scholarly journals Short-Term Effect of Daily Herbage Allowance Restriction on Pasture Condition and the Performance of Grazing Dairy Cows during Autumn

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verónica M. Merino ◽  
Oscar A. Balocchi ◽  
M. Jordana Rivero ◽  
Rubén G. Pulido
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Protein Concentration ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Leaf Production ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Milk Output ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows

The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects of daily herbage allowance (DHA, defined as the product of pre-grazing herbage mass and offered area per animal) on pasture conditions and milk production of Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. Forty-four early lactation dairy cows were randomly assigned to one of four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design that tested two levels of DHA (17 and 25 kg DM/cow.day) and two levels of maize silage supplementation (MSS, 4.5 and 9 kg DM/cow.day) over a 77-day period. Low DHA decreased the post-grazing herbage mass from 1546 to 1430 kg DM/ha and the compressed sward height from 5 to 4.4 cm, while the grazing efficiency remained unaffected. Low DHA induced a faster herbage mass reduction, while the sward-height and pasture characteristics did not differ from the high DHA regime. Low DHA decreased the tiller production rates and daily lamina growth, while the leaf-production rate was not affected by the DHA. Daily increases of herbage mass were greater in the high DHA than in the low DHA treatments. Individual milk production and milk protein concentration decreased at a low DHA compared to high DHA, while the milk fat concentration was greater and the milk output per hectare increased by 1510 kg. Neither the MSS level nor the interaction DHA by the MSS level had any effect on the sward characteristics or the productivity of the cows. From these results, it is suggested that, in a high-quality pasture, using 17 kg DM/cow.day was appropriate for improving both herbage utilization and milk production per hectare while maintaining the short-term conditions of a pasture grazed by dairy cows in the autumn.

Effect of timing of protein supplementation on the performance of lactating dairy cows

2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 337
Author(s):  
B. C. Granzin
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Protein Supplementation ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows ◽  
And Control ◽  
Friesian Cows

Two experiments were undertaken to determine the effect of timing of protein supplementation on performance of grazing, lactating Holstein–Friesian cows fed maize silage and grain-based concentrate. In experiment 1, 36 cows were fed 0.8 kg DM/day of solvent-extracted cottonseed meal (CSM) either as 1 meal at 1200 hours with maize silage (CSM 1200) or at 1530 hours with concentrate (CSM 1530), or in 2 meals at 0600 and 1530 hours with concentrate (CSM 600 + 1530). In experiment 2, 36 cows were either fed no CSM (control) or fed 1.0 kg DM/day as either CSM 1200 or CSM 600 + 1530. In experiment 1, daily yields of 4% fat-corrected milk (FCM) and milk fat for CSM 600 + 1530 were significantly higher than for CSM 1530 with respective means of 22.8 v. 20.7 L and 895 v. 804 g. Daily yields of FCM and milk fat for CSM 1200 were intermediate (21.7 L and 841 g/cow, respectively). A similar trend for daily protein yield per cow was noted (712, 695 and 666 g for CSM 600 + 1530, 1200 and 1530, respectively). In experiment 2, milk yield differed numerically between CSM 600 + 1530 and other treatments, with means (± s.e.d.) of 24.7 ± 0.78, 22.9 ± 0.78 and 22.9 ± 0.78 L/cow.day for CSM 600 + 1530, CSM 1200 and control, respectively. Mean (± s.e.d.) net energy requirements for milk production and liveweight change tended to be lower for the control (68 ± 3.6 MJ/cow.day) as opposed to CSM 600 + 1530 (79 ± 3.6 MJ/cow.day) and CSM 1200 (76 ± 3.6 MJ/cow.day). Cumulative time where rumen degradable nitrogen:rumen degradable dry matter was less than 22 g/kg were 2, 2 and 3 h for CSM 600 + 1530, CSM 1200 and CSM 1530, respectively, in experiment 1, and 6, 4 and 2 h for the control, 1200 and CSM 600 + 1530, respectively, in experiment 2. No differences in rumen ammonia-N concentrations were noted between treatments in experiment 1. In experiment 2, a significantly lower mean (± s.e.d.) rumen ammonia-N concentration was recorded for the control at 1530 hours (62 ± 14.1 mg/dL) in comparison to CSM 600 + 1530 (114 ± 14.1 mg/dL) and CSM 1200 (119 ± 14.1 mg/dL). These experiments show that for grazing dairy cows supplemented with maize silage and grain-based concentrate, feeding a daily aliquot of CSM as 2 meals at 0600 and 1530 hours rather than 1 meal at 1200 or 1530 hours improves milk production.

