Factors Affecting the Dry Period Length and Its Effect on Milk Production and Composition in Subsequent Lactation of Holstein Cows

The study aimed to determine factors affecting the dry period length and effect of dry days on milk yield, milk composition and lactation length in the next lactation of dairy cows. Data used for analysis included 7264 lactation records collected from 2012 to 2016 on 4737 Holstein cows raised in 152 herds. The statistical model used to determine the factors influencing the dry period length showed that multiparous cows had a dry period 3.7 days longer than primiparous cows, and cows that calved from October to February had a dry period 2.5 days shorter than that of cows calved from March to September. The mixed model used to evaluate the influence of dry period on milk yield, milk composition and lactation length showed that the dry period influenced significantly milk yield and composition in the next 305 d lactation, but not the lactation length (P>0.05). Milk, fat and protein yields in the subsequent lactation were maximized with a 41 to 60-d dry period, whereas dry periods less than 20 d result in very pronounced losses in subsequent lactation yield. Fat and protein percentages were highest with the dry period classes greater than 80-d and less or equal than 20 d, respectively. The interaction between parity and dry length period was not significant (P>0.05) for any studied trait, indicating that dry days effects on milk yield and composition were consistent across lactations. It was concluded that dry period of 40 to 80 dry days does provide maximal performance in Holstein cows.