Table 1 Classification of cattle based on the growth, production stages, and their residential management units of the dairy herd where samples were collected
From: Dynamic changes in fecal bacterial microbiota of dairy cattle across the production line
Management Unit | No. of Samples | Unit ID | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Hutch calves | 9 | 1 | From birth to approximately 1–2 weeks after weaning, individually housed (1 to 70 days age approximately) |
Post weaned heifers | 6 | 2 | Group-housed heifers and bull calves (if not sold) fed solid diet |
Breeding heifers | 8 | 3 | Approximately 13 to 15 months old |
Springer | 8 | 4 | Within 1 to 4 weeks from calving, pregnant nulliparous heifers |
Fresh uniparous cows | 8 | 5 | 1 to 2 months post-calving, first lactation cows |
Mid-lactation uniparous cows | 8 | 6 | 60 to 250 Days in Milk, first lactation |
Fresh multiparous cows | 8 | 7 | 1 to 2 months post-calving, second lactation or greater |
Mid-lactation multiparous cows | 8 | 8 | 60 to 250 Days in Milk, second lactation or greater |
Pregnant late lactation cows | 8 | 9 | > 250 Days in Milk |
Far-off dry cows | 3 | 10 | 21 to 60 days prior to calving, multiparous dry cows |
Close up dry cows | 8 | 11 | within 21 days prior to calving, multiparous dry cows |
Hospital pen/ Fresh (post-calving) | 8 | 12 | Lactating cows treated with medication that requires milk withdrawal. May include fresh cows (post-calving) during their transition from producing colostrum to milk and/or pending milk withdrawal after treatment at drying (prior to entering Far-off dry pen). |