• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.365-380
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• 2019

Total of 20 Holstein calves of 10 calves (3.90±0.26 month of age) born in spring (S) and 10 calves (4.10±0.30 month of age) born in fall (F) were reared in this study for 24 months and diets were divided into separate feeding of forage and concentrates (C) and TMR (T). Therefore, 4 treatments in this study were composed of CS, CF, TS and TF with the factors of diets and calving season. After parturition of heifers, all animals were fed the same diet and milk production was recorded monthly. DM intakes in growing period were influenced by calving season, and those of the animals calved in fall were higher than in those calved in spring (P<0.01), but there were no significant differences by feeding method. CP intakes and TDN intakes were significantly influenced by calving season (P<0.05) and feeding method (P<0.001), and the animals calved in fall were about 1.2% higher than those calved in spring, and the animals fed TMR were about 4.7% higher than those fed concentrates and forage separately. Average, 9th and 10th months' milk yields were significantly influenced by feeding method in which those in the treatments fed TMR (TS, TF) were higher than in separate feeding of concentrates and forage (CS, CF; average P<0.05; 9th and 10th months P<0.01). Average milk persistency was also significantly influenced by calving season (P<0.05) and feeding method (P<0.01) and those in the animals calved in fall were higher than in spring and those of the TMR fed animals were also higher than in separate feeding of concentrates and forage. Milk persistency was similar to the results of milk yield, showing statistically significant differences affected by the feeding method at 9th and 10th months of late lactation (P<0.01), and it was about 8% higher in the animals fed TMR, showing higher tendency at 7th (P=0.12) and 8th months of late lactation (P=0.09). Therefore, it is expected that postpartum milk yield and milk persistency would be higher when the hiefers are fed TMR in growing period and calved in fall. Average milk fat content was influenced by feeding method. Milk fat content of the animals fed TMR during growing period were 7.8% higher than those fed concentrates and forage separately (P<0.01). This suggests that feeding TMR during growing period influenced first postpartum eating behavior, which stabilized the rumen and resulted in the increased milk fat. At 3rd month after calving, milk fat content was lower in the animals calved in spring than in those calved in fall, suggesting that it might have been influenced by the seasonal differences. MUN showed significant differences by feeding method in which those in separate feeding of concentrates and forages were higher especially in average, 4th, 5th and 6th months (average and 4th P<0.01; 5th and 6th months P<0.05). SCC was higher in the animals fed TMR than in those fed concentrates and forage separately especially in average, 3rd and 4th months after calving (P<0.01). In conclusion, when feeding TMR during growing period and calving in fall, it was not influenced by the high temperature in summer, and it resulted in the improved milk yield, milk persistency and milk fat content.