Transition Management. Hifeed Distributors Days 2015 Frans van Bohemen

Transcription

1 Transition Management Hifeed Distributors Days 2015 Frans van Bohemen Verona, November 2015

2 Contents 1 Why the transition period? 5 Acidosis 2 Critical success factors 3 Before the dry period 4 Milk fever 2

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5 Running a marathon Cooling down Rest Warming up (training) Start next marathon End of lactation Far-off period (dry) Close-up period (dry) Fresh group (start lactation) 5

6 Why the transition period? 6

7 % Cows leaving the herd Average risk / day of leaving in a period Why the transition period? 12% 10% 8% 6% Most cows are culled in the beginning of lactation as a result of problems originating from the transition period. This is a big economic loss to farms!! 0.24% 0.20% 0.16% 0.12% 4% 0.08% 2% 0.04% 0% Day Period Ending Day 0.00% Percent of Cows Leaving Risk of Leaving Source: 2002, S. Stewart, Univ. of Minnesota 7

8 Calculation Example 1: Economic balance during a cow s productive life Age (yrs) Cost ( ) Yield ( ) Balance Cumulative Break-even Most profitable years When AFC 24 months, calving interval 365 d, 8500 kg milk/cow, 25 kg concentrate/100 kg milk, 8

9 Critical success factors 9

10 Critical Success Factors Transition Easy calving Quick start up of DMI (= small NEB) No health issues: Ketosis Milk fever Mastitis Metritis Acidosis High peak production, good persistency Quick recovery of fertility Inter-calving interval ± 365d 10

11 Nutritional impact on a dry cow Nutrition is critically important for a successful dry period, but don t forget about management! Nutrition impacts: Body Condition Score Dry Matter Intake Health and Fertility Milk production 11

12 Running along the train Prepare the cow for homeorhetic adaptations! During the dry period, train the cow for the next marathon she will run! 12

13 Before the dry period 13

14 Relation DMI and NEB Remember: Every cow suffers a Negative Energy Balance (NEB) at the start of lactation; How deep do you allow the NEB to become? Minimize the depth of NEB by stimulating DMI around calving! 14

15 End of the lactation period 250 DIM dry: Most effective period to manage BCS Target a BCS at dry-off (Ideal = 3.2) Steer using the ration: Fat cows (BCS > 3.5): reduce energy density of diet Skinny cows (BCS <3.0): maintain CCT supplementation

16 Dry Matter Intake (kg) Relation BCS at calving and DMI Skinny Normal Fat Fat cows have much reduced DMI at the start of lactation causing them to have a much deeper NEB! 0 15 From: Garnsworthy and Topps, 1982 Weeks after calving 16

17 Calculation Example 2: DMI Energy requirement Fresh Cow diet: 980 VEM/kg DM (± 6.76 MJ NEL) Required intake: > 18kg DM/day = VEM/day (± MJ NEL) Example. DMI = 16kg Intake: VEM/day (± 108 MJ NEL) 12% less than required intake per day! To match the gap, the cow needs to burn body fat ± 7.7 kcal/gr adipose tissue (= 32.2 kj) Gap: 13.7 MJ (= kj) = 425 gr body fat lost per day! In practice: week 0-5 ± 54kg body fat and 21kg body protein Hall 2007 (doi: /sj.ijo ) 17

18 Relation BCS at calving and DMI Use the period 250 DIM dry to reach optimal BCS at dry off ( ); Ideally make milk production drop <10L/d at dry off Every 5L/d more at drying = +75% chance of mastitis Make sure BCS is maintained throughout the dry period. Same BCS at start and end of dry period!; 18

19 Lowering milk production Decrease energy density, increase fiber intake Lower concentrate level and/or feeding high fiber, low energy forages Start at least 14d before calving Decrease protein level of the ration Start milking only once a day But bacteria have more time to proliferate Do only in cows with low milk SCC Never withhold water! 19

20 Relation BCS at calving and DMI Why maintain BCS during the dry period? Make a cow gain weight during the dry period: She becomes over-conditioned Cow becomes lazy: digestive system not prepared for nutritional changes at the start of lactation Risk for dystocia Risk for ketosis Make a cow lose weight during the dry period: Cow already in NEB before calving! Risk for ketosis Risk for milk fever 20

21 Technical parameters dry cow diets Far Off Close Up DM intake (kg) > 11 > 12 kg % Concentrates VEM per day DIP (gr/kg DM) FEPB CP RFC TFC > 300 > 380 RFP TFP Acid < 40 < 45 Fibre > 175 > 130 Gluco TN - >

