The Enhanced Milk Yield Effect of Early Lactation Increased Milking Frequency and Bovine Somatotropin Is Additive and Not Synergistic

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Temporarily increasing milking frequency, the number of milkings per day, from twice daily to four times daily for three weeks postpartum, enhances milk yield throughout lactation. Another management practice to increase milk production is the administration of bovine somatotropin, a naturally occurring growth hormone in cattle. In this study, cows underwent increased milking frequency in early lactation and received bovine somatotropin at mid-lactation to determine if the milk yield stimulating effects would act synergistically. In combination, these methods enhanced milk yield additively but not synergistically. ABSTRACT: Dairy farm profitability depends on milk yield, so the dairy industry manages cows to improve their productivity. Both bovine somatotropin (bST) and early lactation increased milking frequency (IMF) and milk yield (MY) in dairy cows. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of mid-lactation bST administration on milk production in established lactation when combined with the milk yield carry-over effect from early lactation IMF. Thirteen multiparous Holstein cows were milked unilaterally for 20 days in early lactation. The left udder halves were milked twice daily (2X) and the right udder halves were milked four times daily (4X). Udder halves milked 4X produced 8.60 ± 1.40 kg more than 2X on the final day of IMF treatment. Cows were then returned to 2X milking for the remainder of lactation and sampled on alternate days from 74–94 days in milk (DIM). Bovine somatotropin was administered to all cows at 80 DIM. The 4X halves continued to make 2.66 ± 0.12 kg/d more milk than 2X through 94 DIM. Fat, protein, and lactose yields were significantly greater in the 4X halves compared to the 2X from 74–94 DIM. Overall milk yield increased by 2.71 kg/d with bST administration. However, there was no significant interaction between MF and bST administration. We can infer from these data that the mechanisms by which bST and IMF in early lactation increase milk yield are complementary due to their non-synergistic nature of enhancing MY.