Dry matter intake, body condition score, beta-hydroxy-butyrate, milk yield, and composition of Holstein and crossbred Holstein x Simmental cows during the transition period

Figures & data

Table 1. Ingredients and composition of TMR^a (% of dry matter) offered to the dry (prepartum) and lactating (postpartum) Holstein and crossbred Holstein x Simmental dairy cows.

Ingredients	Prepartum diet	Postpartum diet
Corn silage	72.6	16.2
Ryegrass fresh	–	38.9
Ryegrass silage	–	6.5
Commercial concentrate	27.4	15.7
Brewery waste	–	15.7
Soybean hull	–	1.9
Ground corn	–	4.5
Mineral mix (commercial)	–	0.6
Chemical composition
Dry Matter %	31.73	34.13
Organic material	93.3	91.81
Ash	6.7	8.19
Crude Protein	12.68	15.44
Ether Extract	3.62	5.04
NDF (neutral detergent fibre)	43.5	43.37
ADF (Acid detergent fibre)	20.92	20.74
NFC (non fibre carbohydrates)	33.91	28.5

^a Values were obtained from the chemical analysis of TMR samples. NFC = 100 – (% CP + % NDF + % fat + % ash)

Figure 1. Weekly means of dry matter intake (A) and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) (B) at three weeks before calving to three weeks after calving for purebred Holstein (H) and crossbred Holstein x Simmental cows (H x S) – results (LSM ± SEM) of variance analysis model 2.

Table 2. Least Squares Means (±SEM) and results of the variance analysis (P-values) comparing genetic group (GG), period (prepartum and postpartum), and their interaction for the variables of dry matter intake (DMI), body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), rumination time (RT), and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) for purebred Holstein (H) and F1 Holstein x Simmental (H x S) crossbred cows (model 1).

Variable	Prepartum				Postpartum				P-value
	H		H x S		H		H x S		GG	Period	GG*Period
	Mean	SEM	Mean	SEM	Mean	SEM	Mean	SEM
DMI (kg/day)	9.2	0.5	9.3	0.5	15.8	0.5	16.9	0.6	0.463	<0.0001	0.007
DMI of Body Weight (%)	1.3	0.10	1.2	0.14	2.6	0.07	2.7	0.10	0.966	<0.0001	0.146
BCS	3.59	0.11	4.13	0.15	2.86	0.10	3.64	0.13	<0.0001	<0.0001	0.131
Body Weight (kg)	745	18	750	222	629	17	659	21	0.516	<0.0001	0.040
BHB (mmol/l)	0.74	0.12	0.78	0.16	1.39	0.11	1.17	0.13	0.577	<0.0001	0.233
RT (minutes/day)	478.7	14.5	471.4	18.4	552	14.1	529.7	17.4	0.509	<0.0001	0.252

Figure 2. Weekly means of body condition score (BCS) (A) and body weight (B) from three weeks before calving to three weeks after calving for purebred Holstein (H) and crossbred Holstein x Simmental (H x S) cows – results (LSM ± SEM) of variance analysis model 2.

Table 3. Genetic Group least squares means (±SEM) and results of the variance analysis (P-values) for Genetic Group (GG), week relative to calving, and their interaction for the variables related to milk yield and milk composition, dry matter intake (DMI), body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), rumination time (RT), and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) for purebred Holstein and F1 Holstein x Simmental crossbred cows (model 2).

Variable	Genetic group				P-value
	H		H x S		GG	Week	GG*Week
	Mean	SEM	Mean	SEM
Milk yield (l/day)*	30.8	1.8	29.3	2.3	0.603	0.002	0.498
ECM**	38.2	1.9	36.3	2.6	0.519	0.421	0.548
Fat (%)	3.99	0.13	4.48	0.21	0.068	0.002	0.460
Protein (%)	3.31	0.07	3.37	0.1	0.644	0.002	0.089
Lactose (%)	4.57	0.03	4.58	0.06	0.832	0.0004	0.368
Fat + Protein yield (kg)	2.54	0.09	2.45	0.15	0.662	0.705	0.662
DMI (kg/day)	12.3	0.48	12.8	0.59	0.571	<0.0001	0.072
DMI of Body Weight (%)	1.87	0.03	1.77	0.05	0.103	<0.0001	0.634
BCS	3.26	0.09	3.90	0.12	<0.0001	<0.0001	0.002
Body Weight (kg)	688	17	707	21	0.500	<0.0001	0.147
BHB (mmol/l)	0.96	0.07	0.88	0.09	0.554	0.0005	0.880
RT (minutes/day)	516	13.5	498	17	0.410	<0.0001	0.636

*The results for milk yield and milk composition were sampled 3 weeks after calving. All other variables include the observations prepartum and postpartum (were sampled 6 weeks post calving).

**ECM = Energy corrected milk yield.