Journal article
"Feed no Food" - Auswirkungen einer kraftfutterreduzierten Fütterung auf Tiergesundheit, Leistung und Fruchtbarkeit von Milchkühen [Feed no Food - influence of minimized concentrate feeding on animal health, fertility andperformance of Swiss organic dairy cows]
Publication Details
Authors: | Notz, C.; Ivemeyer, S.; Maeschli, A.; Walkenhorst, M.; Staehli, P. |
Publication year: | 2013 |
Journal: | Tierärztliche Umschau |
Pages range : | 307-310 |
Volume number: | 68 |
ISSN: | 0049-3864 |
Abstract
Concentrate feeding (crops, soybeans etc.) is an integral part of the current dairy cow feeding system and the demand for increases yearly. In Switzerland the self-sufficiency of feed crops production decreases continuously and more than 60 % of concentrated feed must be imported.The objective of this project was to evaluate the effect of feeding rations without or with reduced shares of concentrateon health, fertility and performance of Swiss organic dairy cows. In total, 69 farms have been analyzed in this study. The results show a significant average reduction of concentrate by 24 % or 88 kg dry matter (DM) per cow and year. This reduction has no negative influence on animal health and fertility. Milk contents (protein, fat, urea) remained unchanged and milk yield decreased slightly by an average of 0.5 % or 0.1 kg per cow and day.
Concentrate feeding (crops, soybeans etc.) is an integral part of the current dairy cow feeding system and the demand for increases yearly. In Switzerland the self-sufficiency of feed crops production decreases continuously and more than 60 % of concentrated feed must be imported.The objective of this project was to evaluate the effect of feeding rations without or with reduced shares of concentrateon health, fertility and performance of Swiss organic dairy cows. In total, 69 farms have been analyzed in this study. The results show a significant average reduction of concentrate by 24 % or 88 kg dry matter (DM) per cow and year. This reduction has no negative influence on animal health and fertility. Milk contents (protein, fat, urea) remained unchanged and milk yield decreased slightly by an average of 0.5 % or 0.1 kg per cow and day.
Keywords
animal health, dairy cows, fertility, minimized concentrate feeding, performance
