ORIGINAL PAPER
Effects of spring-calving compared to autumn-calving on the lactation curve and milk quality in Norwegian herds
I. Schei 1,2
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1
Departement of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432 Ås, Norway
 
2
TINE Norwegian Dairy Association, P.O. Box 58, 1430 Ås, Norway
 
 
Publication date: 2007-01-26
 
 
Corresponding author
I. Schei   

Departement of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432 Ås, Norway
 
 
J. Anim. Feed Sci. 2007;16(Suppl. 1):156-160
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The objective of this work was to study the effects of spring calving in comparison with autumn-calving on the trajectory of both milk yield and quality (percentages of protein, fat and lactose, and, also somatic cell counts (SCC) and urea). On average, autumn-calvers had 0.8 and 1.2 kg higher, daily milk yield and ECM (energy-corrected milk), respectively, than those calving in the spring, due to a higher yield in mid- and late lactation. Milk fat and lactose were also higher and SCC lower, for those calving in autumn, and the reduction of protein and fat percentages in early lactation was, lower. These results suggest that maintaining a high milk yield is a greater challenge for spring-calving cows on pasture feeding than for autumn-calving cows fed indoors.
 
CITATIONS (1):
1.
Effects of season and age at first calving on genetic and phenotypic characteristics of lactation curve parameters in Holstein cows
Torshizi Elahi
Journal of Animal Science and Technology
 
ISSN:1230-1388
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