|
|
Article: Milk fat percent, fat:protein ratio can indicate metabolic problems.(dairy cattle)(Industry Overview)
- Article from:
- Feedstuffs
- Article date:
- October 8, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Miller Publishing Company, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Most dairies get milk weights and milk fat and protein percent on all milking cows once per month. The production per day information is valuable for moving cows so they can be fed by production level or for possible culling. If the percent fat is greater than 5.0 during the first 45 days after freshening for a Holstein, it's a good sign that she is losing excess weight and her plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels are high.
If the protein content of an entire string, in dry lot, averages as high as or higher than the fat content, it's a good sign that rumen acidosis may be prevalent. Low fat tests often occur as a normal, healthy thing when cows- are on ...