More Information
Similar articles
Effect of distance walked on dairy production and milk quality
Thomson NA, Barnes ML
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 53, pp 69-72, Jan 1993
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 53, pp 69-72, Jan 1993
Article class: Conference Presentation
Subject Terms: Animal production/wastage, Bodyweight/liveweight/condition score, Diagnostic procedures, Diet/rations/food, Growth/development, Lactation, Locomotor, Mammary gland/udder, Mastitis, Milk, Nutrition/metabolism, Pasture/crop, Quality/assurance
Animal Type: Cattle, Cattle - dairy, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Publisher: New Zealand Society of Animal ProductionAbstract
A trial conducted at the Taranaki Agricultural Research Station in February 1992 examined the effects of walking milking cows extra distances on milk solids production and milk quality. The walking treatments; control (less than 0.5km/day), 4km/day and 8km/day were applied after the morning and before the afternoon milkings over an 18 day period. The 4km and 8km treatments had respectively 76 and 154 minutes/day less time out on pasture. Milksolids production was assessed on days, 8, 11, 15 and 18 of the trial period. Each treatment group comprised 22 Jersey, Friesian and Jersey x Friesian cows were grazed separately throughout the trial period on similar pastures at an equal pasture allowance.On days 8 and 11, significant depressing effects due to extra walking on milk yield and composition were recorded. Milk yield was decreased (P<0.05 day 8), fat % increased (P<0.05 day 8) and protein % decreased (P<0.01 day 11) which resulted in a significant decrease (P<0.01 on day 8 and 11) in protein yield and milk solids yield (P<0.05) on day 8. No effect of walking on milk yield and composition were recorded on days 15 and 18. Total milk protein and milk solids production over the two week recording period was reduced (P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively) for the 8km walk treatment. Extra walking increased (P<0.05) somatic cell counts on day 11. A depressing effect on somatic cell counts was also observed on day 18 but differences were not significant. Cow condition score was lower (P<0.05) on the 8km extra walk treatment on day 8 and liveweight loss on days 8-16 was less (P<0.01) on the extra walking treatments. No effect was observed on pasture herbage mass levels before or after grazing or on the rate of DM disappearance. DM intake as assessed by controlled release chromium capsules over days 8-18 also showed no treatment effect. The effects of walking on milk production were significant in only one of a two week monitoring period and from this result it cannot be assumed the production differences and effects on milk quality recorded are repeatable.
The whole of the literary matter of the Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production is copyright New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Downloading this article signifies agreement with the terms and conditions of electronic access.