Behavior, health, and productivity of early-lactation dairy cows supplemented with molasses in automated milking systems

Welfare assessment traits, milk quantity and quality, and profitability of Anatolian buffalo cows confined in closed-tied or semi-open free-stall barns can be affected by supplementary feeding at milking

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of offering (OSF) or not (NSF) supplemental feed at milking on temperament (TS), udder hygiene (UHS) and body condition (BCS) scores, and milk yield per milking (MYM), milk quality traits, and profitability of primiparous Anatolian buffalo cows at 90 days of lactation confined in closed-tied (CB) or semi-open free-stall (OB) barns.

METHODS

In Experiment I, 108 cows were selected to encompass four treatments (OBOSF, OB-NSF, CB-OSF, and CB-NSF) of 27 cows, considering barn type (OB and CB) and supplementary feed (OSF and NSF) at milking. In Experiment II, 60 OB cows were selected to encompass one of five groups of 12 cows each: i) no supplemental feed (CON), ii) commercial concentrate (CC), iii) CC + corn silage (CCS), iv) CCS + alfalfa hay (CSA), or v) CC + ryegrass silage (CRS) at milking.

RESULTS

The TS and UHS of the OB and OSF cows were lower (better) than those of the CB and NSF cows, respectively. The OSF increased milk protein, lactose, and solids-not-fat but decreased milk freezing point and electrical conductivity compared with the NSF. The MYM and milk fat of the OB-OSF cows were higher than those of the OB-NSF and CBNSF cows. The TS and UHS of the cows negatively correlated with MYM and some milk chemicals (fat, protein, and solids-not-fat), but BCS correlated positively. The TS and milk electrical conductivity of the CCS, CSA, and CRS cows were lower than those of the CON and CC cows, but BCS, MYM, and milk fat were higher. Partial budget analysis identified a higher net profit for supplemental feed-offered groups (OB-OSF, CCS, CSA, and CRS).

CONCLUSION

Offering roughage with concentrates at milking for indoor primiparous buffalo cows is more conducive to well-being, milk yield, milk quality, and economy.

Comparing steam-flaked and pelleted barley grain in a feed-first guided-flow automated milking system for Holstein cows

Provision of a palatable feed in automated milking systems (AMS) is considered an essential motivating factor to encourage voluntary visits to the milking stall. Although the quantity and composition of AMS concentrates have been previously investigated, the form of the concentrate has not been extensively evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding pelleted (PB; 132.9 ± 56 DIM, 47.4 ± 9.51 kg/d milk yield) versus steam-flaked barley (SFB; 133.0 ± 63 DIM, 40.5 ± 8.23 kg/d milk yield) in an AMS on dry matter intake, AMS visits, milk and milk component yield, and partial mixed ration (PMR) feeding behavior. Twenty-nine Holstein cows of varying parities were enrolled in this study. Cows were housed in freestall housing with a feed-first guided-flow barn design; 7 cows were housed in a separate freestall pen to enable individual PMR intake and feeding behavior monitoring. This study was conducted as a 2-way crossover, with two 21-d periods in which each cow received the same basal PMR but was offered 2 kg/d (dry matter basis) of PB or SFB in the AMS. Cows receiving the SFB had fewer voluntary AMS visits (2.71 vs. 2.90 ± 0.051, no./d), tended to have a longer interval between milkings (541.7 vs. 505.8 ± 21.02 min), spent more time in the holding pen before entering the AMS (139.9 vs. 81.2 ± 11.68 min/d), and had lower total box time (19.7 vs. 21.4 ± 0.35 min/d) than cows fed PB. Despite changes in AMS attendance, there were no differences for average milk (44.0 kg/d), fat (1.62 kg/d), and protein (1.47 kg/d) yields or AMS concentrate intake (2.02 kg/d). These behavioral changes indicate that offering SFB as an alternative to PB may reduce motivation for cows to voluntarily enter the AMS.