10 Ways to Improve Early Lactation Performance and Peak Milk Yield | Dairy Herd Management
Looking for ways to help improve lactation performance? Here is some great info! In this article, Noah Litherland from the University Of Minnesota discusses 10 ways you can improve early lactation performance and peak milk yield:
“Peak milk is the highest recorded test day milk production in a cow’s first 150 days in milk (DIM). Historically, producers used peak milk as a measure of the success of dry period and early lactation nutrition and management. Peak milk indicates how well the cow responds to feeding practices during the dry period, calving and early lactation periods.
Most cows achieve peak milk by 45 to 90 DIM and then slowly lose production over time. Many cite that each added pound of peak milk could lead to 200 to 250 pounds more milk for the whole lactation. Nutrition and health disorders in early lactation affect peak milk. For example, low dietary fiber diet/sorting can lead to rumen acidosis, which can result in lameness or displaced abomasum. Both conditions can cause reduced peak milk.
Ten ways to improve early lactation performance and peak milk yield:
1. Start cows with a successful dry period
Research shows dry period nutrition and management affects health and performance after birth. Thus, evaluate your dry cow program if you’re unhappy with milk cow performance. Key goals for dry cows include: […]”
