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Table 2 Effect of early feeding strategy on cow BW, BCS, and estimated net energy of lactation (NEL) and metabolizable protein (MP) balances

From: Metabolic and endocrine profiles and hepatic gene expression of Holstein cows fed total mixed ration or pasture with different grazing strategies during early lactation

Variable

Treatments1

SE

P value

G0

G1

G2

Estimated NEL balance2

 Maintenance, Mcal of/d

10.3c

12.8b

13.9a

0.03

0.01

 Milk, Mcal/d

27.8x

24.0y

26.5xy

1.25

0.09

 Balance, Mcal/d

2.7a

−5.2b

−5.6b

1.30

0.01

Estimated MP balance2

 Milk, g of MP/d

1780

1620

1660

70.24

0.30

 Balance, g of MP/d

0.08a

−0.26b

−0.34b

0.08

0.01

 BW, kg

646

655

618

15

0.23

 BCS, units

2.9

2.8

2.8

0.07

0.53

  1. 1Feeding strategies from calving (day 0) to 60 days postpartum: DM offered as 100 % total mixed ration (TMR; n = 9), G1 DM offered as 50 % pasture in one (am) grazing session (6 h) plus 50 % TMR (n = 9), G2 DM offered as 50 % pasture in two (am/pm) grazing sessions (9 h) + 50 % TMR (n = 7)
  2. 2Required NEL and MP for maintenance (including NEL for activity) and milk, values were calculated according to NRC [14]
  3. a,b,cLetters denote least squares means differ (P ≤ 0.05)
  4. xyIndicate a tendency 0.05 < P > 0.10, for the interaction between cow groups and treatments