Effect of feed quality and stage of lactation on the concentration of glucose in the blood of lactating cattle

Abstract

Three groups of dairy cows were fed on: (i) immature forage oats, together with hay and dairy meal (ration A), or (ii) moderately mature forage oats alone (ration B), or (iii) relatively mature forage oats supplemented with dairy meal (ration C), from 2 weeks before until 10 weeks after parturition. The mean concentration of glucose in the blood of the cows fed on ration A did not fall significantly after parturition, but did fall significantly after parturition in the blood of cows on rations B and C. There appeared to be an interaction between feed quality and the stage of lactation in their effects on blood glucose concentration.