Partitioning of dietary nitrogen in response to feeding cereal grain supplements to dairy cows during four periods of an extended lactation
P. J. Moate A B , S. R. O. Williams A , M. C. Hannah A , L. C. Marett A , M. J. Auldist A , J. L. Jacobs A and W. J. Wales A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Agriculture Victoria, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Ellinbank Centre, 1301 Hazeldean Road, Ellinbank, Vic. 3821, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: peter.moate@ecodev.vic.gov.au
Animal Production Science 57(7) 1520-1524 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN16479
Submitted: 22 July 2016 Accepted: 5 January 2017 Published: 9 March 2017
Abstract
Holstein–Friesian dairy cows managed in pasture-based systems are capable of lactating for considerably longer than the traditional 300 days. However, the partitioning of dietary nutrients in the second 300 days of an extended lactation has been shown to be different from that in the first 300 days. The partitioning of dietary nitrogen (N) was investigated using two groups of eight Holstein cows in four experimental periods of 6 days, at 110, 270, 450 and 560 days in milk (DIM). During each period, cows were housed in individual stalls where N intake and output were measured. Cows in a control group received a forage-based diet ad libitum, whereas cows in a second group received 5 kg DM of cereal grain and the basal forage diet ad libitum. N intake was positively related to outputs of milk N, urinary N and faecal N, and negatively to N-use efficiency (NUE). DIM was positively related to output of urinary N and negatively related to NUE and outputs of milk N and faecal N. The partitioning of N in the second year of an extended lactation was different from that in the first year, meaning that the partitioning of N reported for cows up to 300 DIM cannot be used to accurately predict the partitioning of N in cows beyond 300 DIM. Adding grain to the diet increased total nitrogen intake but decreased NUE. However, it is plausible for the addition of cereal grain to the diet of dairy cows to increase NUE, but only when the concentration of dietary crude protein decreases and any increase in dry-matter intake is small, such that total nitrogen intake is decreased.
Additional keywords: faeces, nitrogen use efficiency, urine.
References
AOAC (2000) ‘Official methods of analysis.’ 17th edn. (AOAC International: Gaithersburg, MD)Auldist MJ, O’Brien G, Cole D, Macmillan KL, Grainger C (2007) Effects of varying lactation length on milk production capacity of cows in pasture-based dairying systems. Journal of Dairy Science 90, 3234–3241.
| Effects of varying lactation length on milk production capacity of cows in pasture-based dairying systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXntlCksrs%3D&md5=ff8294266760c55e09be0b964c938d45CAS |
Auldist MJ, Grainger C, Macmillan KL, Marrett LC, Hannah M, Leury BJ, Wales WJ (2011) Feed conversion efficiency and marginal production responses of pasture-fed dairy cows offered supplementary grain during an extended lactation. Animal Production Science 51, 204–209.
| Feed conversion efficiency and marginal production responses of pasture-fed dairy cows offered supplementary grain during an extended lactation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXisl2rt7k%3D&md5=c296dda6beeaf00d87f03916d1c55010CAS |
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) (2004) ‘Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes.’ 7th edn. (NHMRC: Canberra, Australia)
Bines JA, Hart IC, Morant SV (1980) Endocrine control of energy metabolism in the cow: the effect on milk yield and levels of some blood constituents of injecting growth hormone and growth hormone fragments. British Journal of Nutrition 43, 179–188.
| Endocrine control of energy metabolism in the cow: the effect on milk yield and levels of some blood constituents of injecting growth hormone and growth hormone fragments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL3cXhsFyisbs%3D&md5=8a6d7e0aee6533b830c8b66610bda93dCAS |
Delany KK, Macmillan KL, Grainger C, Thomson PC, Blache D, Nicholas KR, Auldist MJ (2010) Blood plasma concentrations of metabolic hormones and glucose during extended lactation in grazing cows or cows fed a total mixed ration. Journal of Dairy Science 93, 5913–5920.
| Blood plasma concentrations of metabolic hormones and glucose during extended lactation in grazing cows or cows fed a total mixed ration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXjs1KisL0%3D&md5=e6824c13fd8773be69d41337a3038a1aCAS |
Gourley CJP, Aarons SR, Powell JM (2012) Nitrogen use efficiency and manure management practices in contrasting dairy production systems. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 147, 73–81.
| Nitrogen use efficiency and manure management practices in contrasting dairy production systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Grainger C, Clarke T, Eckard RJ (2008) Effect of whole cottonseed supplementation on energy and nitrogen partitioning and rumen function in dairy cattle on a forage and cereal diet. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 860–865.
| Effect of whole cottonseed supplementation on energy and nitrogen partitioning and rumen function in dairy cattle on a forage and cereal diet.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXnsVGht7g%3D&md5=179c600172529300fbbb61596fe4ef26CAS |
Grainger C, Auldist MJ, O’Brien G, Macmillan KL, Culley C (2009) Effect of type of diet and energy intake on milk production of Holstein–Friesian cows with extended lactations. Journal of Dairy Science 92, 1479–1492.
