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EFFECT OF WALKING EXTRA DISTANCES 

ON THE PERFORMANCE OF GRAZING DAIRY COWS 

IN EARLY LACTATION 

A thesis presented in partial fulfilment 

of the requirements for the degree of 

Master of Agricultural Science 

Department of Animal Science, Massey University 

Palmerston North, New Zealand 

SUMATE PRATUMSUWAN 

1994 



ii 

ABSTRACT 

Two groups, each of 1 3  Friesian cows in early lactation, were fed and managed 

identically throughout the experimental period of 4 weeks ( 1 3th September- lOth October, 

1 993), except that the control group (CT) walked directly from the paddock to the 

milking shed and back to the paddock (average 1 .5 km per day), whereas the walk group 

(WK.) walked approximately 6 km more per day than the control group (total 7.5 km per 

day). During walking, all cows were moved at the average walking speed of 55 m/min. 

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of walking extra distances on the 

performance of grazing dairy cows in early lactation. 

A common daily herbage allowance (30-40 kgDM/cow/day) was given to both 

groups grazed in the same paddock, on equal areas separated by an electric fence. Milk 

production and composition, somatic cell counts, liveweight and condition score, 

reproductive performance and grazing behaviour were measured and analysed. 

Herbage intake was estimated directly using a rising plate pasture meter and 

indirectly using chromic oxide technique (slow release chromium capsules; CAPTEC 

NZ.,  Ltd). The average dry matter intakes, as assessed by the pasture meter, were similar 

for the er and the WK group being 1 6. 1  and 1 6.5 kgDM/cow/day, respectively. 

Average daily yields of milk and milk solids for both groups were 25 litres/cow 

and 1 .9 kg/cow, respectively. There were no significant differences in milk yields, milk 

composition, somatic cell counts (SCC), or changes in liveweight and condition score 



iii 

between the two groups. However, the WK. group did produce slightly less milk solids 

(by 2 to 3%), and had slightly higher SCC than the er group. No adverse effects on 

reproductive performance of cows in the WK group were observed. 

Although the WK group spent less time on the pasture by about 1 .5 hour per 

day, there was no significant difference in time spent grazing (GT) between both groups. 

Nevertheless, the WK. group spent significantly less time standing (P<O.OOl )  per day 

than the er group, mainly because of less time spent standing/ruminating. 

The results show that high producing dairy cows in early lactation can walk 

horizontally (only a small hill was involved), at a comfortable walking speed, up to 7.5 

km per day with no significant effects on milk production provided that pasture 

allowance is not restricted. 



iv 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

I am most grateful to my supervisor, Associate Professor C.W. Holmes, for his 

kindness, understanding, encouragement and helpful advice throughout the studies. 

I also wish to express my sincere thanks to the following people: 

The staff of the Dairy Cattle Research Unit- Martyn and Bruce Chesterfield, Jef 

Purchas and the Dutch students- Amo, Wilbert and Joost for their excellent assistance 

while carrying out the experiment. 

Miss Margaret Scott and Miss Rosemary Watson and the staff of Physiology and 

Nutrition Laboratory for their help with the analyses of milk, herbage and faecal 

samples. 

Dr. P.C.H. Morel and Dr. W. Suksombat for their helpful assistance regarding 

the statistical methods and use of the computing package SAS in analyses of the 

experimental data. 

Professor S.N. McCutcheon and all the staff in the Department of Animal 

Science for kindly providing both academic advice and a friendly atmosphere during my 

studies. 

My special thanks to Professor B.R. Watkin for strongly and sincerely 

encouraging the staff of the Dairy Farming Promotion Organisation of Thailand, 

including myself, to study in New Zealand. 

My gratitude to the New Zealand Government for providing the scholarship 

which made it possible for me to study at Massey University. 

