114. Effect of grazing and feeding management on milk mineral concentrations (original) (raw)
Mineral Concentrations in Bovine Milk from Farms with Contrasting Grazing Management
Foods
Thirty conventional and twenty-four organic dairy farms were divided into equal numbers within system groups: high-pasture, standard-pasture, and low-pasture groups. Milk samples were collected monthly for 12 consecutive months. Milk from high-pasture organic farms contained less fat and protein than standard- and low-pasture organic farms, but more lactose than low-pasture organic farms. Grazing, concentrate feed intake and the contribution of non-Holstein breeds were the key drivers for these changes. Milk Ca and P concentrations were lower in standard-pasture conventional farms than the other conventional groups. Milk from low-pasture organic farms contained less Ca than high- and standard-pasture organic farms, while high-pasture organic farms produced milk with the highest Sn concentration. Differences in mineral concentrations were driven by the contribution of non-Holstein breeds, feeding practices, and grazing activity; but due to their relatively low numerical differences b...
Agriculture
This study was conducted to examine associations between nutrition, time of year and season of calving on milk mineral concentrations in 24 pasture-based dairy farms. There was substantial variation in the concentrations (mean with range in parentheses) of Ca 1072 (864–1310) mg/kg; citrate 1579 (880–2080) mg/kg; P 885 (640–1040) mg/kg; Mg 98 (73–122) mg/kg; Na 347 (248–554) mg/kg; K 1534 (1250–2010) mg/kg; and S 295 (155–372) mg/kg with most of the variation associated with stage of lactation, although the influence of days in milk was different for different minerals. Feeding practices were also important in determining the concentrations of some components. Milk Ca, citrate, P, and K concentrations were greater (p < 0.05) in cows receiving mineral supplements, while Ca, P and Mg were positively correlated (p < 0.05) with the amount of concentrates fed. Milk citrate and K concentrations were positively correlated (p < 0.05) with herbage allowance. Milk Se (15 (<3–37) µg...
South African Journal of Animal Science, 2014
This study was conducted to determine the effects of genotype and season on daily milk yield (DMY) and mineral composition of pasture-based dairy cows. This was done by collecting data from 20 Friesian, 20 Jersey and 20 Friesian × Jersey crossbred cows in the early stage of their 4 th parity in winter and spring, respectively. Automated milk meters were used to measure the DMY. Mineral composition was determined by using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometric (ICP-OES) method. The data collected from milk yield and mineral composition were analysed using the general linear model of SAS. The results showed that milk yield was highest from Friesian cows both in spring and winter seasons while Jersey cows had the lowest yield. Seasonal effects were also observed in mineral concentrations, with winter having higher values for aluminium, boron, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc and sodium while phosphorus was higher in spring. Crossbred cows yielded higher concentrations of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. It was therefore concluded that both milk yield and mineral compositions are affected by genotype and season.
Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI, 2021
Simple Summary It has been known for several years that limiting phosphorus in the cow diet mitigates its excretion in manure, hence reducing the environmental phosphorus load after manure spreading. The quantity of phosphorus that could be applied in the field is regulated by law in several countries. This is not the same for trace minerals such as cobalt, copper, manganese, and zinc. Nevertheless, if overfed, these last minerals are excreted in manure in great quantities and could accumulate in the soil after manure spreading, which could lead to detrimental environmental effects. However, formulating cow rations according to the mineral requirements is challenging for nutritionists. The aim of this analysis is to compare dietary phosphorus, cobalt, copper, manganese, and zinc concentrations from 100 commercial Holstein dairy herds with the National Research Council recommendations. Phosphorus is included as a point of comparison, as its overfeeding has been well studied compared ...
