Observations on the effect of shortening the dry period on milk yield, body weight, and circulating glucose and FFA levels in dairy cows.

Abstract

The effect of shortening the dry period from 60 to 30 days in dairy cows was studied. For this purpose 18 pairs of dairy cows were matched, one member of each pair serving as a 60-day dry-period control. Singificant post-parturient differences between the two groups were observed: in the experimental group body weight and blood glucose levels did not decrease significantly, while significant decrements were observed in the control group, unlike FCM production trends during that period. In the experimental group monthly FCM production varied less than in the control group. It appeared that ante-parturient conditions programmed post-parturient energy partition.