Changes in nutritive characteristics associated with plant height, and nutrient selection by dairy cows grazing four perennial pasture grasses

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 1392 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. R. Cullen ◽  
D. Bullen ◽  
C. Hutcheson ◽  
J. L. Jacobs ◽  
M. H. Deighton
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Plant Height ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Energy Concentration ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Pasture Grasses ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Nutrient Selection ◽  
Selection Differentials

Previous research has documented nutritive characteristics of perennial ryegrass-based pastures and subsequent nutrient-selection differentials when dairy cows graze such pastures, but there has been little comparable research on alternative pasture grasses. The aim of the present study was to compare the pre-grazing nutritive characteristics of four perennial grasses, how nutrients vary with plant height, and selection differentials achieved by dairy cows grazing these grasses in late winter and late spring. The study utilised an established field experiment, with four replicates of monoculture swards of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) and prairie grass (Bromus willdenowii Kunth.), in western Gippsland, Victoria. Eighty individual tillers per replicate were sampled to ground level immediately pre- and post-grazing in late winter (July–August, vegetative tillers only) and late spring (November–December, vegetative and reproductive tillers sampled separately), dissected into three height categories (0–5 cm, 5–10 cm and 10+ cm) and analysed for nutritive characteristics. For vegetative tillers in both seasons, perennial ryegrass had the highest estimated metabolisable energy concentration and lowest neutral detergent fibre concentration of all species. In spring, reproductive tillers had consistently lower nutritive characteristics than did vegetative tillers. Selection differentials, calculated as the ratio of nutritive characteristics selected by the herd to that available pre-grazing, showed that cows selected herbage with higher crude protein concentration but there was little evidence for selection of higher metabolisable energy concentration. The selection differentials reflected the vertical distribution of nutrients in the tillers. The present results have provided new information to assist in developing grazing guidelines for alternative perennial grasses.

Nutrient selection by dairy cows grazing chicory or perennial ryegrass during spring

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 1646
Author(s):  
S. K. Muir ◽  
G. N. Ward ◽  
J. L. Jacobs
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Nutrient Intake ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Acid Detergent Fibre ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Nutrient Selection ◽  
Selection Differentials

Traditional measures of the nutrient concentration of herbage before grazing may not accurately depict the nutrient intake of grazing animals. An experiment was conducted to investigate differences in DM and nutrient intake, and milk production of lactating cows offered chicory- or perennial ryegrass-based diets during spring on a commercial dairy farm in south-west Victoria. This experiment was conducted in mid-lactation (spring), with chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and a mixed sward of chicory and perennial ryegrass offered at two daily allowances (nominally 20 and 30 kg DM/cow to ground level). Selection differentials for estimated metabolisable energy (MJ/kg DM), neutral detergent fibre (NDF; g/kg DM) and acid detergent fibre (g/kg DM) varied (P < 0.05) with forage type, while allowance affected selection for estimated metabolisable energy, crude protein, acid detergent fibre and NDF (P < 0.01). However, the differences in selection differentials observed between the chicory, mixed sward and perennial ryegrass under the same conditions indicated that preferential grazing for leaf rather than stem in chicory may affect nutrient selection in a way that differs from perennial grass species, resulting in much lower intakes of NDF than indicated by traditional measurements of feed characteristics.

Effects of season and time since defoliation on the nutritive characteristics of three irrigated perennial pasture species in northern Victoria 1. Energy, protein and fibre

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 555 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. Stockdale
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Energy Concentration ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fibre ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows

