Conference proceedings article
Feed no Food - influence of minimized concentrate feeding onanimal health and performance of Swiss organic dairy cows
Publication Details
Authors: | Notz, C.; Maeschli, A.; Staehli, P.; Walkenhorst, M.; Klocke, P.; Ivemeyer, S. |
Editor: | Rahmann, Gerold; Godinho, Denise |
Publisher: | 12.-14.09.2012 |
Place: | Hamburg/Trenthorst |
Publication year: | 2012 |
Pages range : | 132-135 |
Book title: | Proceeding of 2nd Organic Animal Husbandry Conference |
URN / URL: |
Abstract
Concentrate feeding (crops, soybeans etc.) is an integral part of the current dairy cow feeding systemand the demand for increases yearly. In Switzerland the self-sufficiency of feed crops productiondecreases continuously and more than 50% of concentrated feed must be imported. The objectiveof this project was to evaluate the effect of feeding rations without or with reduced shares ofconcentrate on health, fertility and performance of Swiss organic dairy cows. In total, 69 farmshave been analyzed in this study. The results show a significant average reduction of concentrate by24% or 88kg dry matter (DM) per cow and year. This reduction has no negative influence on animalhealth and fertility. Milk contents (protein, fat, urea) remained unchanged and milk yield decreasedslightly by an average of 0.5% or 0.1 kg per cow and day.
Concentrate feeding (crops, soybeans etc.) is an integral part of the current dairy cow feeding systemand the demand for increases yearly. In Switzerland the self-sufficiency of feed crops productiondecreases continuously and more than 50% of concentrated feed must be imported. The objectiveof this project was to evaluate the effect of feeding rations without or with reduced shares ofconcentrate on health, fertility and performance of Swiss organic dairy cows. In total, 69 farmshave been analyzed in this study. The results show a significant average reduction of concentrate by24% or 88kg dry matter (DM) per cow and year. This reduction has no negative influence on animalhealth and fertility. Milk contents (protein, fat, urea) remained unchanged and milk yield decreasedslightly by an average of 0.5% or 0.1 kg per cow and day.
Keywords
animal health, fertility, milk yield, minimized concentrate feeding, Organic dairy
