Grazing management to increase utilisation of phalaris-based pasture in dryland dairy systems

2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Watson ◽  
A. Avery ◽  
G. J. Mitchell ◽  
S. R. Chinner

Phalaris (Phalaris aquatica cv. Sirosa)-based pastures at Sandy Creek (north-eastern Victoria) and Flaxley (South Australia) were subjected to grazing strategies based on different pre- and post-grazing pasture dry matter levels for 3 years, 1994–96. At Sandy Creek, 3 treatments consisted of commencing grazing when either 1600 (1), 2200 (2) or 2800 (3) kg dry matter per hectare (DM/ha) of pasture had accumulated, with treatments being grazed to a pasture residual of 1200 kg DM/ha. Grazing strategies were imposed over autumn–winter. At Flaxley, there were 5 treatments. Grazing commenced when either 1800 (1) or 2200 (2) kg DM/ha of pasture had accumulated, and was grazed to a pasture residual of 1200 kg DM/ha. Also when either 2200 (3) or 2600 (4) kg DM/ha of pasture had accumulated and these treatments were grazed to a pasture residual of 1800 kg DM/ha. A further treatment was when phalaris had reached a 4-leaf stage (5) (4 fully expanded leaves per tiller) and this was grazed to a residual of 1200 kg DM/ha. The grazing strategies were imposed over the autumn, winter and spring. Pasture consumption at Sandy Creek was higher in treatments 2 and 3. Pasture metabolisable energy (ME) levels and crude protein contents were not affected by treatment. Pasture consumption at Flaxley was greater in treatments 2 and 4. The strategy of grazing at the phalaris 4-leaf stage (5) showed potential for large spring growth. The ME of pasture was unaffected by treatments. The optimal grazing strategy to increase pasture growth for phalaris cv. Sirosa-based pastures in winter-dominant rainfall zones of temperate Australia, receiving about 700 mm average annual rainfall appears to be: allowing 2200 or 2600 kg DM/ha of pasture to accumulate before grazing back to a pasture residual of 1200 or 1800 kg DM/ha, respectively.

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (12) ◽  
pp. 1081 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Lawson ◽  
K. B. Kelly ◽  
M. E. Rogers

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea (Schreb) Darbysh.) has the potential to become a useful component of irrigated dairy pastures in northern Victoria owing to its high dry matter (DM) production compared with perennial ryegrass. However, tall fescue is not widely grown because its grazing management is perceived as difficult. In October 2010, a tall fescue–white clover pasture was established and irrigated. In September 2011, six grazing-management treatments were imposed over 3 years, involving grazing: at 1-leaf stage; at 2-leaf stage (1.5-leaf stage during spring); at 3-leaf stage (2.5-leaf stage during spring); at intervals based upon days between grazings ranging from 15 days in October–December to 60 days in winter; at intervals as above except for 21 days in October–December; and at intervals approximating that of a well-managed perennial-ryegrass-based pasture . Measurements included pre- and post-grazing pasture mass, nutritive characteristics, botanical composition and plant frequency. Pasture consumption from the treatment grazed at the 3-leaf stage was >3.5 t DM ha–1 year–1 (30%) greater than from the three most frequently grazed treatments. However, crude protein content was 1–3% DM units lower when grazed at the 3-leaf stage compared with the two most frequently grazed treatments. There was no effect on estimated metabolisable energy or neutral detergent fibre contents of the pasture on offer. Differences in pasture composition between the pastures grazed at the 3-leaf stage and those most frequently grazed emerged over time and were most conspicuous in the third year, with a greater plant frequency (79% v. 66%) and tall fescue content (61% v. 40% DM) and lower weed content (14% v. 28% DM). From the study, a grazing regime for tall fescue based on the 3-leaf stage appears promising because it produced the most DM over the experiment. A disadvantage of this regime was the need for an extra mowing each year. The practicality of this approach to grazing tall fescue needs to be tested at the whole-farm level.


2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Boschini ◽  
Herbert Dormond-H ◽  
Álvaro Castro-H

This experiment was carried out at the Alfredo Volio Mata Dairy Cattle Experimental Station in Costa Rica, at an altitude of 1542 masl, where there is an average annual rainfall of 2050 mm, temperature of 19.5 C and relative humidity of 84%. A mulberry bush plantation was divided into three plots: with a distance of 60, 90 and 120 cm between rows and plants. Each plot was uniformly pruned at two heights: 30 and 60 cm from the ground. During a 336-day period, these subplots were pruned consecutively every 56th, 84th and 112th day. The planting distance and the pruning height produced small variations in the chemical composition of the mulberry leaves and stems. The cutting frequency produced changes in the composition of the leaves and stems. Nevertheless, the differences in dry matter, crude protein, structural carbohydrates and total ashes in the leaves were not higher then 3% in experimental frequencies. In the stems the greatest changes were 9% and they were produced in the content of the dry matter, cellular wall and in some of the structural chemical components, such as cellulose. The cutting number within each frequency significantly influenced the chemical composition of the  leaves and the stems.


Author(s):  
J.D. Leaver ◽  
R.C. Campling

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.