The study reported here compared the nutritive characteristics of the 3 most common irrigated perennial pasture species grown in northern Victoria as they regrew after defoliation at various times during the year. In addition, the relative influence of changes to the proportions of morphological components and the nutritive characteristics of the individual components on the quality of whole plants was examined. The nutritive characteristics of white clover (Trifolium repens cv. Haifa), ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. Ellet) and paspalum (Paspalum dilatatum) were examined at weekly intervals on 4 occasions during spring–autumn, 1993–94. On each occasion, pastures were defoliated with a drum mower and allowed to regrow for up to 9 weeks; defoliation dates were 24 September, 26 November, 28 January and 25 March. The variation in estimated metabolisable energy [obtained from in vitro dry matter (DM) digestibility], crude protein and detergent fibre concentrations within species was significantly (P<0.01) less than between clover and the grasses. White clover was consistently high in metabolisable energy (9.3–11.2 MJ/kg DM) and crude protein (17.7–27.7% DM), and low in neutral detergent fibre (27.8–39.8% DM) in all periods. At the other extreme, paspalum had a metabolisable energy content that peaked at 9.3 MJ/kg DM, and fell as low as 7.4 MJ/kg DM. Paspalum also had low protein (7.5–14.7% DM) and very high neutral detergent fibre (61.9–69.9% DM) concentrations. Ryegrass varied greatly in metabolisable energy concentration between the 4 periods, being high in autumn (average of 10.2 MJ/kg DM) and low in summer–autumn (average of 8.4 MJ/kg DM). Metabolisable energy apart, there were few differences in the crude protein and detergent fibre contents of ryegrass and paspalum. Perennial ryegrass is generally considered a superior feed to paspalum, but the data indicate this is not always the case under irrigation in northern Victoria. The nutritive characteristics of the plant fractions (leaf, stem, dead, inflorescence) were analysed separately to give an indication of the limits to selection by grazing cows. Differences in metabolisable energy between leaf and stem in both white clover and perennial ryegrass suggested that grazing dairy cows could consume a pasture diet which is likely to be slightly higher in energy than that in the herbage on offer. With paspalum, this is unlikely to be the case because differences in energy content between plant parts were small. However, with all species, cows should be able to consume herbage that is significantly higher in protein, and lower in detergent fibre, than that on offer because of differences in their concentrations in leaf and stem. The nutritive characteristics of morphological components of each species remained relatively constant throughout the study. Therefore, it would seem that it is the proportions of these fractions in the plant, together with severity of grazing, that will largely determine the degree of selection that can occur.

Nitrogen fertiliser use on rain-fed pasture in the Mt Lofty Ranges, SouthAustralia. 2. Responses of perennial grasses, Tama ryegrass, andsod-sown oats to nitrogen fertiliser and cutting frequency

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 579 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. Elliott ◽  
R. J. Abbott
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Nitrogen Fertiliser ◽  
Cutting Frequency ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Fertiliser Application ◽  
Autumn And Winter

Two series of experiments were conducted in the Mt Lofty Ranges, South Australia, to examine, in a grass–subterranean clover pasture, the contribution of the companion grass to herbage mass and the responsiveness to the application of nitrogen (N) fertiliser. The first study examined the responsiveness, to a single rate of N, of grass–clover pastures containing either Tama ryegrass, sod-sown oats or 1 of 4 perennial grasses, viz. Victorian perennial ryegrass, Demeter fescue, Currie cocksfoot or Australian phalaris. These were compared in 2 experiments, under 3��different cutting frequencies at 3 periods during the growing season. In the other study, consisting of 12�experiments, the response to increasing rate of N fertiliser application of sod-sown oats or the existing pasture were compared over a 3-month period following N fertiliser application in autumn.In autumn and winter, all pastures responded significantly to N fertiliser, whereas in spring, the proportion of clover in each pasture and its growth determined whether or not there was a response to N fertiliser. Clover composition of pastures declined with N application, but clover was not eliminated from swards by application of 210 kg N/ha a year. In both series of experiments, pastures that established well with a high density of sod-sown oats out-yielded all other pastures in autumn and winter, whether the swards were unfertilised or received regular N fertiliser applications. In late winter, pastures sod-sown with Tama ryegrass yielded as well as the pasture sod-sown with oats, and enhanced spring growth significantly compared with perennial ryegrass. However, spring production of Tama ryegrass was poorer than that of perennial ryegrass, and overall no increase in annual production occurred. Of the perennial grasses, the highest yielding when N fertiliser was applied were Currie cocksfoot and perennial ryegrass (yielding in autumn), phalaris (winter), and perennial ryegrass and Demeter fescue (spring). Increased cutting frequency depressed the herbage mass response to N fertiliser following the initial application, but increased herbage N concentration of all pastures and also increased the final clover composition of N-fertilised pasture of 4�pasture types.

scholarly journals Prior Forage Type Influences Ruminal Responses to a Wheat Grain Challenge in Lactating Dairy Cows

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3188
Author(s):  
Victoria M. Russo ◽  
Brian J. Leury ◽  
Emer Kennedy ◽  
Murray C. Hannah ◽  
Martin J. Auldist ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Adaptation Period ◽  
Wheat Grain ◽  
Ruminal Fluid ◽  
Ruminal Acidosis ◽  
Metabolisable Energy

