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Effects of Increasing Milking Frequency During the Last 28 Days of Gestation on Milk Production, Dry Matter Intake, and Energy Balance in Dairy Cows

R. R. Rastani^*,1, N. Silva Del Rio^*, T. F. Gressley^,2, G. E. Dahl^,3 and R. R. Grummer^*,4

^* Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706
Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801

⁴ Corresponding author: rgrummer{at}facstaff.wisc.edu

Forty-eight Holstein cows were used in a randomized block design to evaluate different dry period lengths and prepartum milking frequencies (MF) on subsequent milk production, milk composition, solids-corrected milk production, dry matter intake (DMI), and energy balance. Lactating cows, milked 2 times/d, began a 7-d covariate period 35 d prior to the expected calving date. Cows were milked 0 times/d (0 x ), 1 time/d (1 x ), and 4 times/d (4 x ) for the last 28 d of gestation. If milk production decreased to less than 0.5 kg/milking or 1 kg/d, milking via machine ceased; however, teat stimulation continued 1 or 4 times/d according to the treatment assignment. All cows were milked 2 times/d postpartum (wk 1 to 10). Prepartum DMI tended to be greater for 1 x and 4 x compared with 0 x . Prepartum, cows milked 1 x produced 17% less milk than cows milked 4 x (5.9 and 7.1 kg/d, respectively). There were no differences in prepartum and postpartum body condition scores, body weights, and DMI. Postpartum milk production by cows following their third or greater gestation was greater for 0 x and 4 x compared with 1 x . Postpartum milk production by cows following their second gestation was significantly decreased with increased MF (0 x vs. 1 x and 4 x ). Regardless of parity, postpartum solids-corrected milk was greater for 0 x compared with 1 x and 4 x . Postpartum fat yield was greater for 0 x vs. 4 x , with 1 x being intermediate. Postpartum protein yield was greater for 0 x vs. 4 x , whereas 0 x tended to have greater protein yield than 1 x . Postpartum energy balance was greater for 1 x and 4 x relative to 0 x . Continuous milking (1 x and 4 x ) resulted in a loss of milk production in the subsequent lactation for cows following their second gestation; however, for cows following their third or greater gestation, increasing the MF from 1 x to 4 x in the last 28 d of gestation alleviated the loss in milk production.

Key Words: continuous milking • energy balance • milking frequency • transition period