HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wilk, J. C. Articles by Wells, R. C. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Wilk, J. C. Articles by Wells, R. C.

Comparison of Two Systems for Group Feeding Dairy Cows^{1 ,2,}

Department of Animal Science
Department of Economics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27607

ABSTRACT

Jersey cows on a one-group feeding system (Treatment I) were compared to those on a two-group system (Treatment II) over 3 yr. Those on Treatment I were group-fed concentrates at 7.3 kg per cow per day during the entire lactation regardless of yield. Cows on Treatment II were allotted to high and low subgroups on production of fat-corrected milk on a single day (Dairy Herd Improvement test day). Both subgroups were group-fed concentrates at the same rate (1 kg per 2.25 kg fat-corrected milk). Silage and hay allowances were constant for both groups throughout lactation. Except for gradual adjustment to concentrate feeding beginning 2 wk prepartum, nonlactating cows were allowed roughage only. The groups did not differ significantly in actual milk production, fat-corrected-milk production, body weight change, health, or reproductive performance. Milk fat percentage was higher for cows on the one-group system.

¹ Paper No. 5392 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, Raleigh, NC.

² This paper is a contribution from the Randleigh Foundation with partial financial support from the North Carolina Dairy Foundation.