Nutritional and endocrine aspects of the lactation cycle of Holstein and Jersey cows: nutrient balances, response to supplemental dietary fat, rib composition and rib histology

Eight mature Holstein and Jersey cows beginning their third or later lactation were used throughout this study to evaluate various aspects of the lactation cycle. The lactation (control) diet consisted of 28.8% corn silage, 22.4% alfalfa haylage, and 48.8% concentrate dry matter. Breeds responded differently to the stress of calving. Jerseys had higher plasma somatotropin on day after calving, but Holsteins had higher glucose on day of and day after calving. Plasma parathyroid hormone did not differ between breeds, but Jerseys had higher 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ than Holsteins on both days after calving. Plasma total calcium and ionized calcium concentrations were lower for Jerseys on both days. Holsteins and Jerseys had similar concentrations of hormones and calcium at 4 and 8 wk. Ionized calcium as a percent of total calcium was elevated at calving, as compared to other times in the lactation cycle, in both breeds. From 9 to 21 wk, 4 of 8 Holsteins and 4 of 8 Jerseys were fed a diet supplemented with tallow. Holsteins fed tallow had lower somatotropin than Holsteins fed control diet at 14 and 18 wk. Plasma glucose, parathyroid hormone, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ were similar between tallow- and control-fed cows in both breeds. Plasma total calcium and ionized calcium were higher at 20 wk for Holsteins and Jerseys fed tallow. Dry matter intake was not influenced by diet in either breed. However, Holsteins, but not Jerseys, fed tallow produced more milk and higher body weights than Holsteins fed the control diet. Balance trials results indicated dietary tallow addition increased energy intake, energy digestibility, and metabolizable energy, but it decreased partial efficiency of metabolizable energy utilization for lactation. Although digestibility of calcium and magnesium was unchanged, tallow-fed cows were in greater positive calcium and magnesium balance than control-fed cows. Stage of lactation had little effect on specific gravity, shear stress, percent mineral, and histological measurements of biopsied rib samples. However, Jersey rib had higher specific gravity than Holstein rib. All cows had similar bone histological features throughout lactation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Animal Science

Department dc:contributor.department

Animal Science

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1989

Author dc:creator

• Ballantine, Holly Taylor

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Herbein, Joseph H. Jr.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Akers, Robert Michael
• Denbow, D. Michael
• McGilliard, Michael L.
• Polan, Carl E.
• Steeves, Harrison R. III

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/54765

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/54765