Effect of Body Weight-Based Feeding on Production Performance of Cattle (Holstein Friesian) During Different Lactation Stages
Adnan Khan1, Ijaz Ahmad1, Muhammad Shuaib2*, Sohaib Ul Hassan3, Abubakar Sufyan4, Shahrood Ahmed Siddiqui5, Majid Ali2, Waqas Alam6 and Muhammad Shahkar Uzair6
1Department of Livestock Management, Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan
2Arid Zone Small Ruminants Research Institute, Ghulam Banda, Kohat, Pakistan
3College of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan
4Department of Livestock and Poultry Production, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
5Vaccine Production Unit Sindh Tandojam, Livestock and Fisheries Department, Government of Sindh
6Department of Poultry Science, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the effect of prevailing vs experimental (@10% of body weight) feeding regimes on milk yield of Holstein Friesian cows grown in subtropical climates at Livestock Research and Breeding Farm at the University of Agriculture Peshawar. For this purpose, 18 Holstein Friesian (HF) cows of 3rd/4th parity were randomly selected and divided into three groups, each having an equal number of cows, based on lactation stages. Each group was further divided into two sub-groups, where one group was maintained on the same prevailing feeding regime (control) while the other was subjected to feeding at 10% of the body weight (treatment) of animals. Milk yield was recorded twice a day for 35 days. Results showed that HF cows in early lactation had higher milk production in both the control and treatment groups than the cows in mid and late lactation stages, respectively. The treatment group had a significantly higher effect on the weekly and overall milk production of HF cows. It was observed that cows on experimental feeding had significantly higher milk yield in early, mid, and late lactation stages compared to the control feeding and a uniform pattern was observed throughout the experiment. It was concluded that weight-based feeding had a positive effect on the milk production of exotic animals.
Article Information
Received 30 October 2023
Revised 25 November 2023
Accepted 08 December 2023
Available online 25 September 2024
(early access)
Published 29 August 2025
Authors’ Contribution
AK: Animal trial, laboratory work, and manuscript writing. IA: Supervision, study design, feed formulation, data evaluation, and statistical analysis. MS: Statistical analysis, data evaluation, data curation, manuscript writing, and review. SUH, AS, SAS, MA, WA, MSU: Data curation, manuscript writing and review.
Key words
Livestock, Holstein Friesian cows, Body weight, Milk production, Milk yield, Lactation stages
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20231030174027
* Corresponding author: [email protected]
0030-9923/2025/0005-2429 $ 9.00/00
Copyright 2025 by the authors. Licensee Zoological Society of Pakistan.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
INTRODUCTION
Pakistan is an agricultural country, and the majority of the population is dependent on this industry, either directly or indirectly. It accounts for half of the employed labor force and is the main source of foreign exchange earnings, contributing around 24 percent of GDP. Livestock farming is a source of income for more than 8 million rural families, with livestock accounting for 40% of their revenue. The livestock sector’s contribution increased 3.0% from Rs 1,461 billion in 2020-21 to Rs. 1,505 billion in 2021-22 (GOP, 2021-22). Different cattle breeds of Pakistan are Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Cholistani, Dhanni, Tarparkar, Baghnari, Dajal, Lohani, Rojhan and Kankrej (Afzal and Naqvi, 2004). Apart from the indigenous breeds, Pakistan possesses exotic cattle breeds among which Holstein Friesian (HF) is reared under commercial and Government farms. The average weight of the HF breed is 680-770 kg, color is black and white (FAO, 2020). The HF cow is a dairy cow breed known for its high milk productivity, good milk quality, prolonged lactation, and high feed intake (Prayitno et al., 2017). Cattle milk yield can be enhanced by improving feed quality and feeding based on body weight requirements. Feeding strategies can be used to increase feed intake. There are three feeding strategies, component feeding, selective feeding, and total mixed ration (TMR) and the TMR feeding system has the greatest impact on intake (Bargo, 2002). In the United Kingdom and many other areas of the world, a variety of concentrated feeding strategies are used in practice. Concentrates can be mixed with the forage component of the diet as part of a mixed ration, fed separately from forage via in-parlor or out-of-parlor concentrate feeding systems or fed through a combination of these methods. Improved feed intake potential and the ability of higher-yielding cows to mobilize body tissue to offer energy for milk early production are usually associated with increased milk yield (Purcell et al., 2016).
