Assessment of the Relationship between Postpartum Health and Mid-Lactation Performance, Behavior, and Feed Efficiency in Holstein Dairy Cows
The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between postpartum health disorders and mid-lactation performance, feed efficiency, and sensor-derived behavioral traits. Multiparous cows (<i>n</i> = 179) were monitored for health disorders for 21 days postpartum and enro...
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doaj-bb1e6fe3e54c4d899fd738a8a67aa6ab2021-05-31T23:55:16ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-05-01111385138510.3390/ani11051385Assessment of the Relationship between Postpartum Health and Mid-Lactation Performance, Behavior, and Feed Efficiency in Holstein Dairy CowsMalia J. Martin0Kent A. Weigel1Heather M. White2Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USADepartment of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USADepartment of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USAThe objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between postpartum health disorders and mid-lactation performance, feed efficiency, and sensor-derived behavioral traits. Multiparous cows (<i>n</i> = 179) were monitored for health disorders for 21 days postpartum and enrolled in a 45-day trial between 50 to 200 days in milk, wherein feed intake, milk yield and components, body weight, body condition score, and activity, lying, and feeding behaviors were recorded. Feed efficiency was measured as residual feed intake and the ratio of fat- or energy-corrected milk to dry matter intake. Cows were classified as either having hyperketonemia (HYK; <i>n</i> = 72) or not (<i>n</i> = 107) and grouped by frequency of postpartum health disorders: none (HLT; <i>n</i> = 94), one (DIS; <i>n</i> = 63), or ≥2 (DIS+; <i>n</i> = 22). Cows that were diagnosed with HYK had higher mid-lactation yields of fat- and energy-corrected milk. No differences in feed efficiency were detected between HYK or health status groups. Highly active mid-lactation time was higher in healthy animals, and rumination time was lower in ≥4th lactation cows compared with HYK or DIS and DIS+ cows. Differences in mid-lactation behaviors between HYK and health status groups may reflect the long-term impacts of health disorders. The lack of a relationship between postpartum health and mid-lactation feed efficiency indicates that health disorders do not have long-lasting impacts on feed efficiency.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/5/1385hyperketonemiaresidual feed intakeactivityrumination |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Malia J. Martin Kent A. Weigel Heather M. White |
spellingShingle |
Malia J. Martin Kent A. Weigel Heather M. White Assessment of the Relationship between Postpartum Health and Mid-Lactation Performance, Behavior, and Feed Efficiency in Holstein Dairy Cows Animals hyperketonemia residual feed intake activity rumination |
author_facet |
Malia J. Martin Kent A. Weigel Heather M. White |
author_sort |
Malia J. Martin |
title |
Assessment of the Relationship between Postpartum Health and Mid-Lactation Performance, Behavior, and Feed Efficiency in Holstein Dairy Cows |
title_short |
Assessment of the Relationship between Postpartum Health and Mid-Lactation Performance, Behavior, and Feed Efficiency in Holstein Dairy Cows |
title_full |
Assessment of the Relationship between Postpartum Health and Mid-Lactation Performance, Behavior, and Feed Efficiency in Holstein Dairy Cows |
title_fullStr |
Assessment of the Relationship between Postpartum Health and Mid-Lactation Performance, Behavior, and Feed Efficiency in Holstein Dairy Cows |
title_full_unstemmed |
Assessment of the Relationship between Postpartum Health and Mid-Lactation Performance, Behavior, and Feed Efficiency in Holstein Dairy Cows |
title_sort |
assessment of the relationship between postpartum health and mid-lactation performance, behavior, and feed efficiency in holstein dairy cows |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Animals |
issn |
2076-2615 |
publishDate |
2021-05-01 |
description |
The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between postpartum health disorders and mid-lactation performance, feed efficiency, and sensor-derived behavioral traits. Multiparous cows (<i>n</i> = 179) were monitored for health disorders for 21 days postpartum and enrolled in a 45-day trial between 50 to 200 days in milk, wherein feed intake, milk yield and components, body weight, body condition score, and activity, lying, and feeding behaviors were recorded. Feed efficiency was measured as residual feed intake and the ratio of fat- or energy-corrected milk to dry matter intake. Cows were classified as either having hyperketonemia (HYK; <i>n</i> = 72) or not (<i>n</i> = 107) and grouped by frequency of postpartum health disorders: none (HLT; <i>n</i> = 94), one (DIS; <i>n</i> = 63), or ≥2 (DIS+; <i>n</i> = 22). Cows that were diagnosed with HYK had higher mid-lactation yields of fat- and energy-corrected milk. No differences in feed efficiency were detected between HYK or health status groups. Highly active mid-lactation time was higher in healthy animals, and rumination time was lower in ≥4th lactation cows compared with HYK or DIS and DIS+ cows. Differences in mid-lactation behaviors between HYK and health status groups may reflect the long-term impacts of health disorders. The lack of a relationship between postpartum health and mid-lactation feed efficiency indicates that health disorders do not have long-lasting impacts on feed efficiency. |
topic |
hyperketonemia residual feed intake activity rumination |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/5/1385 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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