Journal of Dairy Science, 2013
Thirty-nine commercial dairies in Merced County, California were enrolled in the present study to (1) compare lactating cow mineral intakes (via drinking water and total mixed ration) to the National Research Council (NRC) requirements, (2) evaluate the association between dietary concentrations of minerals with and without drinking water and adjusted for mineral concentrations in milk, and (3) compare 4 different methods to estimate excretion of minerals using either assays or estimations of milk mineral outputs and total daily mineral intake per cow with or without minerals coming from drinking water. Dairies were selected to represent a range of herd milk yields and a range of water mineral contents. Samples of total mixed ration, drinking water, and bulk tank milk were taken on 2 different days, 3 to 7 d apart in each farm. Across-farm medians and percentile distributions were used to analyze results. The herd median milk yield interquartile ranged (10th to 90th percentile) from less than 25 to more than 39 kg/d and the concentration of total solids in water interquartile ranged from less than 200 to more than 1,490 mg/L. Including drinking water minerals in the diets increased dietary concentrations by <4% for all minerals except for Na and Cl, which increased by 9.3 and 6.5%, respectively. Concentrations of P and K in milk were essentially the same as the NRC value to estimate lactation requirements. However, NRC milk values of Ca, Cl, and Zn were 10 to 20% greater than dairy farm values; and Na, Cu, Fe, and Mn were no less than 36% below NRC values. Estimated excretion of minerals via manure varied substantially across farms. Farms in the 10th percentile did have 2 to 3 times less estimated mineral excretions than those in the 90th percentile (depending on the mineral). Although including water minerals increased excretion of most minerals, the actual median effect of Ca, Mg, S, Cu, Fe, and Mn was less than 5%, and about 8% for Na and Cl. Replacing assayed concentrations of minerals in milk with NRC constants resulted in reduced estimated excretion of Ca, Na, Cu, Fe, and Zn, but median differences were <5% except for Na which was 7.5%. Results indicate that not including mineral intake via drinking water and not using assayed concentrations of milk minerals lead to errors in estimation manure excretion of minerals (e.g., Ca, Na, Cl, and S).
Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 2007
Calculations of flows and balances of plant nutrients in agricultural production systems provide some basic information for the assessment of their long-term sustainability. The objectives of this study were to assess the possible impacts of variations in element concentrations between years and of undefined sinks and sources of elements on the accuracy of balance calculations. A 3-year study was conducted on Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, N, P, S, and Zn fluxes in the barns (subsystem) of a Swedish farm with separate conventional and organic milk production. Our main focus in this subproject was on barn balance calculations, the barn housing only cows. Barn balance for an element was defined as amount of that element in [feeds, heifers, bedding, water] À [milk, manure, urine, calves, culled cows]. The focus was on: (1) variations in element concentrations in the main flow carriers [feeds, milk, manure, urine];
Mineral balances, including in drinking water, estimated for Merced County dairy herds
California Agriculture, 2007
Dairy producers must increasingly comply with environmental regulations at the federal, state and local levels. A key to many of the regulations is the development of manure management plans to protect air, water and soil quality. Information on complete nutrient balances and excretion is necessary to control or minimize the loss of nutrients to the environment. Data from 51 randomly selected dairy farms in Merced County, in California's Central Valley, was used to evaluate the impact of minerals in drinking water on nutrient balances and to characterize the mineral composition of manure from lactating dairy cows. We found that a lactating dairy cow producing approximately 66 pounds of milk daily might excrete 750 ± 117 grams of minerals daily, while the proportion of these minerals attributed to water ranged from 0.3% to 20%. On some dairies, controlling these minerals could reduce manure production and subsequent land applications.
Food Chemistry, 2021
To study the effects of dairy production system on milk macromineral and trace element concentrations, milk samples were collected monthly in 2019 from 43 conventional and 27 organic farms. Organic milk contained more Ca (1049.5 vs. 995.8 mg/kg), K (1383.6 vs. 1362.4 mg/kg), P (806.5 vs. 792.5 mg/kg) and Mo (73.3 vs. 60.6 μg/kg) but less Cu (52.4 vs. 60.6 μg/kg), Fe (0.66 vs 2.03 mg/kg), Mn (28.8 vs. 45.0 μg/kg), Zn (4.51 vs. 5.00 mg/kg) and Al (0.32 vs. 1.14 μg/kg) than conventional milk. Significant seasonal variation was observed in all determined minerals' concentrations. Milk I concentration was not consistently affected by production system, whereas organic milk contained less I in June and July than conventional milk. Dietary factors contributing to different milk mineral concentrations between production systems included intakes of maize silage, dry-straights and oils (higher in conventional diets), and pasture, clover and wholecrop (higher in organic diets).