Fiqally, to my parents, my wife and my children for their unselfish love and 

understanding. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 

TITLE PAGE 

ABSTRACT 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

LIST OF TABLES 

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 

CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE 

2. 1 THE ENERGY COST OF WALKING 

2.2 EFFECT OF EXERCISE ON VOLUNTARY FEED INTAKE 

2.3 EFFECT OF EXERCISE ON RUMEN FERMENTATION AND DIGESTION 

2.4 EFFECT OF EXERCISE ON BODY TEMPERATURE 

2.5 EFFECT OF EXERCISE ON NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS 

2.5. 1 Metabolism of Active Muscle 

2.5.2 Fat and Carbohydrate 

2.5.3 Protein 

2.5.4 Minerals and Vitamins 

2.6 EFFECT OF EXERCISE ON BODY WEIGHT 

2.7 EFFECT OF EXERCISE ON LACTATIONAL PERFORMANCE 

2.8 EFFECT OF EXERCISE ON REPRODUCTION 

2.9 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY 

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CHAPTER 3 MATERIALS AND METHODS 21 

3 . 1 CLIMATIC ENVIRONMENT 21 

3.2 ANIMALS AND TREATMENTS 22 

3.2. 1 Pre-experimental Period 22 

3.2.2 Experimental Period 22 

3 .3  MEASUREMENTS 25 

3.3. 1 Pasture Measurements 25 

3.2.2 Animal Measurements 2D 

3.2.2. 1 Voluntary Intake 2D 

3 .2.2.2 Milk Production and Somatic Cell Counts Tl 

3.2.2.3 Liveweight and Body Condition Score Tl 

3 .2.2.4 Grazing Behaviour Tl 

3.4 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS 2;> 

CHAPTER 4 RESULTS 32 

4. 1 CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE HERBAGE 32 

4.2 HERBAGE INTAKE 33 

4.3 ANIMAL PERFORMANCE 34 

4.3. 1 Yields of Milk, Milk fat, Milk Protein and Lactose 35 

4.3.2 Milk Composition 37 

4.3 .3  Somatic Cell Counts 38 

4.3.4 Liveweight and Body Condition Score '5.) 



4.3 . 5  Reproductive Performance 

4.4 GRAZING BEHAVIOUR 

CHAPTER 5 DISCUSSION 

5. 1 EFFECT OF WALKING ON HERBAGE INTAKE 

5. 1 . 1  Herbage Mass and Herbage Allowance 

5. 1 .2 Herbage Intake 

5.2 EFFECT OF WALKING ON ANIMAL PERFORMANCE 

5.2 . 1  Milk Production and Composition 

5.2.2 Liveweight and Body Condition Score 

5.2.3 Calculation for Energy Balance 

5.2.4 Reproductive Performance 

5.3 EFFECT OF WALKING ON SOMA TIC CELL COUNTS 

5.4 GRAZING BEHAVIOUR 

5. 5 ANIMAL HEALTH 

CHAPTER 6 CONCLUSION 

BffiLIOGRAPHY 

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LIST OF TABLES 

Table 2. 1 Published values for energy expenditure for walking in cattle 

Table 3 . 1  Climatological data during the experimental period 

Table 3.2 Data for the cows at the start of the experiment 

Table 4.1  Data for chemical analyses of the herbage 

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3 

21 

23 

32 

Table 4.2 Mean values for herbage measurements, allowance and apparent intake 

(measured by the pasture meter) 33 

Table 4.3 Mean values for daily yields of milk, milk fat, milk protein and lactose 36 

Table 4.4 Mean values for the concentration of milk fat, milk protein and lactose 37 

Table 4.5 Mean values for somatic cell counts 38 

Table 4.6 Mean values for the final liveweight, final condition score, liveweight change 

and condition score change '5:) 

Table 4.7 Data for some characteristics of reproductive performance 4) 

Table 4.8 Mean values for time spent in various activities of grazing behaviour 41 

Table 5. 1 Calculated energy balance for the two treatment groups 54