2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 325 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. PERTTILÄ ◽  
J. VALAJA ◽  
T. JALAVA

Using ileal digestible amino acids in feed optimising will intensify feed protein utilizing and decrease nitrogen excretion to the environment. The study determined the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) coefficients of amino acids in barley, wheat, oats, triticale, maize, and dehulled oats in the diets of 180 Ross broiler chickens (aged 24–35 days). The birds were fed semi-purified diets that contained grain as the sole protein source and chromium-mordanted straw as an indigestible marker. The AID coefficients of the nutrients were assessed using the slaughter technique, and the apparent metabolisable energy (AME) was determined using total excreta collection. The ileal digestibility of the dry matter and organic matter were the highest in maize. The AME of maize was higher than that of other cereals. The ileal digestibility of crude protein was higher in wheat than that in barley, oats and dehulled oats. The AME of wheat was similar to that of barley and oats but lower than that of triticale and dehulled oats. The amino acid AID was highest in wheat (0.86) and triticale (0.85) and lowest in oats (0.79) and barley 0.77). The average amino acid AID was 0.81 in dehulled oats. The threonine AID was the same in all tested ingredients. The lysine, methionine, and cystine AID coefficients were 0.81, 0.79, and 0.71 respectively for barley; 0.86, 0.84, and 0.38 respectively for oats; 0.87, 0.86, and 0.53 respectively for dehulled oats; 0.84, 0.90, and 0.66 respectively for maize; 0.89, 0.88, and 0.77 respectively for triticale; and 0.87, 0.85, and 0.71 respectively for wheat. Results indicated that AME –values of domestic grains (barley, oats and wheat) are in the same level. Especially, low AME value of wheat needs further investigation.;


1977 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Hadjichristodoulou

SUMMARYThere were significant differences in dry matter yield among five forage oat varieties tested at ten environments during 1970–75. The correlation coefficients between annual rainfall and DM yield varied with variety from 0·69 to 0·88, late varieties tending to give higher yields. Lateness, and high varietal response to annual rainfall and improved environmental conditions, can be used as selection criteria in semi-arid regions. Late varieties had higher DM and lower crude protein contents, and forage produced under lower rainfall conditions tended to have more DM and crude protein.


1975 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 815 ◽  
Author(s):  
JR Dodson

A drill core from Lake Leake contains a sedimentary sequence extending from about 50,000 B.P. until the present. This paper discusses the results of the pollen analyses and six radiocarbon dates which span the period from about 50,000 until about 10,000 B.P. There are core sections which yielded low numbers of pollen and thus there are gaps in the vegetation record. It is suggested that open eucalypt woodland was replaced by eucalypt woodland with heath at about 50,000 B.P. and remained until about 39,000 B.P. Open woodland then returned but was replaced by eucalypt woodland with heath by 38,000 B.P. Some time after 35,000 B.P., open eucalypt woodland conditions returned and persisted until near 10,000 B.P. when Casuarina stricta migrated into the area. Through- out the period in question the climate was drier than it has been in the last 10,000 radiocarbon years. There were wet periods about 50,000 and 39,000 B.P. and from 38,000 to 35,000 B.P. The character of the sediments and the relative amounts of pollen preserved suggest that conditions were relatively dry from 50,000 to 39,000 B.P. and from after 35,000 until near 10,000 B.P. The lake was driest during the period of the last glaciation but the presence of eucalypt pollen is interpreted as indicating that the average annual minimum temperature was above 10�C and the average annual rainfall was above 20-25 cm.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (12) ◽  
pp. 1100 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. G. Pembleton ◽  
R. P. Rawnsley ◽  
L. R. Turner ◽  
R. Corkrey ◽  
D. J. Donaghy

A key goal of temperate pasture management is to optimise nutritive value and production. The influence of individual components such as irrigation, nitrogen (N) fertiliser, and grazing interval and intensity has been well researched, yet conjecture remains regarding practices that optimise pasture nutritive value, largely because interactions between inputs and grazing management have not been quantified. A 2-year, split-split-plot experiment was undertaken to investigate these interactions in a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) dominant pasture at Elliott, Tasmania. Irrigation treatments (rainfed or irrigated) were main plots and defoliation intervals (leaf regrowth stage: 1-, 2- or 3-leaf) were subplots. Defoliation intensity (defoliation height: 30, 55 or 80 mm) and N fertiliser (0, 1.5 or 3.0 kg N/ha.day) were crossed within sub-subplots. Herbage samples were collected from each plot four times during the experiment and analysed for concentrations (% dry matter, DM) of neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and crude protein (CP). Metabolisable energy (ME) concentration (MJ/kg DM) was estimated from these values. ME concentration decreased as defoliation height and interval increased for all time points except during winter. Crude protein concentration increased with increasing N fertiliser applications in the plots defoliated at the 1-leaf stage, but only as N applications increased from 1.5 to 3.0 kg N/ha.day for the plots defoliated at the 2- and 3-leaf stages. As N application rates increased from 0 to 1.5 kg N/ha.day, plots defoliated at the 3-leaf stage had greater increases in NDF concentration than plots defoliated at the 1-leaf stage, except during spring. As defoliation height and interval increased, ADF concentration increased in both spring and summer. Although defoliating at frequent intervals (1-leaf stage) and lower heights (30 mm) produced pasture of marginally higher nutritional value, these benefits are mitigated by the previously established, negative consequences of lower pasture yield and poor pasture persistence. Consequently, grazing management that maximises pasture productivity and persistence (i.e. defoliation between the 2- and 3-leaf regrowth stages to a height of 55 mm) should be applied to perennial ryegrass pastures irrespective of input management.


