Feed Straw

For three years I've been explaining to people that the research I'm doing is to prevent negative energy balance in dairy cows after calving. In July I got to present my research at the American Dairy Science Association meetings in Montreal. The graph above is from my presentation. Notice the green line. That represents the cows fed the straw diet. They were fed to meet, but not greatly exceed their energy requirement before they had their calf. After calving all cows were fed the same diet. Notice the green line again, the straw fed cows returned to positive energy balance quicker than the other cows did, and because they were not overfed during the dry period (60 days when cows are not milked before they have a calf), they did not use body fat to do it, thus preventing accumulation of fat in the liver as shown in one of my other graphs. Fat accumulation can lead to ketosis, metritis, retained placentas, displaced abomasums, not fun stuff.
By the way, the red line represents cows fed a diet higher in energy with more corn and corn silage. It is difficult to control how much energy a cow consumes during the dry period, because if you just feed less, one "Boss" cow will eat as much as she wants, and the more timid cows will go hungry. That is why we fed straw, they can eat all they want, and still not get too much energy. The blue line are cows fed the straw diet for 40 days, then the higher energy diet for 20 days. This represents the typical feeding strategy of many dairy farmers, backed up by little research. Our conclusion was that this 2-stage system provided little advantage over feeding the straw diet through the entire dry period.
This is a picture of me in front of Palais de Congres where I presented my research. Dr. Drackley, my major adviser was pleased with the presentation. Dr. Grant from Miner Dairy Research Institute where I did my internship six years ago made it a point to tell me I did a good job. Dr. Grummer, department head at Wisconsin listened to my presentation and walked out talking to Dr. Drackley when it was over. Last month in Dubuque he called for more research like what I presented this month in Montreal. Most importantly, Brittney said I did a good job too.