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Influence of dietary phosphorus on the performance of lactating dairy cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

Jane A. Brodison
Affiliation:
Loughry College of Agriculture and Food TechnologyCookstownNorthern Ireland BT80 9AA
E. A. Goodall
Affiliation:
Agricultural Biometrics DivisionDepartment of Agriculture for Northern IrelandNewforge LaneBelfast BT9 5PX
J. D. Armstrong
Affiliation:
Veterinary Research LaboratoriesDepartment of Agriculture for Northern IrelandStormontBelfast BT4 3SD
D. I. Givens
Affiliation:
ADAS Feed Evaluation Unit, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 9RG
F. J. Gordonh
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern IrelandHillsborough BT26 6DR
W. J. McCaughey
Affiliation:
Veterinary Research LaboratoriesDepartment of Agriculture for Northern IrelandStormontBelfast BT4 3SD
J. R. Todd
Affiliation:
Food and Agricultural Chemistry Research DivisionDepartment of Agriculture for Northern IrelandBelfast BT9 5PX

Summary

In an experiment, carried out over 3 years, two groups of dairy cows offered ad libitum access to grass silage received 8 kg/day concentrate differing only in phosphorus content (low P concentrate: 4·0–4·5 g/kg dry matter (D.M.); high P concentrate: 6·0–6·5 g/kg D.M.) during the winter feeding period of approximately 6 months. During the summer period all animals were grazed together on perennial ryegrass pastures. There were no consistent significant effects of P content on any of the variables measured. The mean calving indices were 371 (S.E. = 3·71, n = 122) and 379 (S.E. = 4·28, n = 95) days and overall conception rates were 0·70 and 0·68 for the low and high P treatments, respectively. Mean plasma P concentrations during the winter period were significantly reduced (P > 0·01 or greater) in years 2 and 3 of the study on the low P treatment. In 1 year milk yield was significantly higher (P > 0·01) on the low P treatment although the fat content was significantly reduced (P > 0·05) but these effects were not recorded in the other 2 years.

Type
Review
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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