Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T00:30:53.107Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A note on the lactation performance of twin-bearing cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2009

William H. Broster ,
A. June Clements  and
Randolph E. Hill
William H. Broster
Affiliation:
National Institute for Research in Dairying, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9AT, UK
A. June Clements
Affiliation:
National Institute for Research in Dairying, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9AT, UK
Randolph E. Hill
Affiliation:
National Institute for Research in Dairying, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9AT, UK
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Seven pairs of cows were chosen at parturition. In each pair, 1 member had had a twin pregnancy (T) and the other was a comparable cow with a single calf pregnancy (S). All cows were offered the same amount of feed over the first 28 weeks of lactation. In early lactation, intakes were equal; in mid-lactation the T group ate more. The T cows had a lower peak yield of milk than the S cows, but rates of decline in yield in mid-lactation were equal for the 2 groups. Lactose concentrations in the milk were equal throughout lactation, but the fat and protein concentrations were greater for the T group in early lactation. The T group yielded smaller amounts of milk solids. The T group lost less weight in early lactation and gained more weight subsequently. Three of the T group, but only 1 of the S group, did not conceive during the test lactation.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 50 , Issue 3 , August 1983 , pp. 241 - 247
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 1983

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Barnicoat, C. R., Murray, P. F., Roberts, E. M. & Wilson, G. S. 1957 Milk secretion studies with New Zealand Romney ewes. 6. Yield and composition of ewe's milk in relation to growth of the lamb. Journal of Agricultural Science 48 12–18Google Scholar
Bines, J. A., Suzuki, S. & Balch, C. C. 1969 The quantitative significance of long-term regulation of food intake in the cow. British Journal of Nutrition 23 695–704CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bowman, J. C. 1976 Management and economic aspects of twinning. In Egg Transfer in Cattle pp. 323–332 (Ed. Rowson, L. E. A.) Luxembourg: Commission of the European CommunitiesGoogle Scholar
Broster, W. H. 1971 The effect on milk yield of the cow of the level of feeding before calving. Dairy Science Abstracts 33 253–270Google Scholar
Broster, W. H., Broster, V. J., Clements, A. J. & Smith, T. 1981 The relationship between yield of milk solids of dairy cows and response to change in plane of nutrition. Journal of Agricultural Science 97 643–647CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chapin, C. A. & Van Vleck, L. D. 1980 Effects of twinning on lactation and days open in Holsteins. Journal of Dairy Science 63, 1881–1886CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Foot, A. S., Line, C. & Rowland, S. J. 1963 The effect of pre-partum feeding of heifers on milk composition. Journal of Dairy Research 30 403–409CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Garnsworthy, P. C. & Topps, J. H. 1981 Food intake by dairy cows in relation to body condition at calving and subsequent performance. Animal Production 32, 392 Abstr.Google Scholar
Gordon, I. 1976 a Controlled breeding in cattle. II. Pregnancy testing, control of calving, reduction of the calving interval, induction of twinning, breeding at younger ages, and future developments. Animal Breeding Abstracts 44 451–460Google Scholar
Gordon, I. 1976 b Cattle twinning by the egg transfer approach. In Egg Transfer in Cattle pp. 305–322 (Ed. Rowson, L. E. A.) Luxembourg: Commission of the European CommunitiesGoogle Scholar
Gordon, I., Williams, G. & Edwards, J. 1962 The use of serum gonadotrophin (P.M.S.) in the induction of twin-pregnancy in the cow. Journal of Agricultural Science 59 143–198CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hendy, C. R. C. & Bowman, J. C. 1970 Twinning in cattle. Animal Breeding Abstracts 38 22–37Google Scholar
Koong, L. J., Anderson, G. B. & Garrett, W. N. 1982 Maternal energy status of beef cattle during single and twin pregnancy. Journal of Animal Science 54 480–484CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Land, C. & Leaver, J. D. 1981 The effect of body condition at calving on the production of Friesian cows and heifers. Animal Production 32 362–363 Abstr.Google Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food 1975 Energy allowances and feeding systems for ruminants. Technical Bulletin 33 London: HMSOGoogle Scholar
Mulvany, P. 1977 Dairy cow condition scoring. National Institute for Research in Dairying Paper no. 4468Google Scholar
Newcomb, R. & Rowson, L. E. A. 1976 Multiple ovulation, egg transplantation towards twinning. In Principles of Cattle Production pp. 59–83 (Eds Swan, H. and Broster, W. H.) London: ButterworthGoogle Scholar
Peart, J. N. 1967 The effect of different levels of nutrition during late pregnancy on the subsequent milk production of Blackface ewes and on the growth of their lambs. Journal of Agricultural Science 68, 365–371CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robinson, J. J. & Forbes, T. J. 1968 The effect of protein intake during gestation on ewe and lamb performance. Animal Production 10, 297–309Google Scholar
Robinson, J. J., Fraser, C., Corse, E. L. & Gill, J. C. 1970 The effect of pattern of protein intake and level of energy intake on the performance and nitrogen utilization of the ewe. Journal of Agricultural Science 75 403–411CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robinson, J. J., Russel, A. J. F., Treacher, T. T., Kilkenny, J. B., Boaz, T. G., Forbes, J. M. & Mudd, C. H. 1981 Feeding the Ewe 2nd Edn.Meat and Livestock Commission, Bletchley, BucksGoogle Scholar
Sreenan, J. & Beehan, D. 1976 Method of induction of superovulation in the cow and transfer results. In Egg Transfer in Cattle 19–39 (Ed. Rowson, L. E. A.) Luxembourg: Commission of the European CommunitiesGoogle Scholar
Treacher, T. T. 1971 Effects of nutrition in pregnancy and in lactation on milk yield in ewes. Animal Production 13 493–501Google Scholar
Wallace, L. R. 1948 The growth of lambs before and after birth in relation to the level of nutrition. Journal of Agricultural Science 38 93–153; 243–302; 367–401CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wheeler, M. B., Anderson, G. B., Bondurant, R. H. & Stabenfeldt, G. H. 1982 Postpartum ovarian function and fertility in beef cattle that produce twins. Journal of Animal Science 54 589–593CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed