The effect of pattern of concentrate allocation on milk production from autumn-calving heifers

Abstract

Forty-four British Friesian, first-lactation heifers were used in a randomized block experiment over a 2-year period to examine the effects of two patterns of concentrate allocation during the post-calving, indoor feeding period. The animals, mean calving date 17 October (s.d. 15 days), were offered concentrates either on a high-low system consisting of 80kg/day for the first 90 days of lactation and thereafter 5-4kg/day, or on a uniform system in which 6-8 kg/day was offered from calving until going to pasture (mean of 182 days). In addition, all animals received access ad libitum to grass silage, with a mean dry-matter content and digestible organic matter in the dry matter value of 218 and 679g/kg respectively. During the 1st year all 22 animals were housed as a single group, but in the 2nd year the animals were housed in individual stalls and silage intakes recorded for all replicates. In each year all animals grazed as a single group at pasture without supplementary concentrates.

Total concentrates consumed were 1163 and 1187 (s.e. 19·4)kg for the high-low and uniform treatments respectively. Although the animals on the high-low treatment reached a higher peak milk yield, there were no significant differences in milk yield over the winter period, 3257 and 3311 (s.e. 41·5) kg, or total lactation, 4862 and 4886 (s.e. 80·6)kg, for the high-low and uniform treatments respectively. The animals on the high-low treatment, however, were significantly lighter in body weight at the end of the winter but there was no difference between treatments at the end of lactation. Milk composition data are also presented.