The relationship between milk production potential and herbage intake of grazing dairy cows

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.T. Butler ◽  
G.K. Stakelum ◽  
J.J. Murphy ◽  
L. Delaby ◽  
M. Rath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThe objective of this trial was to examine the daily herbage requirement and grass dry matter intake (DMI) of dairy cows of different levels of milk production with rotational grazing and optimum grazing conditions. The daily herbage allowance (DHA) that was required was defined as the allowance that permitted the herds to graze to a post-grazing sward height (SHA) of 70 mm. Four herds of 15 primiparous Holstein-Friesian cows were assembled with similar characteristics but different milk production potentials. The herds grazed separately and were offered a DHA such that the SHA was 70 mm for all herds. The daily yield per cow, for the 4 weeks prior to the start of the experiment (PMY), was 17·4, 19·8, 21·8 and 24·3 kg milk (s.e.0·20, P < 0·001), 0·72, 0·78, 0·87 and 0·93 kg fat (s.e. 0·021, P < 0·001), 0·59, 0·66, 0·71 and 0·77 kg protein (s.e. 0·009, P < 0·001) for herds 1 to 4, respectively. The experiment began on 30 June and finished on 16 August. The swards offered were 18-day re-growths following a previous defoliation by grazing. Herbage mass pre- and post-grazing was 2143 (s.e.33·3) and 622 (s.e.18·2) kg dry matter (DM) per ha above 40 mm, respectively and were similar for the four herds. The DHA was 21·2, 21·9, 22·9 and 23·9 (s.e. 0·13, P < 0·001) kg DM per cow above 40 mm. Individual cow grass DMI was determined once during the experimental period using the alkane technique. Experimental milk yield (EMY) was 15·1, 17·4, 18·6 and 20·8 (s.e. 0·33, P < 0·001) kg per cow per day. DMI was 14·5, 15·4, 15·5 and 16·1 (s.e. 0·47, P > 0·05). Variations in DMI were best described by the relationship: DMI = 0·85 (s.e. 3·038) + 0·32 (s.e. 0·082) ✕ EMY + 0·012 (s.e. 0·0054) ✕ experimental live weight + 2·10 (s.e. 0·738) ✕ weight gain + 0·020 (s.e. 0·0085) ✕ days in milk (residual s.d. = 1·477 and r = 0·75). EMY was linked to DMI and PMY according to the expression: EMY = –0·64 (s.e. 1·532) + 0·256 (s.e. 0·0865) ✕ DMI + 0·705 (s.e. 0·0620) ✕ PMY (residual s.d. = 1·204 and r = 0·872). It is concluded that higher yielding herds require higher DHA and this is associated with higher DMI of those herds.

Replacing wheat with canola meal and maize grain in the diet of lactating dairy cows: Feed intake, milk production and cow condition responses

2017 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruairi P McDonnell ◽  
Martin vH Staines
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Canola Meal ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Maize Grain ◽  
The Difference

This research paper describes the effect of partially replacing wheat with maize grain and canola meal on milk production and body condition changes in early lactation Holstein-Friesian dairy cows consuming a grass silage-based diet over an 83-d period. Two groups of 39 cows were stratified for age, parity, historical milk yield and days in milk (DIM), and offered one of two treatment diets. The first treatment (CON) reflected a typical diet used by Western Australian dairy producers in summer and comprised (kg DM/cow per d); 8 kg of annual ryegrass silage, 6 kg of crushed wheat (provided once daily in a mixed ration), 3·6 kg of crushed lupins (provided in the milking parlour in two daily portions) and ad libitum lucerne haylage. The second treatment diet (COMP) was identical except the 6 kg of crushed wheat was replaced by 6 kg of a more complex concentrate mix (27% crushed wheat, 34% maize grain and 37% canola meal). Lucerne haylage was provided independently in the paddock to all cows, and no pasture was available throughout the experiment. The COMP group had a greater mean overall daily intake (22·5vs20·4 kg DM/cow) and a higher energy corrected milk (ECM) yield (29·2vs27·1 kg/cow;P= 0·047) than the CON cows. The difference in overall intake was caused by a higher daily intake of lucerne haylage in COMP cows (4·5vs2·3 kg DM/cow). The CON group had a higher concentration of milk fat (42·1vs39·3 g/kg;P= 0·029) than COMP cows. Milk protein yield was greater in COMP cows (P< 0·021); however, milk fat yield was unaffected by treatment. It is concluded that partially replacing wheat with canola meal and maize grain in a grass silage-based diet increases voluntary DMI of conserved forage and consequently yields of ECM and milk protein.

