Effects of Bovine Somatotropin on Milk Yield and Composition in Holstein Cows in Advanced Lactation Fed Low- or High-Energy Diets

¹ Department of Animal Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721-0038

The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of Holstein cows to bovine somatotropin (bST) during advanced lactation and its relationship to energy intake. Twenty-four lactating Holstein cows averaging 21 kg of milk/d, and 292 d in milk were assigned to one of three treatment groups in a randomized block design. Blocks were based on the 14 d of pretreatment milk production, and treatment groups were balanced for days in milk. Treatment 1 was a low-energy diet (1.49 Mcal/kg of dry matter) without bST injection; treatment 2 was the low-energy diet plus injection of 500 mg of bST every 14 d; and treatment 3 was a high-energy diet (1.71 Mcal/kg of dry matter) with bST injections as in treatment 2. Treatment was divided into two periods (1 to 49 and 50 to 98 d) to determine if response to bST and energy changed with time on treatment. Results showed that bST significantly (P < 0.05) increased milk, fat-corrected milk, and fat and protein yields; and feed efficiency (fat-corrected milk per dry matter intake) for both periods. Milk yield responses to bST were greater for cows fed the low- than the high-energy diet in both periods. These data show that bST injections for cows in advanced lactation increased performance, but excessive energy diminished the bST response.

Key Words: bovine somatotropin • advanced lactation • energy level

Submitted on February 8, 1999
Accepted on July 27, 1999

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