Effects of Feeding Concentrates to Maintain Body Weight of Dairy Cows in Early Lactation

Abstract

To provide adequate energy intake during early lactation, two 18-week trials were conducted in which concentrates were increased after calving to essentially ad libitum levels but adjusted weekly to mainrain or stabilize body weight to the postpartum level. In Trial I, twelve Holsteins, and in Trial II, thirteen :KoIsteins and three Ayrshires, were fed forage ad libitmn starting three weeks before parturition. Lead feeding was utilized prior to parturltion, with daily concentrate increases of 0.45 kg/day until 9.1 kg/day was adfieved or parturition occurred. After calving, concentrates were increased 0.45 kg/day until the cow began to increase from the postpartum body weight, then the grain allowance was reduced.