To increase the dry matter and metabolisable energy intake of cows, dairy farmers often supplement pasture with concentrates and conserved fodder. Feeding large amounts of highly fermentable concentrates to cows can result in metabolic issues, such as ruminal acidosis, and thus safer but more efficient introduction strategies are desirable. We assessed the role that forages play in ruminal, behavioural and production responses to a wheat grain challenge in dairy cows with no previous wheat adaptation. Multiparous lactating Holstein dairy cows (n = 16) were fed a forage-only diet of either lucerne (Medicago sativa) hay, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) hay or one of two cultivars of zero-grazing fresh perennial ryegrass herbage (Bealey or Base), for 3 weeks. The forage diet was then supplemented with crushed wheat grain at 8 kg dry matter/cow day−1, with no adaptation period. Wheat comprised between 32 and 43% of total dry matter intake. Cows fed hay maintained a higher mean ruminal fluid pH than those fed herbage, on both the forage-only diet (6.43 vs. 6.17) and the forage plus wheat diet (6.03 vs. 5.58). Following supplementation of wheat, cows fed herbage exhibited minimum ruminal fluid pH levels indicative of acute ruminal acidosis, at 5.15 and 5.06 for cultivars Bealey and Base, respectively. Furthermore, for both herbage cultivars, adding wheat resulted in a ruminal fluid pH under 6 for >20 h/day. The ruminal environment of cows fed lucerne hay remained most stable throughout the grain challenge, spending the least amount of time below pH 6.0 (9.0 h/day). Hay created a ruminal environment that was better able to cope with the accumulation of acid as wheat was digested. A combination of increased ruminating time and a slower rate of fermentation, due to higher neutral detergent fiber and lower metabolisable energy concentrations in the hays, is likely responsible for the higher ruminal fluid pH values. Forage plays a critical role in wheat introduction strategies; aggressive adaptation strategies could be implemented when a hay such as lucerne is used as the base forage.

The nutritive characteristics of herbage consumed by grazing dairy cows affect milk yield responses obtained from concentrate supplementation

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 379 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. Stockdale
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Energy Concentration ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Concentrate Supplementation ◽  
Early Autumn ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Marginal Returns

The results of 7 experiments, conducted during 1994–95 (year 1) and 1995–96 (year 2) at the Kyabram Dairy Centre in northern Victoria, were collated to test the hypothesis that nutritive characteristics of the herbage consumed by dairy cows will affect responses to concentrates. In 6 experiments, lactating Friesian cows grazing irrigated perennial pastures were either unsupplemented or were offered 5 kg DM/cow.day of a high energy concentrate (pellets comprised of 75% barley and 25% wheat); in the other experiment, cows received 0 and 3 kg DM/cow.day. Four experiments, each of 5 weeks duration, were completed during year 1, and 3 experiments of 4 weeks duration were conducted during year 2. The mean metabolisable energy concentration of the herbage consumed in each experiment varied with season, being highest in spring (10.1–11.3 MJ/kg DM), and lowest from summer to early autumn (8.3–9.0 MJ/kg DM). It is suggested that milk responses attributed to feeding high energy supplements were influenced by characteristics of the herbage eaten in conjunction with the supplement. The highest marginal responses to concentrate supplementation occurred in summer and early autumn when pastures, which were dominated by paspalum and other poor quality species, were low in energy. Responses at that time (≥1.0 kg milk per kg DM of concentrates) were greater than in spring (≤0.6 kg milk/kg DM). A significant negative relationship existed between marginal returns of fat-corrected milk and metabolisable energy concentration of the herbage consumed (100R2 = 80.6) and several published data sets provided support for this result. Possible reasons for this outcome, including variations in substitution between experiments, confounding with stage of lactation, variable partitioning of nutrients and imbalances in dietary crude protein and neutral detergent fibre, were examined. Of these explanations, fibre insufficiency in spring appeared the most probable. The possibility that the lower marginal returns in spring are associated with fibre insufficiency requires further investigation.

scholarly journals Methane emissions by dairy cows fed increasing proportions of white clover (Trifolium repens) in pasture

2004 ◽  
pp. 151-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. Lee ◽  
S.L. Woodward ◽  
G.C. Waghorn ◽  
D.A. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Trifolium Repens ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Ch4 Production ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Cow Performance

Methane (CH4) production from ruminant digestion has a significant impact on the New Zealand greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and represents a loss of about 10% of metabolisable energy (ME) intake. Previous trials with sheep and cattle have demonstrated significantly lower methane losses per unit feed intake from legumes compared to grass dominant pasture. Most trials have compared forages fed as sole diets but white clover (Trifolium repens) is usually fed with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) as a mixed pasture, as it complements ryegrass for animal production. An indoor feeding trial was conducted in December 2003 with thirty-two Holstein-Friesian dairy cows in mid-lactation to determine effects of increasing proportions of white clover on methane emissions and cow performance. Cows were housed indoors and fed perennial ryegrass with 0, 15, 30 or 60% white clover ad libitum on a dry matter (DM) basis. Increasing proportions of white clover resulted in linear increases in dry matter intakes (DMI) and reductions in methane per kg DM eaten, although the extent to which CH4 production/kg DMI was lowered was less than anticipated from previous measurements from sheep fed white clover as a sole diet. DMI of cows fed 60% white clover was 20.5 vs. 15.6 kg DM/cow/day for 100% perennial ryegrass (P

