Effects of feeding fodder beet or kale in winter to dams and their heifer offspring on the heifer growth and production
R. R. Woods
A * , D. E. Dalley A and J. P. Edwards A
A DairyNZ Ltd, PO Box 85066, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand.
Abstract
Fodder beet (FB) is a widely used winter feed in New Zealand’s southern regions due to its high yield, consistent quality, and environmental benefits. However, FB is low in crude protein, phosphorus and fibre, and a survey showed that many dairy farmers were concerned that feeding FB may have negative impacts on lifetime performance.
To determine whether winter feeding FB or kale (Ka) to dairy cows, and then their heifer offspring at 1 and 2 years old, affects the heifer performance from birth until the end of their first lactation.
In June–August 2017, pregnant dairy cows were fed FB or kale over winter and then 140 of the resultant heifer offspring were divided into four treatment groups at 9–11 months old according to their dam’s winter diet and offered either FB or kale, with pasture baleage. The groups were as follows (dam crop–heifer crop): FB–FB, FB–Ka, Ka–FB, Ka–Ka. The heifers’ subsequent performance (growth, stature, milk production, and reproduction) was measured to the end of their first lactation (May 2020), and blood mineral status was monitored from May 2018 to May 2019. This observational study has its limitations, but is useful for generating hypotheses to test in more controlled research.
Heifers grazing FB in winter (June–August) 2018 had lower blood plasma urea and phosphate concentrations than did heifers grazing kale, despite similar dietary crude protein contents. Treatments had no effect on milk production. However, the heifer liveweights were affected and there was an indication of poorer reproductive performance. The FB–FB heifer treatment group had a lower average liveweight than the FB–Ka heifers from 1 to 2.8 years old.
Although no impact on milk production for the first lactation was observed, the key results suggest possible negative impacts of feeding heifers FB during winter, particularly if their dam also wintered on FB.
The combined effects of FB dam and heifer winter diets on lifetime productivity warrant further investigation to help develop sustainable FB feeding systems. When feeding FB, we recommend that farmers test their crops and supplements to ensure that sufficient nutrition, in particular protein and phosphorus are provided.
Keywords: Beta vulgaris L, blood metabolites, Brassica oleracea L, cattle, cow, crude protein, dairy, lactation, phosphorus, reproduction, wintering.
References
Atkins NE, Bleach ECL, Mackenzie AM, Hargreaves PR, Sinclair LA (2020) Mineral status, metabolism and performance of dairy heifers receiving a combined trace element bolus and out-wintered on perennial ryegrass, kale or fodder beet. Livestock Science 231, 103865.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Bjelland DW, Weigel KA, Hoffman PC, Esser NM, Coblentz WK (2011) The effect of feeding dairy heifers diets with and without supplemental phosphorus on growth, reproductive efficiency, health, and lactation performance. Journal of Dairy Science 94, 6233-6242.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Bryant RH, Pirat M (2014) Effect of feeding kale or fodder beet diets to dairy cows in late gestation on calf birth weight and skeletal development. In ‘Proceedings of the 6th Australasian Dairy Science Symposium’, 19–21 November 2014, Hamilton, New Zealand. (Ed. J Roche) pp. 312–314. (Australasian Dairy Science Symposium Committee)
Clark P, Givens DI, Brunnen JM (1987) The chemical composition, digestibility and energy value of fodder-beet roots. Animal Feed Science and Technology 18, 225-231.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Cosgrove G, Pacheco D, Burke JL, Death AF, Hickey MJ, Lane GA (2007) Effects of water soluble carbohydrate in forage on aspects of nitrogen partitioning in cows. In ‘Meeting the challenges for pasture-based dairying’. ‘Proceedings of the 3rd Australasian Dairy Science Symposium, 18–20 September 2007, Melbourne, Australia’. (Eds DF Chapman, DA Clark, KL Macmillan, DP Nation) pp. 350–358. (National Dairy Alliance)
DairyNZ (2020) Facts and figures: a quick reference guide for New Zealand dairy farmers. DNZ30-001. Available at https://www.dairynz.co.nz/media/5794071/facts-and-figures-updated-2020.pdf