Grass and Forage Science, 2011
A 2‐year whole‐farm study compared pasture‐based systems increasing milk production per ha by increasing either stocking rate (from 2·5 to 3·8 cows ha−1) or milk yield per cow (from 6000 to 9000 kg cow−1 lactation−1) or both. Four treatments (systems), comprising 30 cows each, were compared under the same management and grazing decision rules. The diet was based on grazed pasture, whereas pellets and conserved fodder were fed when deemed necessary. Milk production per ha increased by 0·49, 0·1 and 0·66 in the systems that increased either stocking rate, milk yield per cow or both respectively. Cows in the ‘high milk yield per cow’ systems had a significantly higher body condition score throughout the lactation, but reproductive performance was similar among all groups. Total pasture utilized (11 t DM ha−1 year−1) and pasture nutritive value were similar across all systems. This was associated with the grazing rules applied and the ability of accurately supplementing to meet deficits...
Animals, 2019
In pasture-based dairy systems, dairy cattle that voluntarily walk back to pasture immediately after milking access greater feed nutritive value than those cattle milked last. Dairy cattle that were milked first in our work produced more milk and tended to have a greater yield of milk solids than cattle milked last. This work highlights the opportunity to improve nutrient use efficiency on dairy farms through strategic pasture allowance and supplementation. Abstract: (1) Background: Pasture varies in its chemical composition from the top of the sward to the base and cattle prefer to eat the leaf fraction. In pasture-based dairy systems, cattle predominantly walk back to pasture voluntarily after each milking, with the first cattle arriving to pasture hours before the last. Here we study the impact of pasture composition according to milking order on milk yield and milk composition for dairy cattle offered grazed ryegrass pasture. (2) Methods: In the first experiment, individual cow milk yield data were recorded on six farms over 8 months. The herd was divided into groups of 50 cows for analysis according to milking order. In the second experiment, the impact of milking order on milk composition and pasture composition accessed was determined in addition to milk yield on three farms. (3) Results: After accounting for age and stage of lactation effects, cattle milked first in experiment 1 produced, on average, 4.5 L/cow/day (+18%; range 14 to 29%) more than cattle milked last. In experiment 2, dairy cattle milked first (first 50 cows) in farm 1 had greater milk, protein, and solids non-fat (SNF) yield; and less lactose content than those milked last (last 50 cows). In farm 2, dairy cattle milked first had greater milk yield, SNF yield, lactose yield, and fat yield; but less protein and SNF content than cattle milked last. In farm 3, cattle milked first produced milk with greater fat and protein content than cattle milked last. In line with these differences in milk yield and composition, the composition of pasture across vertical strata differed, particularly for crude protein (CP) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) content. Conclusion: This work highlights the opportunity to increase herd nutrient use efficiency for improved milk production through strategic pasture allowance and supplementation strategies.
Determinations of feed–milk–manure relationships on grazing-based dairy farms
animal, 2012
Feed conversion into milk, nutrient excretion in manure and subsequent environment impacts of manure management are highly influenced by the diets that farmers feed their lactating cows (Bos taurus). On confinement-based dairy farms, determinations of diet composition are relatively straightforward because the types, amounts and nutrients contained in stored feeds are often well known. However, on grazing-based dairy farms, diet composition is more difficult to determine because forage intake during grazing must be estimated. The objectives of this study were to determine relationships between (1) feed N intake (NI), milk production, milk urea N (MUN), feed N use efficiency (FNUE) and excreted manure N (ExN); and (2) between feed P intake (PI), dung P concentrations (g/kg dry matter (DM)) and excreted manure P (ExP) for grazing-based lactating cows having a very wide range of diets and milk production. An additional objective was to evaluate how well these relationships compare with similar relationships based on more direct measurement of feed-milk-manure on confinement-based dairy farms. Four dairy farms located in southeastern Australia were visited during autumn and spring, and data were collected on feed, milk and dung of 18 cows on each farm. Estimated dry matter intake (DMI) from pasture comprised 12% to 75% of total diet DMI, and the crude protein (CP) concentrations in the total diets ranged from 167 to 248 g/kg. During spring, as diet CP increased FNUE declined. Total diet DMI and NI provided the best predictors of ExN, and PI provided the most accurate prediction of ExP. These results indicated accuracy in the study's indirect estimates of pasture DMI. Likely due to high levels and great variability in dietary CP and P concentrations associated with use of diet supplements, MUN did not appear to be a good indicator of dietary CP, and P in dung was not a good indicator of dietary P.
