Administration of recombinant bovine somatotropin to dairy cows for four consecutive lactations

Effects of long-term administration of recombinant bovine somatotropin (bST) to dairy cows on complete lactational performance [60 (+/- 3) to 284 (+/- 3) d in milk (DIM)] were studied for four consecutive lactations. Beginning on d 60 (+/- 3) postpartum, Holstein cows received biweekly injections (500 mg) of bST (n = 39) or a placebo (control; n = 39) during the first lactation of the study. Cows either continued on the same treatment (n = 26) or were switched to the opposite treatment (n = 29) during the second lactation. Cows that changed treatments were injected for only 16 wk during the second lactation. Six cows per treatment completed four consecutive lactations. Treatment with bST during the first lactation did not have a residual effect on milk yields during the second lactation. Injections of bST during the second lactation increased milk yield 6.5 kg/d from 60 (+/- 3) to 172 DIM. For the four lactations, cows receiving bST yielded 3.7 kg/d (14%) more milk and gained 52 kg (37%) more body weight than did controls. Pretreatment (from 0 to 56 DIM) milk yields in yr 2, 3, and 4 were not affected by previous bST treatment. Milk yield, efficiency of feed utilization, and body weights were enhanced in cows injected with bST for four consecutive lactations. Previous bST treatment did not diminish milk yields in subsequent lactations.