Data was analyzed by ANOVA using the MIXED procedure
in SAS (Statistical Analysis System version 9.2 SAS Institute
Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Data was evaluated as repeated measurements using a model including the fixed effects of treatment,
week (relative to calving), the interaction between treatment
and week, the random effect of cow within week and the
auto regressive 1 covariance structure. Data are presented as
least squares mean (L SM)7 residual standard error of means
(SEM). Significance was declared at P r 0.05. Pre-planned pairwise comparison of differences of LSM was considered if the
over-all F-test of treatment effects revealed P r 0.05.