Management of dry cows at Neudamm dairy unit with emphasis on the effect of the dry period on milk yield

Abstract

Abstract by author:

It was found that management of the dry cows was good as revealed by the good body condition scores, which on average scored 2.9 and the average body weight of 689. 8 Kg. This good management however was affected by the long dry periods, which averaged 152 days and thus causing a low milk yield for the cows in subsequent lactations. The average milk yield was 5189.7 Kg per month with a lactation length of 283 days. A conclusion was then made that the dry period length influences milk yield in subsequent lactations in dairy cows either positively or negatively