Effect of Orchardgrass or Alfalfa Hay in Diets of Lactating Cows During Relocation

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary forage quantity and source on measures of performance of lactating dairy cows during relocation to a new dairy facility. From 3 wk before relocation to 9 wk following the move, 23 Holsteins received 1 of 3 dietary treatments: a TMR based on alfalfa and corn silage (n = 8), the TMR plus orchardgrass hay as 10% of the DM offered (n = 8), and the TMR plus alfalfa hay as 10% of the DM offered (n = 7). Cows were fed in Calan doors twice daily both before and after relocation. Before relocation, cows were housed as one group and milked twice daily in a 6-stall side-open parlor. After relocation, cows were housed as one group and milked twice daily in a double-8 herringbone parlor. Milk yield declined slightly on the day of the move, but returned to previous levels by d 3 and 4; adding hay offered no protection against this decline. Cows fed alfalfa had greater DMI and milk yield than control and grass hay-fed cows in the early stages of the study, but by wk 5 after the move, the effect of diet was not observed. Plasma cortisol concentrations on the day of relocation were reduced in cows offered the TMR than in cows offered the orchardgrass hay- or alfalfa hay-supplemented diets. Offering orchardgrass or alfalfa hay to lactating cows during relocation did not improve production or measures of well-being.