Long-term effects of multiple applications of nitrogen fertiliser on grazed dryland perennial ryegrass/white clover dairy pastures in south-west Victoria. 3. Botanical composition, nutritive characteristics, mineral content, and nutrient selection

2003 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 477 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. McKenzie ◽  
J. L. Jacobs ◽  
G. Kearney
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Mineral Content ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
N Application ◽  
Nitrogen Fertiliser ◽  
South West ◽  
Annual Range ◽  
Nutrient Selection

A grazing experiment was undertaken on a commercial dairy farm in south-west Victoria over a 3-year period to study the effects of multiple applications of different rates of nitrogen (N) fertiliser over autumn and winter on dairy pasture species composition, nutrient characteristics, mineral content, and nutrient selection. Four treatments, replicated 3 times in a randomised block design, comprised: zero N (A); 3 applications of 25 kg N/ha (B); 3 applications of 50 kg N/ha (C); and 3 applications of 75 kg N/ha (D).Increasing rates of N fertiliser generally elevated whole sward metabolisable energy (ME) content. The effect of N fertiliser on whole sward ME content was evident through to the end of sampling each year (2–3 months after the last N application). Increasing rates of N fertiliser consistently elevated whole sward crude protein (CP) content. The effect of N fertiliser on whole sward CP content was evident through to the end of sampling each year (2–3 months after the last N application). For each year there was a slight decrease in CP, with Treatments C and D decreasing at a greater rate than treatments A and B. Increasing rates of N fertiliser generally depressed whole sward neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content. The effect of N fertiliser on whole sward NDF content was evident through to the end of sampling each year (2–3 months after the last N application). For each year there was a slight increase in NDF, with Treatments C and D having a lower increase in NDF over time than Treatment A. Nitrogen fertiliser had no effect on whole sward water soluble carbohydrate content.There was no consistent effect of N fertiliser on whole sward pasture mineral content during the growth season (June–December), with mean annual levels of P, K, S, Na, Ca, and Mg satisfying the nutritional requirements of high producing dairy cows and the growth requirements of both perennial ryegrass and white clover.Although N fertiliser had no influence on the concentration of nutrients consumed by grazing dairy cows, the mean annual range in selection differentials for the 3 years for ME (1.06–1.11) and CP (1.18–1.32) concentrations consumed was higher and the NDF (0.85–0.91) lower than those of the pasture.Each year there was an increase in perennial ryegrass, with Treatments B and C having a higher overall ryegrass presence compared with Treatment A. Nitrogen fertiliser had no effect on white clover, other grasses, weeds, or dead fractions.

The relationship between metabolisable energy concentration and nutrient digestibility in grass silages offered to sheep at maintenance

2002 ◽  
Vol 2002 ◽  
pp. 51-51
Author(s):  
R. E. Agnew ◽  
T. Yan
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Nutrient Digestibility ◽  
Energy Concentration ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Feeding Systems

The energy feeding systems used for dairy cows recommend that the metabolisable energy (ME) concentration of a feed at maintenance feeding level is calculated from its digestible nutrients. The objective of the present study was to develop equations to calculate the ME concentration from digestibility data for grass silages

Supplementation of grazing dairy cows with a brewers grains/treated straw mixture

1990 ◽  
Vol 1990 ◽  
pp. 46-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.D. Leaver ◽  
R.C. Campling
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows ◽  
Similar Cost ◽  
Friesian Cows

Supplementary feeding of grazing dairy cows is often uneconomic, and whilst supplementation with silage (buffer feeding) can be worthwhile, this often leads to a depletion of winter forage stores. In this study, a mixture of brewers grains and treated straw was used as a supplement. Offered as a 1:1 mixture in the dry matter (DM), it is a purchased substitute for grass silage, having a similar cost, and similar metabolisable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) contents. The high seasonality adjustments to milk price in mid-late season make supplementation potentially worthwhile.Experiments were carried out from April to September in 1988 and 1989, which had moderate and very low rainfall respectively. Each year 20 British Friesian cows which calved December to March (1988 experiment) and February-April (1989) were allocated at random to either treatment B or C. In B, the cows were offered a 1:1 mixture (DM basis) of brewers grains and NaOH treated chopped barley straw for 60 minutes after morning milking. In C, the cows received no supplement. Both groups were fed 1.0 kg/day of concentrates in the milking parlour. Due to the severe drought in 1989, concentrate feeding was increased to 5.0 kg/day for all cows during the last 4 weeks of the experiment. Also, urea-treated whole crop wheat was fed at a level of 2.5 kg DM/day during the last 7 days.

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