The objective of this trial was to measure performance of paired pens of lactating Jersey and Jersey-Holstein crossbred (JX) vs. Holstein (H) cows over a year in a Wisconsin confinement dairy herd. Average daily milk yield of JX was 5.5 kg/ cow less than H, whereas average milk fat and true protein percentages were 0.61 (4.26 vs. 3.65%) and 0.19 (3.05 vs. 2.86%) percentage units, respectively, ...

With the milk to feed ratio at 2.36 in February, 2008, dairy managers must carefully reviewing feed inputs relative to milk yield. A milk to feed ratio under 3 is a signal to reduce feed inputs. Feed efficiency (also referred to as milk performance efficiency and dairy efficiency) can be defined as pounds of 3.5%FCM (fat corrected milk) produced per pound of dry matter (DM) consumed. Monitoring...

Probiotics act positively on rumen feed digestion and ruminant production as feed additive, these additives are diverse and exerting their action through different mechanisms. This review gives an overview of the probiotics feed additive and summarizes the current status of lactic acid bacteria, yeast and Bacillus which are the most common used feed additive to improve milk performance and heal...

To avoid nutrient limitations, MP requirements are often overestimated in the formulation of dairy cow rations. Overfeeding of N results in increased expenses for producers and increased N excretion to the environment. Thus, improvements in the efficiency of dairy cow feeding provide economic and environmental incentives. Previous improvements in feed efficiency have come via the dilution of ma...

The objectives of this paper were to briefly review progress in the genetic evaluation of novel traits in Canada and the United States, assess methods to predict selection accuracy based on cow reference populations, and illustrate how the use of indicator traits could increase genomic selection accuracy. Traits reviewed are grouped into the following categories: udder health, hoof health, othe...

Once-a-day (OAD) milking offers a major opportunity to improve labour output on New Zealand farms. However few full lactation studies have been undertaken to investigate the effect of this strategy on the productivity of the farm system. A trial was established in 2000 to measure the effect of milking frequency and breed in farm systems where stocking rate was adjusted to equalise per hectare f...

Milk and feed price volatility are the major source of dairy farm risk. Since August 2008 a new federally reinsured insurance program has been available to many US dairy farmers to help minimize the negative effects of adverse price movements. This insurance program is referred to as Livestock Gross Margin Insurance for Dairy Cattle. Given the flexibility in contract design, the dairy farmer ha...

The effect of cassava root ensiled with cassava top or legumes on voluntary feed intake and milk production were determined in 12 dairy cows using a 4×3 change-over design. Experimental period were 30 days long and consisted of 14 days of adaptation. Silage was prepared from cassava root mixed with cassava top or legumes at ratio 60:40. Cows were allotted at random to receive ad libitum one of ...

Introduction Investigating and comparing the two systems Comparing some technical efficiency ratios and profit Points to note about the comparison Conclusions References Abstract. In this study, budgets of herd dynamics, feed and energy supply, production and profit of alternative dairy farm systems were used to examine the effects of changing a 230 cow Holstein-Friesian (HF) dairy system to a ...