Journal of dairy science, 2010
The objectives of this meta-analysis were to evaluate the effectiveness of supplementation with the organic trace minerals (OTM; Availa-4 and 4-Plex, Zinpro Corp., Eden Prairie, MN) on milk yield, composition, and component yields and reproductive performance in dairy cows. Twenty research papers and reports on the effects of OTM were considered in this meta-analysis. Criteria for inclusion in the study were information on the form of OTM, an adequate description of randomization, production and reproduction data, and associated measures of variance (SE or SD) and P-values. The OTM increased milk production by 0.93 kg [95% confidence interval (CI)=0.61 to 1.25], milk fat by 0.04 kg (95% CI=0.02 to 0.05), and milk protein by 0.03 kg (95% CI=0.02 to 0.04) per day. Milk SCC was not different in cows supplemented with OTM. All production outcomes except milk solids (yield) and milk SCC were heterogeneous. Meta-regression analysis showed that feeding before calving, feeding for a full la...
Journal of Istanbul Veterinary Sciences
The aim of this study was to determine the serum level of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg) and hence determine the relationship and the effect of daily milk production on the mentioned essential macro elements. The metabolism and neurohumoral regulation of Ca, P and Mg are closely related, and the metabolic disorder of one of these electrolytes inevitably affects the metabolism of the other two. The study was carried out in the winter period of animal keeping and nutrition, and it included 63 Holstein-Friesian breed cows in the northern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina, aged 2-9 years in different lactation stages (1-8). The largest number of cows, eighteen of them, were in the second, third and fourth lactation stage, while nine cows were in the first lactation stage. This study was conducted on three different groups of cows corresponding to the amount of daily milk production. First was the group of lower daily milk production n=21, the second group of examined cows was the group of medium daily milk production n=23 and third was the group of higher daily milk production n=19. Ca, P and Mg were determined in blood plasma using the Beckmann spectrophotometer. By examining the obtained results and the dynamics of the tested mineral substances, we point out the different behaviour of the Ca-P relationship in correlation with the different level of daily milk produced. Although the average values of both minerals are lowered with an increase in daily milk production, the analysis of single linear regression shows that there is a negative correlation between P concentration in blood plasma and the amount of daily milk produced, while for Ca it has not been established. Although the concentration of Mg in the blood plasma increases as the daily milk production increases, the analysis of single linear regression does not show a significant interconnection of these two values. Lower average values of Ca and P concentrations in the blood of cows with higher daily milk production may be associated with increased total excretion of these minerals through milk, unlike the cows which daily produced lower amounts of milk.
Assessment of pasture and plasma minerals of cows: A case study in Pakistan
Agricultural Sciences, 2013
An investigation was conducted to evaluate the nutrient level of grazing livestock as influenced by the sampling periods in Punjab state district Sargodha, Pakistan. Twenty composite soil and pasture and twenty five blood samples were collected at two different sampling periods during December 2010 to March, 2011, respectively. Higher soil content of all elements except iron was observed during December than those found in Mach at the 2 nd harvest during this period but all mean values were above the critical levels investigated for soil for the requirements of forage crops. Forage, potassium, magnesium and copper levels did not differ between samplings. Calcium, sodium, zinc, manganese, cobalt and selenium were higher during December, while reverse was true for forage iron reflecting the soil iron contents. The sodium, manganese, iron and selenium in forage were found to be deficient than the requirements of livestock during both sampling times in this investigation. From the four minerals assessed in the serum calcium, magnesium and zinc levels were high after the December in March. The macro mineral which were found to be moderately deficient at this animal farm are sodium and magnesium. Micro elements most likely to limit livestock production efficiency are copper, zinc, manganese and cobalt. Specific mineral supplementation should be supplied containing copper and zinc, as both pasture and blood plasma samples exhibited their deficiency. The present investigation suggests the requirement and provision of an appropriate specificity tailored mineral mixture to ruminants in this specific studied area. The objective of this study was to determine deficiency or excess of various minerals to have the knowledge of the status of different minerl elements for supplementation if necessary.