| Effect of type of diet and energy intake on milk production of Holstein–Friesian cows with extended lactations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXjvFamtrk%3D&md5=bd26b61570cf96c74c8e4a4c7f880db5CAS |
Huhtanen P, Nousiainen JI, Rinne M, Kytölä K, Kshalili H (2008) Utilization and partition of dietary nitrogen in dairy cows fed grass silage-based diets. Journal of Dairy Science 91, 3589–3599.
| Utilization and partition of dietary nitrogen in dairy cows fed grass silage-based diets.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXhtFams73M&md5=4932c70505c4983a78aca42f556cc453CAS |
IDF (1995) Milk protein definition: milk protein standardization. In ‘Proceedings of the 2nd IDF symposium’. pp. 49–54. (International Dairy Federation: Brussels, Belgium)
Kellaway R, Harrington T (2004) ‘Feeding concentrates: supplements for dairy cows.’ (Land links Press: Melbourne)
Kolver ES, Roche JR, Burke CR, Kay JK, Aspin PW (2007) Extending lactation in pasture-based dairy cows: I. Genotype and diet effect on milk production. Journal of Dairy Science 90, 5518–5530.
| Extending lactation in pasture-based dairy cows: I. Genotype and diet effect on milk production.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXhsVSgsbbI&md5=90def1bef724144f028d5a6d5b5d638dCAS |
Magee L (1990) R2 measures based on Wald and likelihood ratio joint significance tests. The American Statistician 44, 250–253.
Malcolm B (2005) Economics of extended lactations. Australian Farm Business Management Journal 2, 110–121.
Marett LC, Auldist MJ, Grainger C, Wales WJ, Blache D, Macmillan KL, Leury BJ (2011) Temporal changes in plasma concentrations of hormones and metabolites in pasture-fed dairy cows during extended lactation. Journal of Dairy Science 94, 5017–5026.
| Temporal changes in plasma concentrations of hormones and metabolites in pasture-fed dairy cows during extended lactation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXht1eisb%2FE&md5=240d626b2ce068402655bf1bafd4ef31CAS |
Mulligan FJ, Dillon P, Callan JJ, Rath M, O’Mara FP (2004) Supplementary concentrate type affects nitrogen excretion of grazing dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 87, 3451–3460.
| Supplementary concentrate type affects nitrogen excretion of grazing dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXotFykurs%3D&md5=f268ba98c7f8c8c151e373854b85e20eCAS |
Nadeau E, Englund JE, Gustafsson AH (2007) Nitrogen efficiency of dairy cows as affected by diet and milk yield. Livestock Science 111, 45–56.
| Nitrogen efficiency of dairy cows as affected by diet and milk yield.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rugoho I, Gourley CJP, Hannah MC (2017) Nutritive characteristics, mineral concentrations and dietary cation-anion difference of feeds used within grazing-based dairy farms in Australia. Animal Production Science 57, 858–876.
| Nutritive characteristics, mineral concentrations and dietary cation-anion difference of feeds used within grazing-based dairy farms in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sorensen A, Knight CH (2002) Endocrine profiles of cows undergoing extended lactation in relation to the control of lactation persistency. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 23, 111–123.
| Endocrine profiles of cows undergoing extended lactation in relation to the control of lactation persistency.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38Xls1WktL0%3D&md5=a53d477f61354a1b8c6b5eb405c6f483CAS |
Steinshamn H, Höglind M, Garmo TH, Thuen E, Brenøe UT (2006) Feed nitrogen conversion in lactating dairy cows on pasture as affected by concentrate supplementation. Animal Feed Science and Technology 131, 25–41.
| Feed nitrogen conversion in lactating dairy cows on pasture as affected by concentrate supplementation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XhtFSrurnO&md5=fc38251c4d9ed1c6c56c2d2df53ff2faCAS |
Wales WJ, Williams YJ, Doyle PT (2001) Effect of grain supplementation and provision of chemical or physical fibre on marginal milk production responses of cows grazing perennial ryegrass pastures. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 41, 465–471.
| Effect of grain supplementation and provision of chemical or physical fibre on marginal milk production responses of cows grazing perennial ryegrass pastures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXlt1ejtLw%3D&md5=ea6693b8ca3a8186c95011f943101261CAS |
Williams SRO, Clarke T, Hannah MC, Marett LC, Moate PJ, Auldist MJ, Wales WJ (2013) Energy partitioning in herbage-fed dairy cows offered supplementary grain during an extended lactation. Journal of Dairy Science 96, 484–494.
| Energy partitioning in herbage-fed dairy cows offered supplementary grain during an extended lactation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XhvV2ktbfL&md5=8af7160fc7694c93d5852659a7827c53CAS |
