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Effects of heat load and photoperiod on milk yield and composition in three dairy herds in Israel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

Y. Aharoni ,
A. Brosh  and
E. Ezra
Y. Aharoni
Affiliation:
Department of Beef Cattle, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Yaar Research Centre, PO Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
A. Brosh
Affiliation:
Department of Beef Cattle, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Yaar Research Centre, PO Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
E. Ezra
Affiliation:
Israel Cattle Breeders Association, PO Box 3015, Qesarya Industrial Park 38900, Israel
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Abstract

Effects of heat load and of photoperiod on lactation performance were evaluated using milk test data of three Israeli Holstein herds over a period of 3 years, from 1994 to 1996. All together 2209 cows, with 28029 milk records, were included. Photoperiod effects were examined as associated with day length and daily changes in day length and heat load index was formulated as a function of the seasonal day and night ambient temperatures, to account for the heat load effect. The regression model included effects of cow, herd, year, lactation number and days in milk in addition to the seasonal effects. The dependent variables were milk yield and fat, protein and lactose concentrations. Milk yield was affected by both photoperiod and heat load, with the peak photoperiod effect in May and amplitude of 3·1 (s.d. 0·9) kg/day and negative heat load effect of-1-8 (s.d. 0·4) kg/day at its peak. Protein concentration was affected by photoperiod, with the peak effect in January (amplitude of 1·7 (s.e. 0·5) g/kg) but not by heat load (-0-2 (s.d. 0·6) glkg). Fat concentration was affected primarily by heat load (-3-4 (s.d. 0·7) g/kg), with a photoperiod effect which peaked in October (amplitude of 1·8 (s.d. 0·8) g/kg). Lactose concentration was affected by both environmental factors to a lesser extent (photoperiod amplitude of 0·6 (s.d. 0·2) g/kg and heat load effect of-0-03 (s.d. 0·16) g/kg). Comparison of the predicted seasonal effects on milk yield and composition with the annual fluctuation in the national herd showed a good match of the predicted effects with the national observations. It is concluded that while heat load relief may be beneficial, manipulation of the photoperiod may induce adverse effects on milk yield and composition.

Keywords

dairy cowsheat stresslactationphotoperiod
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 69 , Issue 1 , August 1999 , pp. 37 - 47
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1999

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