22 Farm-O-San Glucolac % propylene glycol on a carrier + additives Dry: Glucolac 40+ Liquid: Pro-Keto 150gr/hd/day 3 weeks pre-partum gr/hd/day until max 3m post-partum Allows increasing dietary energy level Minimal impact on rumen ph Focused on intestinal digestion 22

23 Running along the train Prepare the cow for homeorhetic adaptations! During the dry period, train the cow for the next marathon she will run! 23

24 Udder and rumen during the dry period 24

25 Udder The udder undergoes two (three?) phases during the dry period: 1. Involution 3 weeks 2. Rest 0 weeks? 3. Regeneration 3 weeks 25

26 Udder involution Udder involution phase: Udder stops milk production and becomes non-lactating Activities Re-absorption of milk constituents Components as lactose, fat and protein are removed by white blood cells Hormonal defense mechanisms are developing Total defense not functioning properly yet Gradual change in mammary secretion composition Regression of mammary secreting epithelial cells 26

27 Udder involution The higher milk production at drying off, the more milk remains in the udder Milk in the udder is the perfect growth medium for bacteria Very high risk for mastitis! (Every 5L above 10L = + 75% chance mastitis) Therefore: 1. Hygiene 2. Hygiene 3. Hygiene 4. Low milk production 5. Good nutrition 27

28 Udder regeneration Udder regeneration phase: Damaged epithelial tissue is cleaned up and regenerated with new tissue; As calving approaches, mammary tissue will start excreting colostrum. 28

29 Rumen adaptation Repair of damaged tissues Removal of callous tissue from rumen wall Adjustments to changes to the diet take 3-4 weeks The fresh cow diet should push for production of propionic acid to stimulate papillae length and to supply glucogenic energy to the cow 29

30 Milk fever 30

31 Why is Ca important? 31

32 Regulating Ca-homeostasis Ca-input: Intestinal absorption Bone mobilisation Ca Ca-output: Urinary excretion Faecal excretion Foetal transfer Lactation Bone retention 32

33 Calcium flow during the Dry Period Vitamin D PTH Ca from feed PTH Ca in milk 33

34 Calcium flow at the start of lactation Vitamin D Ca from feed PTH Hypocalcaemia PTH Ca in milk 34

35 Regulating Ca-homeostasis Renal excretion Fast positive/negative response Bone resorption Slow positive/negative response System needs to be activated Intestinal absorption Slow: needs adaptation Both active and passive absorption 35

36 Response to low Blood-Ca 1. Renal resorption Responds immediately but resorption cannot cover full requirements 2. Up-regulation intestinal absorption Passive absorption can respond quickly, but not enough Active absorption regulated by vitamin D and proteins. Lags 48h 3. Bone resorption Hormonally regulated through PTH. Lags 48 hours. 36

37 Which cows are at risk? From: Reinhardt et al

38 Which cows are at risk? From: Reinhardt et al

39 Prevention methods 1. Low dietary Ca-levels Train the active intestinal Ca-absorption mechanism Ca levels as low as practically possible 2. DCAD Induce reduction blood ph Increases bone Ca-mobilization 3. Reviva Increases blood Ca-levels first 48hrs after consumption Stimulates early DMI 39

40 Farm-O-San Reviva Nearly 100% voluntary take-up if prepared properly Unique in the market. Very difficult to copy Emotional product 40

41 Acidosis 41

42 Acidosis Feed nutrients Population VFA Absorption ph Buffer capacity 42

43 Variation in volatile fatty acids Acetic acid 60-64%; 5L/day Propionic acid 18-24%; 2L/day Butyric acid 11-14%; 0.5L/day BCFA 4-5% (BCFA = branched-chain fatty acids) 7.5L pure acid/day

44 Acidosis Acidosis is the ecological misbalance of the ruminal ecosystem when the accumulation of acid products of fermentation results in a low ruminal ph. 44

45 SARA and diarrhea Endotoxin release Microbial death Enteric nervous system Hypermotility Lactic acid utilizing protozoa VFA and lactic acid SARA Small feed particles, excessive VFA and lactic acid pass to hindgut Hindgut fermentation Osmotic diarrhea

46 Conclusions 46

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48 Conclusions A lactating dairy cow is running a marathon Train and coach her through the process Improper nutrition and management = financial loss Use: Glucolac 40+ Reviva Be aware of milk fever and acidosis 48

49 Thank you 49