#3 Managing feeding to prevent mastitis The most significant influence of feeding on udder health is through reduced immunity as a consequence of negative energy balance. Cows with negative energy balance have a higher risk of developing fatty liver and ketosis. Clinical ketosis relates to two times higher risk of developing mastitis. All that leads to reduction in immunity and cows become more susceptible to mastitis. Besides that the blood content of saturated fatty acids is increased while the content of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid decreases which also adversely affects the immune response. Research shows that there is no clear correlation between the protein content of the feed ration or whether urea is included in the feed ration and the incidence of mastitis. Feeding that increases the risk of rumen acidosis may be associated with E.Coli mastitis. To prevent mastitis it is important to focus on keeping good body condition during the dry period. Feed intake should be maximized around calving and energy content in feed should be optimized at the beginning of lactation. #4 Managing feeding for better health By ensuring the best possible dietary balance you build a solid foundation for your herd’s health. Below you can see the feeding practice to prevent the most common diseases: Acidosis • Spread balanced forage and concentrate feeds over the day, provide starchy feed in small portions and often • Limit parlour concentrate feeds to 4-4.5 kg per milking • Ensure separately-fed forage is available ad-libitum and do not force cows to clear up poor quality forage • Encourage maximum saliva production with salt and adequate water Displaced abomasums • Avoid short-chopped forages • Ensure gut fill reaches a maximum within 10 days after calving • Gradually adjust parlour concentrate feeding levels to minimize acidosis. Increase by 0.5 kg / day starting from 3 kg/day at calving to reach a maximum of 8 kg / day by 10 days after calving • Minimize stress by keeping cows in established groups Ketosis and fatty liver • Focus on keeping good body condition at drying off and calving (body condition score 2.5-3 on scale 1-5) • Introduce the main production forage during the dry period and introduce other ingredients of the production ration 3 weeks prior to calving • Monitor forage quality and ensure good access to forage at all times • Avoid sudden changes in the diet • For a group of cows with a particular risk feeding 0.5 litres / cow / day of propylene glycol to dry cows 10 days prior to calving and up to 6 weeks into lactation may be valuable. Alternatively, feeding 1 kg / day of ground maize can have a similar effect. #5 Managing youngstock feeding It is essential to ensure all calves receive sufficient colostrum early enough to absorb the high levels of antibodies it contains. • Calves should have at least 10% of their bodyweight as colostrum in the first 24 hours of life, ideally half of this within 6 hours of birth. • Calves need to suckle for at least 10-15 minutes uninterruptedly to take 2 litres of colostrum. It is heifer weight rather than age that determines when puberty occurs and oestrus cycling begins. The key to successful heifer rearing is to maximise weight gains without creating over-fat animals. It is important to monitor heifer growth rate throughout the rearing period. The first signs of heat usually appear when heifers have reached 40% of their mature body weight. While sexual maturity occurs at just under 12 months of age in well-fed heifers, under-feeding and other conditions causing stress can delay the beginning of cycling. Age 6 months 9 months Mating Pre-calving Post-calving Second calving Proportion of mature weight 30% 40% 55-60% 90% 85% 92% Laminitis • Introduce cows to the lactation diet before calving • Ensure a good balance of dietary fibre with sugar and starch • Avoid excessive protein levels • Make sure that high quality forage makes up a minimum 50% of dietary DM Source: SEGES (Denmark), AHDB Dairy www.dairy.ahdb.org.uk/, Dairy Herd Management www.dairyherd.com/
Download PDF file