Author(s):  
A. Mills ◽  
D.J. Moot ◽  
B.A. Mckenzie

The effects of temperature, water and nitrogen on pasture production of an 8 year old 'Wana' cocksfoot pasture were quantified at Lincoln University, Canterbury. The maximum dry matter (DM) yield was 22.0 t/ha/yr when neither water nor N were limiting. Crude protein yield of +N pastures was 3.2-4.2 t/ha/yr compared with 1.0 t/ha in -N pastures. Metabolisable energy averaged 178*103 MJ ME/ha/yr for the +N pastures compared with 69*103 MJ ME/ha/yr for -N pastures. Seasonal differences in pasture production were explained in relation to thermal time with 7.0 kg DM/oCd for N fertilised pastures and 3.3 kg DM/oCd when no N was applied. During periods of water stress, relative yield decreased at a rate of 1.4%/mm when the soils critical limiting deficit of 78 mm was exceeded. Keywords: Dactylis glomerata, irrigation, nitrogen, thermal time.


2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 743 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Jacobs ◽  
G. N. Ward ◽  
A. M. McDowell ◽  
G. A. Kearney

Factors associated with turnip dry matter yield, metabolisable energy and crude protein were investigated in 266 turnip forage crops on 142 dairy farms in south-western Victoria during spring 1999 and summer 2000. Factors measured were primary cultivation method, secondary cultivation method, soil texture, soil temperature and moisture at sowing, seedbed preparation, turnip variety, sowing method, sowing rate, rolling post-sowing, harrowing post-sowing, seedling establishment, insect damage, water received, phosphorus and nitrogen application. The average date for the commencement of seedbed preparation was early October, although the range was from mid-March until mid-December. Sowing dates ranged from mid-September to mid-December, with an average of mid-October. The most common turnip variety sown was Barkant, followed by Mammoth Purple Top, Vollenda and Rondo. Growing periods ranged from 8 to 23 weeks, with the majority of crops grazed from 8 to 15 weeks. The average dry matter yield was about 5 t DM/ha, with values ranging from 0.4 to 19.2 t DM/ha. The average metabolisable energy content of turnips was 13.7 MJ/kg DM with values ranging from 11.3 to 14.6 MJ/kg DM. The metabolisable energy of roots was on average higher than the leaf component of the plants (14 v. 13.5 MJ/kg DM). Conversely, crude protein content of leaves (15.4%) was higher than in the root fraction (13.9%). The average neutral detergent fibre content of turnips was 22.5% with values ranging from 16.9 to 30.5%. The water-soluble carbohydrate content of the leaf component ranged from 1.1 to 26.8% with an average of 14.7%, while starch content of the root component ranged from 0.3 to 38.8% with an average content of 16.9%. The average cost of growing a turnip crop was $485/ha or $133 t DM. Total, leaf and root dry matter yield as well as metabolisable energy and crude protein were analysed by a mixed effects model (with factors fixed and farms and paddocks random). Factors that were associated with total dry matter yield were total water received, soil temperature and moisture at sowing, seedling density, method of secondary cultivation, soil type and insect damage. The application of nitrogen fertiliser had the greatest association with turnip crude protein content. In conclusion the findings of this study indicate potential ways to increase the dry matter yield of turnips grown in south-western Victoria. Given the current average dry matter yields and cost of growing turnips, purchasing cereal grain may be a viable alternative. An increase in average dry matter yield would make the choice of growing turnips as a feed for lactating dairy cows a more profitable option.


Author(s):  
G.A. Wills ◽  
C.W. Holmes

The objective of this study was to measure the effects of giving hay as a supplement to cows grazing at two different daily herbage allowances. Pregnant, non-lactating Friesian cows were allocated to four treatments: low herbage allowance with hay (LA+) or wthout hay (LA); and high allowance with hay (HA+) 01 without hay (HA). Hay was fed at 5 kg DM/cow daily, and the two herbage allowances were 9 or 14 kg DM/cow daily. Supplementing with hay increased total dry matter (DM) intake, but decreased herbage DM intake at both allowances. The decreases in herbage intake were 0.26 and 0.40 kg herbage OM eaten per kg hay DM eaten, at the lower and higher allowances respectively. The corresponding values, expressed as MJ metabolisable energy (ME), were decreases of 0.44 and 0.65 MJME from herbage per MJME eaten as hay. The decreases in herbage intake resulted in increases in residual herbage yield at both allowances. The implications of these results for grazing management during the winter are brlefly discussed. Keywords: supplementary feeding, hay, substitution rate, condition score, dairy cattle.


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