Abstract
In this research communication I show the effect of various cow-calf contact systems on milk yield and milk composition during the periods when calves where allowed to suckle their dams and after the calves were separated in comparison to cows that were only machine milked throughout their lactation. Analyses were based on four different experiments, but conducted at the same research station and under comparable housing and feeding conditions. Nursing dams had contact to their calves during the whole day, during night-time or only twice per day shortly before milking. A control group of cows that had no contact to their offspring was part of every experiment. Data of the regular monthly milk recordings were analysed with linear mixed models. Results showed a significant effect of the suckling system on the machine milk yield over the whole lactation. While cows with night-time contact reached the milk production level of the control cows, cows with whole day or short-time contact still produced less milk after the calves were separated. Fat content was always lower during the suckling period but not afterwards. The significantly higher milk protein content in dams with calf contact requires further investigation. Somatic cell count in milk of nursing dams was slightly increased, probably due to the exposure of the teats to frequent suckling in addition to machine milkings. In conclusion, cow-calf contact systems influence the performance of cows during and after the suckling period but to varying degrees depending on the system adopted.
Highlights
In this research communication I show the effect of various cow–calf contact systems on milk yield and milk composition during the periods when calves where allowed to suckle their dams and after the calves were separated in comparison to cows that were only machine milked throughout their lactation
Cow–calf contact systems influence the performance of cows during and after the suckling period but to varying degrees depending on the system adopted
Suckler cows kept under semi-natural conditions nurse their calves 4 to 6 times per day depending on the stage of lactation/ age of the calf (Nicol and Sharafeldin, 1975)
Summary
In this research communication I show the effect of various cow–calf contact systems on milk yield and milk composition during the periods when calves where allowed to suckle their dams and after the calves were separated in comparison to cows that were only machine milked throughout their lactation. CCC systems practiced on dairy farms as well as in experiments can vary considerably in time spans and time points when cows are allowed to suckle This leads to variation in the frequencies of milk removal and their temporal distances to machine milking. This study merged data of four experiments, which were conducted under the same housing and milking conditions, to explore the effect of three cow–calf contact systems on milk yield and milk composition over the whole lactation of dairy cows
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