Title: Effect of calving date and parity on milk performance of grazing dairy herds.
Abstract: The rate of cow replacement is quite high on intensive dairy farms. This study considers the effect of the proportion of primiparous and the calving date, on milk performance of cows during three periods under grazing conditions. Individual groups of Friesian cows, combining spring vs. autumn calving and primiparous vs. multiparous cows, were evaluated for milk yield and quality during spring-summer grazing of grass-clover pastures. The primiparous group from spring-calving cows produced 30–35% less milk, with similar protein but higher fat content, than multiparous group. These spring-calving herds had 22–30% more milk than the autumn-calving herds. The primiparous autumn-calving cows produced 10–15% less milk than the multiparous autumn cows or the primiparous spring cows. These differences were reduced when the milk yield of cows decreased as the season advanced or as concentrate was reduced. Good control of herd composition, concerning parity and the percentage of cows’ replacement, would help to match feeding requirements with getting the best milk performance of grazing cows.
Publication Year: 2012
Publication Date: 2012-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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