Analysis of lactating cows in commercial Austrian dairy farms: diet composition, and influence of genotype, parity and stage of lactation on nutrient intake, body weight and body condition score

Figures & data

Table 1. Chemical composition (±standard deviation) of selected forages in g/kg dry matter (DM), unless stated otherwise.

Parameter	Fresh grass	Grass silage	Hay	Maize silage	Clover^a	Alfalfa^a	Whole crop cereals
DM, g of fresh matter	188 ± 22.60	356 ± 68.90	926 ± 20.60	337 ± 40.80	381 ± 134.40	734 ± 256.90	195 ± 35.20
Crude protein	176 ± 24.10	153 ± 20.30	105 ± 20.30	73 ± 9.60	159 ± 24.40	159 ± 19.60	118 ± 16.20
uCP	142 ± 5.70	132 ± 5.70	120 ± 7.70	130 ± 3.00	139 ± 6.90	127 ± 6.10	128 ± 6.90
NDF	422 ± 28.30	438 ± 41.70	536 ± 55.50	384 ± 34.30	440 ± 50.70	455 ± 42.80	476 ± 76.50
ADF	271 ± 21.00	313 ± 30.20	352 ± 36.30	226 ± 26.00	331 ± 42.80	355 ± 38.10	316 ± 56.40
ADL	42 ± 7.30	51 ± 11.60	63 ± 12.20	32 ± 5.80	60 ± 13.00	75 ± 15.60	38 ± 8.60
NFC	283 ± 34.60	268 ± 34.80	251 ± 39.80	476 ± 42.10	269 ± 35.50	261 ± 34.00	272 ± 73.30
ME, MJ/kg DM	10.66 ± 0.41	9.94 ± 0.38	9.30 ± 0.50	10.87 ± 0.25	10.37 ± 0.49	8.76 ± 0.56	10.07 ± 0.45
NEL, MJ/kg DM	6.43 ± 0.30	5.93 ± 0.26	5.45 ± 0.35	6.56 ± 0.19	6.24 ± 0.36	5.07 ± 0.39	6.01 ± 0.33

uCP: utilisable crude protein at the duodenum [GfE 2001]; NDF: neutral detergent fibre; ADF: acid detergent fibre; ADL: acid detergent lignin; NFC: non-fibre carbohydrates; ME: metabolisable energy; NEL: net energy for lactation.

^ahay and silage.

Figure 1. (a) (upper). Forage composition according to forage type (FG: fresh grass; GS: grass silage; HA: hay from permanent grassland; MS: maize silage; CL: clover; AL: alfalfa; ST: straw). Forage type: Diets, which consisted of an above-average proportion of one of the above-named forage components, were encoded as ‘based on the respective forage’. The respective codes from each record were combined and resulted in the presented forage types. The grouping of forage type is based on the individual diet composition at each performance recording (N = 38,070). (b). Forage composition according to feeding system. The feeding system describes how diets and especially concentrates were fed (FOR: pure forage diet; SEP: forage diet with separately supplemented concentrate; PMR: partial mixed ration; TMR: total mixed ration). The grouping of feeding system is based on the individual diet composition at each performance recording (N = 38,070).

Table 2. Distribution of records, cows and farms in forage types.

Forage type	Records (N = 38,070)	Subcategories (N = 18)	Records (N = 38,070)	Cows^a (N = 11,810)	Farms^b (N = 403)
		FG	1198	534	30
Fresh grass (FG)	2136	FGHA	697	321	20
		FGGSHA	241	149	9
		GS	15,054	3622	102
Grass silage (GS)	17,662	GSHA	1267	696	34
		GSMS	313	224	7
		GSMSHA	1028	769	27
		MS	10,325	2487	59
Maize silage (MS)	10,826	MSHA	202	131	6
		MSGSST^c	163	89	3
		MSGSFG	136	68	3
Clover (CL)	3250	CLGSMSHA	2821	912	23
		CLMS	429	235	8
Alfalfa (AL)	985	ALGSHAMS	650	224	10
		ALMS	162	51	2
		ALGS	173	124	3
Hay (HA)	3089	HA	3089	1068	52
OTHER	122	OTHER	122	106	5

^atotal number of cows 6105, but double counting due to changing diet.

^btotal number of farms 161, but double counting due to changing diet.

^cST: straw.

Table 3. Distribution of records, cows and farms in feeding systems.

Feeding system	Records (N = 38,070)	Cows^a (N = 8169)	Farms^b (N = 313)
FOR	913	529	72
SEP	16,283	2982	106
PMR	16,334	3255	72
TMR	4540	1403	63

FOR: pure forage diet; SEP: forage diet with separately fed concentrate; PMR: partial mixed ration; TMR: total mixed ration.

^atotal number of cows 6105, but double counting due to changing diet;

^btotal number of farms 161, but double counting due to changing diet.

Table 4. Data distribution of genotypes in feeding systems.

