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Production responses of New Zealand Friesian cows at pasture to exogenous recombinantly derived bovine somatotropin

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

C. J. Hoogendoorn
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
S. N. McCutcheon
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
G. A. Lynch
Affiliation:
Farms Administration, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
B. W. Wickham
Affiliation:
Livestock Improvement Corporation, New Zealand Dairy Board, Hamilton, New Zealand
A. K. H. MacGibbon
Affiliation:
New Zealand Dairy Research Institute, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Abstract

Recombinantly derived bovine somatotropin (bST) was administered to 25 Friesian cows by 2-weekly injections of a controlled release formulation at a dose rate equivalent to 25 mg/day. Treatment commenced 7 to 11 weeks after calving and continued for 26 weeks. A comparable group of 25 cows treated only with the slow release vehicle served as a control. During the treatment period, administration of bST increased yields of milk (controls 2358 v. bST 2598 (pooled s.e. = 39·8) kg; P < 0·01), fat (107·4 v. 119·3 (pooled s.e. = 1·9) kg; (P < 0·01) and protein (84·7 v. 93·7 (pooled s.e. = 1·2) kg; (P < 0·001). Magnitude of the treatment effect was strongly influenced by season, being greatest in spring/early summer (weeks 1 to 13 of treatment) and autumn (weeks 19 to 25) but not significant during the intervening summer dry period when herbage yield was low. Voluntary intakes, as measured by indigestible marker techniques at weeks 7 to 8 and 12 to 13 of treatment, were not influenced by bST administration. However, the net loss of body condition experienced by bST-treated cows (0·3 condition score units) was not sufficient to explain their responses in yield of milk and milk components, suggesting that some responses in voluntary intake had occurred. Administration of bST had little effect on milk composition, fatty acid composition of milk fat, live weight, reproductive performance or milk yield in the subsequent lactation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1990

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