Characterisation of productive performance, body reserve dynamics and energy metabolic parameters of Holstein Friesian and Normande dairy cows managed in a low-input pastoral dairy system
Ezequiel Jorge-Smeding
A * , Laura Astigarraga A , Cecilia Loza A , Mariana Carriquiry A , Daniel E. Rico B and Andrea Álvarez-Oxiley A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Departamento de Producción Animal y Pasturas, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de la República, Avda. E. Garzón 780, CP 12900, Montevideo, Uruguay.
B CRSAD, Deschambault, QC, Canada.
Animal Production Science 62(3) 274-283 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN21250
Submitted: 24 April 2020 Accepted: 11 October 2021 Published: 19 November 2021
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing
Abstract
Context: Dairy cows with autumn-calving season in low-input pastoral systems are subjected to challenging conditions as their early lactation falls in autumn and winter when shortages in pasture availability and harsh weather conditions often occur.
Aims: We aimed to assess the associations between breed (Holstein Friesian (HF) vs Normande (NR)) and stage of lactation on productive and metabolic responses over lactation in a low-input pastoral dairy system.
Methods: Twenty-seven HF (n = 14) and NR (n = 13) cows were studied. Milk yield was measured fortnightly, and milk composition, milk solid yield, liveweight (LW), body condition score (BCS) and blood plasma energy metabolites were assessed monthly.
Key results: The greater milk for HF versus NR cows (e.g. 17.4 vs 12.1 ± 1.0 kg/day of milk; P < 0.001) were associated with a lower LW (510 vs 540 ± 10 kg; P = 0.021) and BCS (1.84 vs 2.37 ± 0.10; P = 0.001) at nadir for HF than NR cows. Blood plasma concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were high for longer in HF versus NR cows (18 vs 8 WRC). Plasma glucose was greater (P = 0.002) and insulin was lower (P = 0.021) for HF versus NR cows at 3 WRC. During mid-lactation, glucose (22 WRC, P = 0.021) and insulin (26 to 34 WRC, P ≤ 0.041) were lower for HF vs. NR cows.
Conclusions: Because of their lower milk yields, NR cows had a shorter period of body reserves mobilisation, which was associated with an earlier decrease of plasma concentrations of NEFA and greater insulin concentrations at 3 WRC, and then again during mid-lactation when LW and BCS were also greater for NR cows.
Implications: In constraining pastoral environments, NR cows would redirect fewer nutrients for milk synthesis, leading to lower depletion of body reserves, which could be associated with a better ability to cope with winter challenging conditions. Although HF cows had a greater depletion of body reserves, there was no increase in the incidence of health problems for these cows.
Keywords: adaptation, animal physiology, dairy breed, dairy genetics, dual-purpose breed, grazing dairy systems, homeorhesis, resilience.
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