		Feeding system
Genotype	FOR	SEP	PMR	TMR	N Genotype
FV	376	4597	4118	851	9942
FV × RH6.25	133	2702	2616	518	5969
FV × RH12.5	22	937	981	216	2156
FV × RH25	44	969	939	413	2365
FV × RH5075	18	826	1014	322	2180
HF	152	1704	3381	935	6172
BS	168	4548	3285	1285	9286
N Feeding system	913	16,283	16,334	4540	38,070

FV: Fleckvieh; RH: Red Holstein; 6.25–5075: average proportion of Red Holstein; FV × RH5075: Fleckvieh with an average. FOR: pure forage diet; SEP: forage diet with separately fed concentrate; PMR: partial mixed ration; TMR: total mixed ration proportion of 68% Red Holstein; HF: Holstein Friesian; BS: Brown Swiss.

Table 5. Effect of genotype and parity on estimated daily feed and nutrient intake, chemical composition of diet and body weight, body condition score and milk yield (least squares means).

	Genotype (G)								Parity (P)								p value
Trait	FV	FV × RH6.25	FV × RH12.50	FV × RH25	FV × RH5075	HF		BS		1	2		3 + 4	≥5	RMSE	G		P
Data set, N = 38,070	9942	5969	2156	2365	2180	6172		9286		10,856	8385		10,865	7964
Feed intake
Forage, kg DM/d	14.10^d	14.22^c	14.26^b,c	14.40^b	14.63^a	14.41^b		13.96^d		13.01^c	14.54^b		14.81^a	14.77^a	1.15	<.001		<.001
Concentrate, kg DM/d	5.63^d	5.61^d	5.64^d	5.86^c	6.20^b	6.44^a		5.86^c		5.24^c	5.94^b		6.23^a	6.16^a	1.70	<.001		<.001
DMI, kg DM/d	19.72^c	19.83^c	19.87^c	20.24^b	20.82^a	20.86^a		19.84^c		18.24^d	20.48^c		21.02^a	20.93^b	1.58	<.001		<.001
DMI, g/kg BW^0.75	141.50^d	141.60^d	142.00^d	144.70^c	152.60^b	160.70^a		154.70^b		143.40^d	151.50^a		150.80^b	147.40^c	11.60	<.001		<.001
Nutrient intake
Crude protein, g/d	3065^c	3074^c	3076^c	3144^b	3241^a	3273^a		3101^b,c		2830^c	3188^b		3278^a	3259^a	388	<.001		<.001
uCP, g/d	2878^c	2890^c	2898^c	2957^b	3049^a	3070^a		2907^b,c		2662^d	2993^c		3080^a	3063^b	293	<.001		<.001
Energy intake, MJ NEL/d	129.10^c	129.70^c	130.00^c	132.60^b	136.70^a	137.40^a		130.30^b,c		119.40^d	134.20^c		138.10^a	137.40^b	12.70	<.001		<.001
NDF intake, g/kg BW	10.60^e	10.60^e	10.60^e	10.80^d	11.50^c	12.20^a		11.90^b		11.10^c	11.40^a		11.20^b	10.90^d	0.90	<.001		<.001
Chemical composition of diet
Forage
Crude protein, g/kg DM	132	132	132	132	131	131		132		131^b	132^a		131^a,b	132^a,b	12	.917		.042
Crude fibre, g/kg DM	248	248	248	248	248	248		248		248	248		248	248	15	.809		.795
NDF, g/kg DM	446	445	446	445	446	447		446		446	446		446	446	24	.682		.960
NEL, MJ/kg DM	6.00	6.00	5.99	6.00	6.00	5.99		6.00		5.99	6.00		6.00	6.00	0.16	.725		.472
Complete diet
Concentrate, % of DM	27.20^c	26.90^c	26.90^c	27.50^b,c	28.30^b	29.50^a		27.90^b,c		27.60^b,c	27.50^c		28.00^a	27.90^a,b	7.00	<.001		<.001
Crude protein, g/kg DM	154^b,c	154^c	154^b,c	155^b,c	155^a,b	156^a		155^a,b,c		155	155		155	155	12	<.001		.374
Crude fibre, g/kg DM	202^a	202^a	202^a	201^a,b	199^b,c	198^c		200^a,b		201^a	201^a		200^a	200^a	16	<.001		.026
NDF, g/kg DM	391^a	391^a	391^a	389^a,b	388^b,c	386^c		390^a,b		390	390		389	389	23	<.001		.141
NEL, MJ/kg DM	6.51^c	6.51^c	6.51^c	6.52^b,c	6.54^a,b	6.56^a		6.53^b,c		6.52^c	6.52^b,c		6.54^a	6.53^a,b	0.19	<.001		<.001
Body weight (BW), body condition (BCS) and milk yield
BW, kg	722^b	729^a	728^a,b	725^a,b	706^c	662^d		649^e		644^d	698^c		727^b	744^a	57	<.001		<.001
BCS, Points 1–5	3.42^a	3.39^a	3.38^a	3.24^b	3.04^c	2.61^e		2.88^d		3.16^a	3.14^b		3.13^b	3.12^b	0.46	<.001		<.001
ECM, kg/d	26.70^c	27.00^c	26.90^c	27.70^b	29.30^a	29.20^a		26.50^c		24.50^d	28.00^c		29.30^a	28.60^b	5.50	<.001		<.001

FV: Fleckvieh; RH: Red Holstein; 6.25–5075: average proportion of Red Holstein; FV × RH5075: Fleckvieh with an average proportion of 68% Red Holstein; HF: Holstein Friesian; BS: Brown Swiss; RMSE: root mean square error; DMI: dry matter intake; DM: dry matter; BW: body weight; uCP: utilisable crude protein at the duodenum (GfE 2001); NDF: neutral detergent fibre; NEL: net energy for lactation; ECM: energy corrected milk (GfE 2001).