The effects on milk yield and composition of incorporating lactose into the diet of dairy cows given protected fat

1996 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Garnsworthy
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Beet ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Protein Concentration ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Fat Supplementation ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Group A

AbstractTwenty-eight Holstein/Friesian dairy cows were divided into four groups of seven. From weeks 4 to 15 of lactation they were given a basal diet consisting of 8 kg hay, 2 kg sugar-beet feed and 2 kg grass nuts, together with a concentrate allowance of 8 kg/day. Concentrates for group A were based on cereals and soya (control). Concentrate B contained 60 g protected fat supplement per kg; concentrate C contained 100 g lactose per kg; concentrate D contained 60 g fat supplement and 100 g lactose per kg. Milk yields were 24·6, 27·7, 25·6 and 26·5 kg/day and milk protein concentrations were 32·3, 30·7, 32·7 and 31·9 g/kg for groups A, B, C and D respectively. The effect of fat supplementation on milk yield and protein concentration was significant (P < 0·05) but the effect of lactose was not significant. Milk fat concentration was not significantly affected by treatment. It is concluded that lactose can partially alleviate the depression in milk protein concentration often observed when cows are given protected fat.

An investigation of the effect of initial milk yield level on the response to sward height and concentrate supplementation in grazing dairy cows

1995 ◽  
Vol 1995 ◽  
pp. 156-156
Author(s):  
R. Pulido ◽  
J.D. Leaver
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
Concentrate Supplementation ◽  
Yield Level ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Cow Performance ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows

The increase of milk yield potential of dairy cows raises a number of questions relating to their management at pasture where the intake potential might be limiting. The interaction of initial milk yield (IMY), sward availability (SH) and level of concentrate supplementation (CI) is largely unknown.Two experiments of 42 and 24 days in spring and midsummer were carried out with 45 and 27 Holstein Friesian cows respectively. In spring, five IMY groups (range 16.9 to 35.5 kg/day) and in midsummer three IMY groups (range 22.2 to 31.8 kg/day) were used. In both periods, three compressed sward height(3 to 5, 5 to 7 and 7 to 9 cm) and three CI (0, 3 and 6 kg/day, with 160 g CP/kg DM, 12.8 MJ ME/kg DM) were used. The grazing area consisted of 7.9 ha of perennial ryegrass which was set stocked. The herbage intake (HDMI) was estimated indirectly from individual cow performance. Grazing time (GT) was recorded for each cow on 24 hour observations. Multiple regression analyses were carried out relating the dependent variables herbage intake, grazing behaviour and milk production to the independent variables (IMY, SH, CI).

FEED INPUT AND MILK OUTPUT OF DAIRY COWS FED FIVE LEVELS OF GRAIN

1975 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 565-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. HIRONAKA ◽  
G. C. KOZUB ◽  
S. B. SLEN
Keyword(s):  
Total Energy ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Lactation Period ◽  
Milk Output ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Class Average ◽  
Friesian Cows

Forty Holstein–Friesian cows were fed concentrate at one of five levels (0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, or 0.35 kg concentrate/kg milk produced) and alfalfa hay to appetite. In a 280-day lactation period with twice-a-day milking, average milk production was 19.9 kg/day and increased 0.150 kg/0.01-kg increase of concentrate per kilogram of milk produced (P < 0.05). The rate of change in milk production, feed intake, and milk constituents was not affected by the breed–class–average (BCA) index of the cows over the BCA range studied. For each 0.01-kg increase in concentrate per kilogram of milk produced, daily increase in production of solids-not-fat was 0.0138 kg and of protein was 0.0052 kg (P < 0.05). Total energy secreted in milk increased, but not significantly, as the level of concentrate feeding increased. However, the proportion of energy consumed that was secreted in the milk declined from 26.8 to 23.5% (P < 0.10) as the level of concentrate feeding was increased.

scholarly journals Effect of Post-grazing Sward Height on Ingestive Behavior, Dry Matter Intake, and Milk Production of Holstein Dairy Cows

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Menegazzi ◽  
Pamela Yanina Giles ◽  
Matías Oborsky ◽  
Oliver Fast ◽  
Diego Antonio Mattiauda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Ingestive Behavior ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Intake Rate ◽  
Evaluation Period ◽  
Sward Height

