 55-day dry period.
|
Parameter
|
Second lactation
(34 vs. 55 days dry)
|
Third or GREATER LACTAtion
(34 vs. 55 days dry)
|
|
Fat-corrected milk
(first 100 days in milk)
|
- 5.7 pounds/cow/day
|
No loss in milk production
|
|
Days open
|
No difference
|
20 fewer days open
|
Comments (0) Leave a comment