During the dry season, the body condition of dairy cows changes dramatically and cows postpartum performance is affected directly or indirectly by their body condition. Dairy cattle’s maintenance and pregnancy requirements rise throughout pregnancy; however, feed consumption decreases during this period (Ingvartsen et al., 1999). While some body weight reduction is usual during the dry season, excessive weight loss should be avoided by meeting both maintaining and pregnancy caloric demands (Kim and Suh, 2003). High genetic merit dairy cows are more prone to body condition score (BCS) decrease than low-producing cows. BCS and milk production have a negative relationship. Moderate BCS, on the other hand, favored increased milk production (Damato, 2023). Negative energy balance is a common occurrence in dairy cows and limited feed may result in a negative energy balance. During late pregnancy and early lactation, cows have a reduced choice of feed consumption, which could be related to physical constraints, neurological cues, and hormonal signals (Ingvartsen et al., 1999). This drop in intake, along with the high energy requirements of lactation establishment, frequently results in a negative energy balance. Indeed, the onset of lactation is marked by increased energy demands associated with a quick increase in mild yield, resulting in a negative energy balance, mobilization of body reserves, and changes in milk composition (Bjerre-Harpoth et al., 2012). Therefore, this study was conducted by feeding the Holstein Friesian cows based on body weight, and lactation stage to improve the milk yield.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study location, animals selection and management
This study was conducted at the Livestock Research and Breeding Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar and the total duration of the experiment was 35 days. A total of 18 healthy lactating Holstein Friesian cows were randomly selected from the herd and distributed in two groups, i.e., conventional feeding group and feeding @ per kg body weight, each of 9 cows. Each group was further divided into three subgroups based on the lactation stage of the animal i.e. early lactation, mid-lactation, and late lactation, each of three cows. All the animals were tagged and body weight was recorded before the commencement of the research trail. Animals were then routinely weighed through a weighing scale every week throughout the trial period. All animals were given 24-h free access to fresh water and enough space for exercise.
Nutrition management
Animals were routinely offered forages twice a day, i.e., morning and evening. For this purpose, all animals were initially weighed before the commencement of the research trial. Forages offered during the research trial comprised freshly chopped maize having 23.21 dry matter, with wheat straw consisting of 90.46% dry matter. Concentrate of dry matter 88%, crude protein 15%, TDN 68%, ether extract 3.5% and ash 12% were also offered to animals. Feed formulation based on dry matter is shown in Table I.
Table I. Feed formulations (DM basis) in kilograms.
|
Groups |
Body weight (Kg) |
Forages (Kg) (Maize + wheat straw) |
Concentrate (Kg) |
|
Early lactation |
539±45.84 |
43+5 |
5 |
|
Mid lactation |
567±53.66 |
46 +5 |
5 |
|
Late lactation |
576±41.48 |
57+5 |
5 |
Milk yield
Milk yield was measured through weigh measuring scale at the time of milking for both the control and experimental animal twice a day (Morning and evening).
Statistical analysis
The data was subjected to statistical software SPSS (V16.0) for analysis. The data was analyzed using a factorial design by two-way interaction effect and means between the groups were compared through an LSD test.
RESULTS
Table II represents the result of milk production during different weeks. In all weeks, the effect of lactation stages was highly significant and the treatment group milk production during early, mid, and late lactation was
Table II. Milk yield (liter) of Holstein Friesian cows in various lactation stages during different weeks.
