Effects of Increasing Milking Frequency During the Last 28 Days of Gestation on Milk Production, Dry Matter Intake, and Energy Balance in Dairy Cows

Forty-eight Holstein cows were used in a randomized block design to evaluate different dry period lengths and prepartum milking frequencies (MF) on subsequent milk production, milk composition, solids-corrected milk production, dry matter intake (DMI), and energy balance. Lactating cows, milked 2 times/d, began a 7-d covariate period 35 d prior to the expected calving date. Cows were milked 0 times/d (0 × ), 1 time/d (1 × ), and 4 times/d (4 × ) for the last 28 d of gestation. If milk production decreased to less than 0.5 kg/milking or 1 kg/d, milking via machine ceased; however, teat stimulation continued 1 or 4 times/d according to the treatment assignment. All cows were milked 2 times/d postpartum (wk 1 to 10). Prepartum DMI tended to be greater for 1 × and 4 × compared with 0 × . Prepartum, cows milked 1 × produced 17% less milk than cows milked 4 × (5.9 and 7.1 kg/d, respectively). There were no differences in prepartum and postpartum body condition scores, body weights, and DMI. Postpartum milk production by cows following their third or greater gestation was greater for 0 × and 4 × compared with 1 × . Postpartum milk production by cows following their second gestation was significantly decreased with increased MF (0 × vs. 1 × and 4 × ). Regardless of parity, postpartum solids-corrected milk was greater for 0 × compared with 1 × and 4 × . Postpartum fat yield was greater for 0 × vs. 4 × , with 1 × being intermediate. Postpartum protein yield was greater for 0 × vs. 4 × , whereas 0 × tended to have greater protein yield than 1 × . Postpartum energy balance was greater for 1 × and 4 × relative to 0 × . Continuous milking (1 × and 4 × ) resulted in a loss of milk production in the subsequent lactation for cows following their second gestation; however, for cows following their third or greater gestation, increasing the MF from 1 × to 4 × in the last 28 d of gestation alleviated the loss in milk production.