Ingestive capacity of dairy cows at the end of their lactation

Abstract

The dry matter intake of dairy cows at the end of their lactation was measured for a grass-silage based ration and compared to intake a the beginning of lactation (respectively weeks 34-46 after calving and weeks 1-12). Maximum intake was 20.6 kg DM (silage + concentrates) for a fat-corrected milk production of 33 kg, at the 5^th week after calving. At the end of lactation total intake was 14.1 kg DM for a milk production of 11 kg (40^th week after calving). This intake of 14.1 kg give an ingestive capacity of 15,6 UEL (fill unit for dairy cattle), in line with the french fill unit system. In these conditions requirements of cows are largely met. Nervertheless some individual variations of the ingestive capacity at the end of lactation are not related to liveweight and to milk production.