|
Weeks |
Groups |
Early lactation |
Mid lactation |
Late lactation |
|
1st |
Control |
90.00b |
80.00b |
72.00b |
|
Treatment |
102.6a |
95.33a |
83.33a |
|
|
SEM |
3.56 |
2.45 |
2.11 |
|
|
P-value |
0.001 |
0.001 |
0.001 |
|
|
2nd |
Control |
90.56b |
80.27b |
72.51b |
|
Treatment |
103.2a |
95.90a |
83.97a |
|
|
SEM |
3.67 |
2.14 |
1.88 |
|
|
P-value |
0.001 |
0.001 |
0.001 |
|
|
3rd |
Control |
91.06b |
80.05b |
71.43b |
|
Treatment |
104.6a |
93.30a |
82.82a |
|
|
SEM |
3.33 |
2.60 |
2.15 |
|
|
P-value |
0.001 |
0.001 |
0.001 |
|
|
4th |
Control |
92.00b |
80.66b |
71.00b |
|
Treatment |
104.3a |
96.83a |
82.43a |
|
|
SEM |
3.50 |
2.42 |
2.11 |
|
|
P-value |
0.001 |
0.001 |
0.001 |
|
|
5th |
Control |
92.06b |
81.00b |
70.83b |
|
Treatment |
105.7a |
97.66a |
81.66a |
|
|
SEM |
3.88 |
2.64 |
2.33 |
|
|
P-value |
0.001 |
0.001 |
0.001 |
Means with different letters with in the same column differs significantly at P < 0.05.
Table III. Mean comparison of milk production (liters) of different lactation stages in response to two groups (control and experimental) in five weeks interval.
|
Groups |
Early lactation |
Mid lactation |
Late lactation |
|
Control |
455.3b |
402.3b |
357.2b |
|
Treatment |
519.0a |
482.0a |
413.6a |
|
SEM |
18.2 |
13.7 |
10.1 |
|
P-value |
0.001 |
0.003 |
0.001 |
Means with different letters with in the same column differs significantly at P < 0.05.
the highest than the control group. Results for the mean comparison of overall milk production of cattle fed on body weight are shown in Table III. Milk production in the early lactation stage was higher followed by the mid and late lactation stage as well as treatment group had always higher production than the control group. Results for the mean comparison of the overall week of milk production of HF cattle fed on body weight are shown in Table IV. The mean production of milk increased week by week and the production of the treatment group was always higher significant than the control group. Table V shows the results of the combined mean comparison of milk production versus groups. Overall milk production in all weeks was recorded higher significantly in the early lactation stage than in the mid and late lactation stages.
Table IV. Mean comparison of milk production (liters) in early, mid and late lactation stages during different weeks.
|
Weeks |
Groups |
Milk yield |
Range |
|
|
Minimum |
Maximum |
|||
|
1st |
Control |
80.66b |
78.38 |
82.94 |
|
Treatment |
93.77a |
91.50 |
96.05 |
|
|
SEM |
2.14 |
---- |
---- |
|
|
P-value |
0.001 |
---- |
---- |
|
|
2nd |
Control |
80.94b |
78.76 |
83.12 |
|
Treatment |
94.16a |
91.99 |
96.34 |
|
|
SEM |
1.78 |
---- |
---- |
|
|
P-value |
0.003 |
---- |
---- |
|
|
3rd |
Control |
81.00b |
78.83 |
83.17 |
|
Treatment |
94.27a |
92.10 |
96.44 |
|
|
SEM |
1.66 |
---- |
---- |
|
|
P-value |
0.001 |
---- |
---- |
|
|
4th |
Control |
81.11b |
78.88 |
83.33 |
|
Treatment |
94.50a |
92.27 |
96.72 |
|
|
SEM |
1.52 |
---- |
---- |
|
|
P-value |
0.002 |
---- |
---- |
|
|
5th |
Control |
81.30b |
79.00 |
83.59 |
|
Treatment |
94.83a |
92.53 |
97.13 |
|
|
SEM |
1.74 |
---- |
---- |
|
|
P-value |
0.002 |
---- |
---- |
|
|
Over all |
Control |
405.0b |
393.91 |
416.12 |
|
Treatment |
471.5a |
460.44 |
482.66 |
|
|
SEM |
15.5 |
---- |
---- |
|
|
P-value |
0.003 |
---- |
---- |
|
Means with different letters with in the same column differs significantly at P < 0.05.
Table V. Control and experimental group combined mean comparison of milk yield (liters) in early, mid and late lactation stages.
|
Lactation stages |
Milk yield |
|||||
|
WK-1 |
WK-2 |
WK-3 |
WK-4 |
WK-5 |
All weeks |
|
|
Early lactation |
96.34 |
96.92 |
97.37 |
97.96 |
98.62 |
487.19 |
|
Mid lactation |
87.67 |
88.09 |
88.42 |
88.76 |
89.34 |
442.25 |
|
Late lactation |
77.68 |
77.67 |
77.14 |
76.72 |
76.26 |
385.44 |
|
SEM |
2.42 |
2.33 |
3.11 |
2.12 |
2.54 |
2.37 |
|
P-value |
0.001 |
0.001 |
0.001 |
0.001 |
0.001 |
0.001 |
Means with different letters with in the same column differs significantly at P < 0.05.