The Effect of Trace Mineral Fortification Level and Source on Performance of Dairy Cattle
Journal of Dairy Science, 2006
Five hundred seventy-three cows, balanced by parity and 305-d mature equivalent at dry off, were assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: 1) 75% complexed trace minerals (CTM; 75C): Zn, Mn, Cu, and Co supplied at 75% of NRC (2001) guidelines by Zn-, Mn-, and Cu-specific AA complexes, and cobalt glucoheptonate; 2) 100% inorganic (100I): Zn, Mn, Cu, and Co supplied at 100% of NRC (2001) requirements by sulfate sources; 3) 100% complexed (100C): Zn, Mn, Cu, and Co supplied at 100% of NRC (2001) requirements by CTM; and 4) complexed/ inorganic (C/I): Zn and Cu supplied at 100% of NRC (2001) requirements using a combination of CTM and sulfates and Co and Mn supplied with sources at 9.1 and 3.3 times NRC (2001) requirements using a combination of CTM and sulfates. All percentages of Zn, Cu, Mn, and Co relative to NRC (2001) reflect supplemental contributions and do not include basal diet contributions. Experimental periods were dry period 1, full lactation 1, dry period 2, and 200 d into the subsequent lactation. Reproductive, health, and production information was collected during both lactations. Claw evaluations were conducted at trial start, 150 d into lactation 1, at the end of lactation 1, and 150 d into lactation 2. During lactation 1, C/I cows produced more milk, fatcorrected milk, energy-corrected milk, and fat than 100I cows. During lactation 2, yields of milk, fat-corrected milk, energy-corrected milk, fat, and protein were higher for 100C and C/I cows than for 75C or 100I cows. Fat percentage was highest for 100C cows with no treatment effect on protein content. During lactations 1 and 2, C/I cows had fewer days to first estrus than cows receiving the other treatments. During lactation 2, C/ I cows had fewer services per conception and days open. There were no significant effects of treatment on health. White line separation incidence was lower for 100I cows than 75C cows, whereas heel erosion was higher for the 100I cows than for the C/I cows. Fortification of trace
Italian Journal of Animal Science, 2010
Intensification of milk production occurs even in areas traditionally characterized by low-intensive farming systems like mountain areas, leading to environmental concern. The aim of this study was to analyze management and feeding systems in a sample of 31 dairy farms in a mountain area of Lombardy (Valtellina) and their effects on milk production and environmental sustainability. In 2006 daily milk sold was 17.5±5.6 kg/cow on average and daily DMI was 19.4±1.3 kg/cow, with a high forages content (65.8±9.2% DM). Rations were quite energetically balanced (+0.09±17.6 MJ/d of ME). Rations higher in starch and lower in NDF resulted in higher milk yields but significantly compromised farm self-sufficiency (which was 62.9±16.8% DM on average). Average Metabolizable Protein balance was negative (-280±203 g/d of MP), mainly due to the low CP content of diets (13.5±1.5% DM). When CP content increased, N manure and N excreted in urine increased (P<0.05 and P<0.01 respectively), probably due to insufficient energy intake which is partly caused by the scarce quality of forages. An improvement in forages quality could increase ME and MP contents of diets without compromising farm self-sufficiency.
Nutrient Intake, Excretion and Use Efficiency of Grazing Lactating Herds on Commercial Dairy Farms
Animals
Estimating excreted nutrients is important for farm nutrient management, but seldom occurs on commercial grazing system farms due to difficulties in quantifying pasture intake. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulphur (S), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) intake, excretion and use efficiency of 43 commercial dairy herds grazing pasture were calculated to understand the range in nutrient intake and excretion in these systems. Milk production, feed (grazed and supplement), as well as farm and herd management data were collected quarterly on representative farms located in temperate, arid, subtropical and tropical regions of Australia. Lactating herd sizes on these farms averaged 267 (30 to 1350) cows, with an average daily milk yield of 22 (9 to 36) kg/cow per day and the herds walked from <0.01 to 4 km/day on a variety of terrains. The mean total metabolizable energy (ME) required by cows in the herds was estimated to be 195 (116 to 289) MJ/cow per day. Although these f...
Applied Sciences, 2020
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the month of lactation and udder health of high-yielding Polish Holstein-Friesian (PHF) cows on daily milk production and the content of K, Ca, Na, Mg and Zn in milk. The experimental materials comprised 380 milk samples collected from 38 cows. The highest average daily milk yield (49.1 kg) was noted in cows in the second month of lactation and, considering udder health, in cows whose milk contained 201,000 to 400,000 somatic cells per mL on average (denoting risk of mastitis). The K content of milk increased (p < 0.05) in successive months of lactation, whereas the opposite trend was observed in the Zn content of milk. The average content of Ca (842 mg∙dm−3), Na (344.5 mg dm−3) and Mg (98.5 mg dm−3) in milk was below the lower limits of the normal physiological ranges. Milk from cows with healthy udders (≤200,000 somatic cells per mL) had the highest concentration of K, whereas the levels of Na and Zn were highest in milk fro...