Effect of Heavy Concentrate Feeding Before Calving Upon Lactation and Mammary Gland Edema

Abstract

Heavy grain feeding prior to calving resulted in no increase in the yield of 4% fat-corrected milk during the first 84 days of lactation. Nine cows and 9 heifers received, in addition to a basal roughage ration, a supplement of 273 lb. grain per heifer or 378 lb. per cow during a 6-week prepartum period. A similar number of controls received no grain. During lactation all animals were fed roughage and grain according to maintenance and production requirements. Supplemented animals made significantly greater (P =<0.01) increases in live weight but indicated no significant increase in incidence or severity of mammary edema as determined by visual ratings and linear measurements. Heifers showed more edema at calving than older cows.