This study was performed to investigate the effect of body condition change from the prefresh
to early fresh periods on the subsequent milk production performance in Holstein dairy cows.
For this purpose, 89 Holstein cows in a private high yielding dairy enterprise (average milk
yield 8000 kg/season) were included in this study. Body condition score (BCS) was evaluated
at the prefresh period (260–270 day) post last insemination, as well as one month postpartum.
Evaluations of BCS were performed via, two evaluators on a scale of 1–5 points and the
average BCS value for each cow was detected. BCS loss was estimated via, subtract of
postpartum BCS value from the prefresh one. Data of the daily, initial, 305-day, and actual
milk yield were collected and recorded. The results of this study revealed that, fatty cows
during their prefresh phase (BCS 4.5–5.0 points) had high dairy performance, as these cows
depicted the highest values of daily milk yield (37.58 kg), initial milk yield (43.38 kg), 305–
day milk yield (11461.00 kg) and actual milk yield (12229.38 kg). Moreover, the cows with a
postpartum BCS of 3.5–4.0 points recorded the highest significant daily milk yield (37.93 kg),
305-day milk yield (11566.67 kg), initial milk yield (49.00 kg) and actual milk yield (14945.00
kg). The cow losing from (–0.5)–(–1.0) point BCS has the highest significant daily and 305-
day milk yield. In conclusion, BCS significantly influenced the milk performance traits of
Holstein cows both at prefresh and postpartum period. For higher performance, the cows
should be with somewhat heavy BCS at prefresh and with medium BCS postpartum. The dairy
Holstein cows could loss about 0.5–0.75 BCS unit during their early fresh phase with efficient
milk production. Further research is needed to prove this presumption. |
