Lucerne silage in high yielding dairy cows: effect of parity and analysis of reasons in mixed-parity group housing using random regression test‐day models

• Published in: Archives of animal nutrition Vol. 66; no. 4; pp. 319 - 334
• Main Authors: Thamm, Katrin, Bulang, Michael, Mielenz, Norbert, Elwert, Christian, Spilke, Joachim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01.08.2012; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: alfalfa; alfalfa silage; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animal reproduction; Animals; Cattle; Cattle - physiology; dairy cows; Dairy farms; Dairying; diet; Diet - veterinary; dry matter intake; early lactation; energy; feeding behavior; feeding behaviour; Female; flocks; grass silage; group housing; Housing; Housing, Animal; Lactation - physiology; lactation curve; lucerne silage; mathematical model; Mathematical models; Medicago sativa; Milk; milk yield; Models, Biological; Models, Statistical; nutritionists; Parity; Parity - physiology; particle size; Poaceae; Pregnancy; regression analysis; Silage - analysis; total mixed rations

A study with high-yielding dairy cows was re-analysed in order to test the suitability of lucerne silage separately for primi- and multiparous cows as an alternative to grass silage in maize-based total mixed rations (TMR). Lactation curves were fitted using random regression test‐day models for ene...