Abstract

A factorial design was used to determine the effect of offering cows (n=8) in early, mid, and late lactation 50 MJME/cow/day of rolled maize grain (T2) or a nutritionally balanced supplement (T3) in spring, summer, autumn and winter at a restricted pasture allowance. The average milksolids production of the early, mid and late lactation groups was 1.16, 1.10, and 0.96 kg MS/cow/day (± 0.013), respectively. When compared to a non-supplemented control (T1), offering T2 and T3 supplements increased MS production from 0.91 to 1.14 and 1.13kg MS/cow/day (P<0.01), respectively. The milksolids responses to T2 was 150g MS/cow/day greater in summer and winter than in spring and autumn (P<0.05). Stage of lactation, or form of supplement, had no effect on milksolids response (P>0.05). These results suggest that the milksolids response to supplementary feeding was determined by the extent supplementary feeding increased total ME intake.

JW, Penno, CW Holmes, KA MacDonald, and BJ Walsh

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 58, , 113-116, 1998