@article {3672,
	title = {Comparison of associations between estimated breeding values and cow survival in herds being milked once or twice a day},
	journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production},
	volume = {82},
	year = {2022},
	month = {01/2022},
	pages = {93-98},
	address = {Online},
	abstract = {The objective of this study was to investigate the link between estimated breeding values (EBV) for selected traits, including Traits Other than Production (TOP), and cow survival in herds milked once-a-day (OAD), and to contrast with herds milked twice-a-day (TAD). After filtering, data from 234 OAD herds (71,321 cows) and 234 TAD herds (75,123 cows) were extracted from the Dairy Industry Good Animal Database between 2007 and 2021. Cow survival from parities 1 to 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4, 4 to 5 and 5 to 6 (S12, S23, S34, S45 and S56) were modelled within each milking frequency and age parity group, with trait EBVs fitted as covariables and the fixed effect of herd-year, using a generalised linear model with a gaussian kernel. The survival rate in OAD cows was higher than in TAD cows in S12 and less in S34 to S56. Udder support EBV became important in older cows (S45 and S56) but there were no significant differences between OAD and TAD herds. Compared to OAD herds, Fertility EBV had a greater effect on survival in TAD herds up to S34, as did Body Condition EBV for S12. Conversely, milk Volume, Fat, Protein and Somatic Cell Score EBVs had smaller effects on survival in TAD herds. Our results do not contain evidence that warrant greater selection pressure on functional traits in OAD systems relative to TAD to enhance animal survival. When selecting sires, selection pressure could be reduced on some traits, such as Fertility and Body Condition, in OAD systems, with a greater emphasis placed on production and milk composition.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Edwards JP and Zhang X and Stachowicz K and Waters ACL and Amer PR}
}
@article {3672,
	title = {Modelling winter feeding practices with fodder beet in growing and dry dairy cattle},
	journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production},
	volume = {82},
	year = {2022},
	month = {01/2022},
	pages = {39-44},
	address = {Online},
	abstract = {<p>The objective of this study was to use the Large Ruminant Nutrition System simulation (LRNS) model to evaluate inclusion of different proportions of fodder beet (FB) with several feed supplements to determine if these dietary combinations meet the nutrient requirements of dry cows and growing one-year-old (R1) heifers over winter. The LRNS simulations demonstrated deficiencies in Ca and P when diets contained 60 and 80\% of FB, especially for dry cows up to 21 days before calving and in R1 heifers. When FB comprised 60-80\% of the diet of R1 heifers, there was insufficient metabolisable protein to support maximum average daily gain and insufficient physically effective neutral detergent fibre (peNDF) in diets containing over 60\% FB. Diets containing more than 40\% FB had a negative rumen degraded protein balance (RDPB) and an excess non-fibre carbohydrate (NFC) concentration. Recommendations based on this modelling are for a maximum of 60\% FB in diets and forage supplements must provide sufficient crude protein (CP) as well as supplementation of Ca for R1 heifers and dry cows up to 21 days before calving and P for both dry cows and R1 heifers.</p>
},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Jonker A and Dalley DE and Woods RR and Dynes RA and Pacheco D and Khan MA and Edwards JP and Hammond KJ}
}
@article {3672,
	title = {BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Changes to cow behaviour when transitioning from twice a day to a 3-in-2 milking schedule},
	journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production},
	volume = {81},
	year = {2021},
	month = {01/2022},
	pages = {51-53},
	address = {Online},
	abstract = {The objective of this study was to assess changes to cow behaviour when decreasing milking frequency from twice a day (TAD) to three milkings in two days (3-in-2). CowManager SensOor{\texttrademark} ear tags were attached to cows (n=29) for 15 days before, and 30 days after, transitioning to 3-in-2. To investigate general trends, paired t-tests were used to compare means between activity types (time spent active, highly active, not active, eating or ruminating) and milking frequency. After transitioning to 3-in-2 milking, the total time active was greater (+32.3 mins/cow/day; SEM 6.46), whilst the time spent eating (-16.2 mins/cow/day; SEM 7.57) and ruminating (-12.7 mins/cow/day; SEM 3.59) decreased. These differences were inconsistent between daylight and dark hours. These results indicate that the extra time spent in the paddock by the cows due to a 3-in-2 milking schedule was spent active, potentially due to social interaction and feed-searching behaviours, with a decrease in rumination and eating behaviours.

Key words: Milking frequency; behaviour; activity; transition.},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Hall LS and Bryant RH and Edwards JP}
}
@article {3672,
	title = {The fate of calves born on New Zealand dairy farms and dairy farmer attitudes towards producing dairy-beef calves},
	journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production},
	volume = {81},
	year = {2021},
	month = {01/2022},
	pages = {179-185},
	address = {Online},
	abstract = {Dairy calves that are not required as herd replacements provide an opportunity for beef production with a relatively low environmental footprint. A telephone survey of 262 New Zealand dairy farmers was conducted in October 2020 to gain insight into current mating and calving practices, and attitudes to dairy-beef breeding and rearing calves for beef. This number of respondents provided a margin of error of {\textpm}6\%. On average, per herd, 28\% of calves were kept as dairy replacements, 12\% were reared on-farm for beef, 15\% sold for beef rearing, 35\% sold to process as {\textquoteleft}bobby{\textquoteright} calves, 5\% euthanised and 4\% born dead or died. The largest barriers to producing more beef calves were uncertainty around their value, followed by calving difficulties with beef bulls. The main barrier to rearing more calves for beef was higher earnings for milk than for beef. However, 60\% of respondents agreed that the sector should aim to decrease the number of {\textquoteleft}bobby{\textquoteright} calves. This survey provides data for the development of cross-sector initiatives to increase dairy-beef integration and the utilisation of calves. These results provide a rich description of the current state of the sector and they suggest that at least 74\% of New Zealand beef production originates in the dairy industry.

Keywords: dairy calf; dairy-beef; bobby calf; calf rearing; mating},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Edwards JP and Cuthbert S and Pinxterhuis JB and McDermott A}
}
@article {3672,
	title = {A survey of fodder beet use and feeding practices on dairy farms in Canterbury, Otago and Southland},
	journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production},
	volume = {80},
	year = {2020},
	month = {09/2020},
	pages = {101-106},
	address = {Online},
	abstract = {High yields, consistent quality and emerging environmental benefits make fodder beet (FB) an important feed in South Island dairy
systems. However, these benefits may be negated by animal-health issues associated with some FB-feeding regimes. To quantify
the range and prevalence of feeding regimes, a telephone survey focussing on practices in 2018 was conducted in Canterbury,
Otago and Southland. Of the farmers surveyed, 69\% fed FB, 24\% had never fed FB and 8\% of farmers had stopped feeding FB.
The most frequently cited reasons for having stopped feeding FB were animal-health issues, cost and management challenges.
Most (82\%) respondents feeding FB determined allocation by yield and break area. Almost all farmers (98\%) transitioned cattle
on to FB, over an average of three weeks. Of those that fed FB to non-lactating cows in winter, the mean allocation was 10.3 kg
DM/cow/day (66\% of the diet), and 12\% fed FB ad libitum. A greater proportion of herds fed FB (41\% of herds) reported metabolic
issues (>5\% of the herd affected) compared with herds not fed FB (23\%). This survey is valuable to inform future research and
reinforces the need to continue investigating animal-health issues associated with FB-feeding, with an emphasis on metabolic issues.

Keywords: fodder beet; winter crop; animal health},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Edwards JP and Dalley DE and Pinxterhuis JB and Woods RR}
}
