Energy Requirement of Dairy Cows.pptVIP

Energy Requirement of Dairy Cows In lactating dairy cows, it has been shown that energy is utilized for maintenance, lactation and pregnancy with approximately equal efficiency 60 – 70% with an average of 64.4% Energy requirements Maintenance requirement Related to body surface area or metabolic body size Maintenance reqt. = .073 Mcal/kg.75 Because this value was determined in cattle in metabolism stalls, a 10% activity allowance was included 2001 says Maintenance reqt. For NEl = .08 Mcal/kg.75 Example 650 kg cow Maintenace reqt. for Nel = .08 x 650.75 = 10.3 Mcal Activity allowance Normally the 10% activity allowance is adequate Additional energy is needed for grazing animals Walking Adjustment = .00045 Mcal Nel/kg BW/ horizontal km Example 650 kg x 4 km x .00045 = 1.17 Mcal Eating Adjustment = .0012 Mcal Nel/kg BW (Assumes 60% of diet is pasture) Example 650 kg x .0012 Mcal/kg BW = .78 Mcal Factors like cow nutrient reqt., herbage allowance, herbage height, herbage quality, and terrain used by beef NRC weren’t used in dairy NRC Walking on hilly terrain ARC Adjustment = .03 Mcal NEl /kg BW/vertical km 2001 Dairy NRC defines a hilly pasture as one in which the cattle move 200 m of vertical distance daily Therefore, NRC use an adjustment of .03 x .2 = .006 Mcal/kg BW Example 650 kg cow x .006 Mcal NEl/kg BW = 3.9 Mcal NEl Example % increase in maintenance Flat, close to parlor Hilly, far from parlor good pasture good pasture Horizontal movement 2.8 11.4 Eating 7.6 7.6 Terrain - 37.9 10.4 56.9 Environmental adjustments Cold stress Because lactating cows h