^a–eLeast squares means within a row and a fixed effect with different superscripts differ (p < .05).

Figure 2. Interaction between genotype and lactation stage for dry matter intake (DMI, BW^0.75: metabolic body weight), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) intake, concentrate proportion, energy corrected milk (ECM) and body condition score (BCS) of Brown Swiss (BS), Fleckvieh (FV), the selected FV groups with increasing Red Holstein (RH) genes FV × RH25 and FV × RH5075 as well as Holstein Friesian (HF).

Table 6. Effect of stage of lactation on estimated daily feed and nutrient intake, chemical composition of diet and body weight, body condition score and milk yield (least squares means).

	Stage of lactation (DIM^a)												p value
Trait	1	2	3	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	DIM	G^b×DIM
DIM^a	17	43	71	99	127	155	183	211	239	266	294	321
Data set, N = 38,070	2970	3757	3663	3594	3570	3401	3460	3302	3274	3050	2479	1550
Feed intake
Forage, kg DM/d	13.68	13.92	14.09	14.16	14.11	14.15	14.20	14.24	14.37	14.59	14.89	14.99	<.001	<.001
Concentrate, kg DM/d	6.23	7.28	7.40	7.14	6.83	6.44	6.04	5.65	5.19	4.55	4.07	3.88	<.001	<.001
DMI, kg DM/d	19.90	21.19	21.49	21.29	20.93	20.59	20.24	19.88	19.56	19.13	18.94	18.86	<.001	<.001
DMI, g/kg BW^0.75	149.20	160.30	161.80	159.60	156.40	152.80	148.90	145.00	141.00	136.90	133.90	133.20	<.001	<.001
Nutrient intake
Crude protein, g/d	3112	3377	3426	3385	3317	3243	3158	3084	3009	2903	2842	2811	<.001	<.001
uCP, g/d	2926	3156	3205	3164	3103	3040	2971	2901	2835	2741	2688	2667	<.001	<.001
Energy intake, MJ NEL/d	131.40	141.20	143.30	141.50	138.80	136.00	133.10	130.00	127.20	123.20	121.00	120.20	<.001	<.001
NDF intake, g/kg BW	11.20	11.80	11.90	11.80	11.60	11.40	11.20	11.00	10.70	10.50	10.40	10.40	<.001	<.001
Chemical composition of diet
Forage
Crude protein, g/kg DM	131	132	131	132	132	131	131	132	132	132	132	131	.484	.012
Crude fibre, g/kg DM	249	248	248	247	247	247	247	248	248	249	248	248	<.001	.164
NDF, g/kg DM	447	446	446	445	445	445	445	446	446	447	446	446	.165	.263
NEL, MJ/kg DM	5.99	5.99	5.99	6.00	6.00	6.01	6.01	6.00	6.00	5.99	5.98	5.99	<.001	.422
Complete diet
Concentrate, % of DM	30.10	33.10	33.10	32.20	31.30	30.00	28.60	27.10	25.30	22.60	20.20	19.40	<.001	<.001
Crude protein, g/kg DM	156	159	159	158	158	157	155	154	153	151	149	148	<.001	<.001
Crude fibre, g/kg DM	197	191	191	193	194	196	199	201	205	210	214	215	<.001	<.001
NDF, g/kg DM	385	378	379	380	382	385	388	391	395	401	405	406	<.001	<.001
NEL, MJ/kg DM	6.58	6.64	6.64	6.62	6.60	6.58	6.55	6.52	6.48	6.42	6.36	6.35	<.001	<.001
Body weight (BW), body condition (BCS) and milk yield
BW, kg	682	673	677	682	686	692	700	710	721	729	742	742	<.001	.003
BCS, Points 1–5	3.18	3.02	3.00	3.01	3.02	3.05	3.11	3.15	3.21	3.25	3.31	3.33	<.001	<.001
ECM, kg/d	33.40	33.50	32.60	31.10	29.80	28.50	27.40	26.00	24.50	22.70	21.20	20.80	<.001	<.001

DMI: dry matter intake; DM: dry matter; BW: body weight; uCP: utilisable crude protein at the duodenum (GfE 2001); NDF: neutral detergent fibre; NEL: net energy for lactation; ECM: energy corrected milk (GfE 2001).

^aLS-means of day in milk of 28-day classes 1–12

^bgenotype.