DISCUSSION
The findings show that overall milk production in all weeks was higher in the treatment group in the early lactation stage than in the control group in the mid and late lactation stage. Similarly, Horan et al. (2005) carried out a study on the effect of 10% body weight-based feed on milk production of HF cattle and the findings showed higher production performance of animals fed with 10% body weight than the control group. Holcomb et al. (2001) also described that the animals fed on 10% body weight based have higher production than the control group. Similarly, Dewhurst et al. (2000) described that body weight-based feed has a positive effect on milk production in the early lactation stage. Raab (1994) and Okine et al. (1997) also concluded that with increasing range of forage ratio concentrates, the overall feed intake and milk yield increased. Tuan (2000) performed the same research work in tropical areas, and their findings are in line with the current study that by feeding the animals on body weight bases the overall milk yield increased. Similarly, Sirohi et al. (2010) worked on the production performance of dairy cattle by giving the feed based on body weight and the results showed that production in early lactation was higher than in the mid and late lactation stages. Gonda et al. (1996) findings are also in line with the current study and revealed that increasing the amount of DM-based feed had a positive relationship with the production performance of dairy cattle, and cows yield 10-15% more as compared to the control group. Related results were also documented by Sporndly (1986) that feeding the animals with 38% DM-based significantly increased milk fat percentage, milk yield, and live weight gain of the animals. Similar to the result of the present study, Kaiser et al. (2004) carried out a study on the effect of roughages and total mixed ration feed on a DM basis and its relation with the production performance of dairy cattle and documented those animals fed with roughages had lower milk yield and animals feed with total mixed ration on DM based had higher milk yield in all stages of lactation. The current results are also supported by the work of Suwannasin (2009) who found that feeding the animals with partially mixed ration on a DM basis increases the milk yield in all stages of lactation. Istasse et al. (1986) revealed in their study that forages and concentrates offered to the animals either in total milk mixed ration or separately on DM-based had a significant effect on the total milk yield of the animals with increased concentrates in ration.
According to the work done by Gordon et al. (1995) and Oba and Allen (1999), feeding animals with roughages based on DM has a negative correlation with the milk yield of milk which might be due to lower digestibility of roughages however the lower milk yield in late lactation stage might be due to devotion of greater proportion of dietary nutrients to pregnancy and to increase body conditions score, thus the dairy efficiency decreases. Nyambati et al. (2003) fed animals with different supplements i.e., lablab hay and commercial dairy meal on a DM basis and results showed that the milk yield increased with improving the body condition score of the animals but the supplemental feed had no significant effect on the body weight gain of the animals. The increments in milk production were due to the increased dry matter intake of the animals. The increase in the milk yield was also similar to those reported by Muia et al. (2000). Sattar et al. (2005) analyzed the dairy production data from 1991-2000, which supports the current results of milk yield in various lactation stages.
CONCLUSION
It is concluded from the present study that feeding HF cows on a live body weight basis significantly improves milk production as compared to conventional feeding practices. It is also concluded that conventional feeding practices are unable to fulfill the nutrition requirements of HF cows for increased milk production, particularly during early lactation stages. The feeding of animals should be adjusted /practiced according to the body requirements across the different lactation stages. It is recommended to adjust feed by the body’s requirements at each stage of lactation.
Declarations
Acknowledgement
We acknowledge the staff of the Department of Livestock Management, Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan, who provided technical and laboratory facilities. The research work is part of the MSc (Hons) degree program.
Funding
This study received no funds and is self-supported.
IRB approval
The experimental work was approved by the Board of Studies (BOS) (January 2023) and conducted at the Department of Livestock Management, Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences (FAHVS), The University of Agriculture Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.
The experiment was approved by the ethical committee of the Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences (FAHVS), The University of Agriculture Peshawar before the practical execution of this experiment.
Statement of conflict of interest
The authors have declared no conflict of interest.
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