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Extended lactation in dairy cows: effects of milking frequency, calving season and nutrition on lactation persistency and milk quality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2008

Annette Sorensen ,
D Donald Muir  and
Christopher H Knight
Annette Sorensen
Affiliation:
Cancer Research UK Beatson Laboratories, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1BD
D Donald Muir
Affiliation:
DD Muir Consultants, Irvine KA11 1QQ
Christopher H Knight*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Institute of Comparative Medicine, Division of Cell Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH
*
†For correspondence; e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Twelve spring-calving and twelve winter-calving cows were managed for extended lactation cycles of 18-months duration, with the former group then completing a second extended lactation. Half of the cows were fed according to standard management practice for the herd; the other half received supplementary concentrate from week 9 of lactation onwards. Commencing at the same time, half of the udder of each cow was subjected to increased milking frequency (thrice daily rather than twice daily). Lactation persistency (and hence total milk yield) was significantly increased by frequent milking. Winter calving cows and supplemented cows also exhibited better persistency, but this was only evident up until the point of re-breeding, at around lactation week 33. Milk composition was measured in the spring-calving cows in both their first and second extended lactations. Composition altered during the course of the lactation, protein and fat percentages increasing and lactose percentage decreasing, irrespective of treatment. The quality of the milk for processing into cheese, fermented products, heat-treated products and cream liqueurs was assessed by calculation of casein number (casein protein as a proportion of total protein). Processing quality declined across the course of lactation in those groups that showed poor persistency but not in those that maintained a persistent lactation. Milk hygienic quality (somatic cell counts) showed parallel changes. Body condition score increased during the course of lactation but was not affected by supplementation; none of the cows became excessively fat. All cows remained healthy throughout the extended lactations and the majority (33/36) re-bred successfully. By demonstrating that lactation persistency is plastic and can be improved by simple management interventions, the results lend support to the economic arguments in favour of extended lactation cycles. The likely welfare benefits of extended lactation are also discussed.

Keywords

Dairy cattleextended lactationpersistencymilk quality
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 75 , Issue 1 , February 2008 , pp. 90 - 97
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 2008

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