Dalley D, Waugh D, Griffin A, Higham C, de Ruiter J, Malcolm B (2020a) Productivity and environmental implications of fodder beet and maize silage as supplements to pasture for late lactation dairy cows. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 63, 145-164.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Dalley DE, Edwards JP, Woods RR (2020b) Impact of winter fodder beet or kale allocation on body condition score gain and early lactation performance of dairy cows. Journal of New Zealand Grasslands 82, 73-81.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Dalley DE, Edwards JP, Masterson E, Woods RR (2021) The effect of winter fodder beet or kale allocation on behaviour and blood metabolite status of non-lactating dairy cows. Journal of New Zealand Grasslands 83, 153-162.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Dittmer KE, Morley RE, Smith RL (2017) Skeletal deformities associated with nutritional congenital rickets in newborn lambs. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 65, 51-55.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Edwards GR, de Ruiter JM, Dalley DE, Pinxterhuis JB, Cameron KC, Bryant RH, Di HJ, Malcolm BJ, Chapman DF (2014a) Urinary nitrogen concentration of cows grazing fodder beet, kale and kale-oat forage systems in winter. In ‘Proceedings of the 6th Australasian Dairy Science Symposium, 19–21 November 2014, Hamilton, New Zealand’. (Ed. J Roche) pp. 144–147. (Australasian Dairy Science Symposium Committee)
Edwards GR, de Ruiter JM, Dalley DE, Pinxterhuis JB, Cameron KC, Bryant RH, Di HJ, Malcolm BJ, Chapman DF (2014b) Dry matter intake and body condition score change of dairy cows grazing fodder beet, kale and kale–oat forage systems in winter. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 76, 81–88. doi:10.33584/jnzg.2014.76.2964
Edwards JP, Dalley DE, Pinxterhuis JB, Woods RR (2020) A survey of fodder beet use and feeding practices on dairy farms in Canterbury, Otago and Southland. New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production 80, 101-106.
| Google Scholar |
Esser NM, Hoffman PC, Coblentz WK, Orth MW, Weigel KA (2009) The effect of dietary phosphorus on bone development in dairy heifers. Journal of Dairy Science 92, 1741-1749.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Gentry RP, Miller WJ, Pugh DG, Neathery MW, Bynum JB (1978) Effects of feeding high magnesium to young dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science 61, 1750-1754.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Hammond KJ, Sandoval E, McKenzie CM, Lees S, Pacheco D, McCoard SA (2021) The effect of a fodder beet versus rye-grass grazing regime during mid-to-late gestation twin-bearing ewes on dam and progeny performance and lamb survival. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 65, 145-162.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Jonker A, Scobie D, Dynes R, Edwards G, de Klein C, Hague H, McAuliffe R, Taylor A, Knight T, Waghorn G (2017) Feeding diets with fodder beet decreased methane emissions from dry and lactating dairy cows in grazing systems. Animal Production Science 57, 1445-1450.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Martens H, Leonhard-Marek S, Röntgen M, Stumpff F (2018) Magnesium homeostasis in cattle: absorption and excretion. Nutrition Research Reviews 31, 114-130.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Martín NP, Hickson RE, de Clifford RP, Tulley W, Lopez-Villalobos N, Back PJ (2020) Production benefits from meeting liveweight targets in dairy heifers. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 63, 220-232.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Moonsan Y, Thomas C, Bryant RH, Edwards GR (2018) BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Effect of maternal diet in late gestation on development of dairy calves. New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production 78, 186-188.
| Google Scholar |
Nortjé R, Laven RA, Allott B, Kenyon AG (2020) Changes in the metabolic profiles of dairy cows before and after calving that were mainly fed fodder beet (Beta vulgaris vulgaris L.) during the dry period. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 68, 353-358.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Roche JR, Friggens NC, Kay JK, Fisher MW, Stafford KJ, Berry DP (2009) Invited review: Body condition score and its association with dairy cow productivity, health, and welfare. Journal of Dairy Science 92, 5769-5801.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Waghorn GC, Collier K, Bryant M, Dalley DE (2018) Feeding fodder beet (Beta vulgaris L.) with either barley straw or pasture silage to non-lactating dairy cows. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 66, 178-185.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Waghorn GC, Law N, Bryant M, Pacheco D, Dalley D (2019) Digestion and nitrogen excretion by Holstein–Friesian cows in late lactation offered ryegrass-based pasture supplemented with fodder beet. Animal Production Science 59, 1261-1270.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Yao B, Di HJ, Cameron KC, Podolyan A, Shen J, He J (2018) Understanding the mechanisms for the lower nitrous oxide emissions from fodder beet urine compared with kale urine from dairy cows. Journal of Soils and Sediments 18, 85-93.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Zhang B, Wang C, Wei ZH, Sun HZ, Xu GZ, Liu JX, Liu HY (2016) The effects of dietary phosphorus on the growth performance and phosphorus excretion of dairy heifers. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 29, 960-964.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