Sward height is strongly related to the daily dry matter intake of grazing dairy cows, which consequently determines animal performance. Despite that, few studies have explored the potential to increase milk production by managing post-grazing sward height. An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of three defoliation intensities on a Lolium arundinaceum-based pasture on frequency and length of grazing meals and ruminating bouts, daily grazing and ruminating time, feeding stations and patches exploration, and dry matter intake and milk production of dairy cows. The treatments imposed were three different post-grazing sward heights: control (TC), medium (TM), and lax (TL), which were managed with 6, 9, and 12 cm of post-grazing sward heights during autumn and winter, and 9, 12, and 15 cm of post-grazing sward heights during spring, respectively. Thirty-six autumn-calving Holstein cows were grouped by parity (2.6 ± 0.8), body weight (618 ± 48) kg, and body condition score (2.8 ± 0.2) and randomized to the treatments. The pasture was accessed from 08:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 03:00 during spring and no supplement was involved during the evaluation period. Daily grazing time averaged 508 ± 15 min and was not affected by treatment. The reduction of post-grazing sward height increased the length of the first grazing session in the morning and the afternoon. The number of grazing sessions was greater on TL than on TM, with no difference in TC. The number of feeding stations (the hypothetical semi-circle in front of an animal from which the bites were taken without moving the front forefeet) visited was less on TC than on TL, and neither of them differed from TM. Dry matter (DM) intake was lesser on TC than on TM and TL (14.7 vs. 17.8 kg DM). Milk production during the evaluation period was 13.1, 16.2, and 18.7 kg/day for TC, TM, and TL, respectively. The milk fat, protein, and lactose content did not differ between treatments. The cows on TC exhibited a lower intake rate, although they were less selective, probably as a consequence of the sward structure of TC treatment. The cows on TM adopted a compensation mechanism which allowed them to achieve the same dry matter intake as cows on TL, but lower milk production. The cows on TL were more selective than TC and TM resulting in higher digestible dry matter intake and consequently higher milk production. The intensity of defoliation impacts on the animal-plant interaction, and constitutes a valuable management tool that can be used to boost forage intake and milk production. The new developments on information technology would allow researchers to link behavioral data with response variables (e.g., milk production, health, welfare, etc.) at different spatio-temporal scales and support short and long-term management decisions.

Milk production and composition, and methane emissions from dairy cows fed lucerne hay with forage brassica or chicory

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 304 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. R. O. Williams ◽  
P. J. Moate ◽  
M. H. Deighton ◽  
M. C. Hannah ◽  
W. J. Wales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Milk Fatty Acids ◽  
Ch4 Emissions ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows ◽  
Diet Type ◽  
Friesian Cows

Forage brassica and chicory crops provide an alternative to perennial grass pastures as a forage supply for grazing dairy cows during summer, but there is little information about their effects on milk production and methane (CH4) emissions. Thirty-two Holstein–Friesian cows were fed for 10 days on a diet of lucerne cubes (750 g/kg DM) and grain (250 g/kg DM) (CON) or diets in which forage brassica (410 g/kg DM, FBR) or reproductive-stage chicory (410 g/kg DM, RCH) were offered with lucerne cubes (340 g/kg DM) and grain (250 g/kg DM). Cows offered the FBR diet produced more energy-corrected milk (25.4 kg/day) than did cows offered the CON diet (22.7 kg/day, P = 0.001), even though DM intake was not different for cows between the two groups (20.6 kg/day on average). In contrast, cows offered the RCH diet produced less energy-corrected milk (19.3 kg/day) than did cows in the other two groups (P = 0.001), reflecting the lower DM intake by cows offered the RCH diet (17.7 kg/day, P < 0.01). Methane yield (g CH4/kg DMI) was lower (P < 0.01) on the CON (21.0) and FBR (20.5) diets than on the RCH diet (26.1). Methane intensity (g/kg energy-corrected milk) was different (P < 0.01) for all diets, with CON (19.4) being intermediate, FBR (17.3) lowest and RCH (23.8) the greatest. Diet type was associated with differences in the proportions of only a small number of specific milk fatty acids, and differences in proportions of specific fatty acids were not related to CH4 emissions.

Responses to grain feeding by grazing dairy cows

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 541 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. Robaina ◽  
C. Grainger ◽  
P. Moate ◽  
J. Taylor ◽  
J. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Difference Method ◽  
Protein Concentration ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Supplementary Feeding ◽  
Sampling Techniques ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows ◽  
Yield Responses

Summary. Two experiments were conducted on feeding grain supplements to dairy cows during summer. In experiment 1, dairy cows in mid–late lactation were offered one of 2 pasture allowances (about 20 and 40 kg DM/cow.day) with and without a supplement of a grain mix (5 kg of a 70 : 30 mixture of barley and lupins). This experiment was conducted twice over 2 consecutive summer–autumn periods (years 1 and 2). Milk yields were higher at the high pasture allowance and with grain feeding. The marginal response to grain feeding (kg milk/kg grain DM consumed) was 0.7 at both pasture allowances in year 1, and 1.1 and 0.8 at the low and high pasture allowance, respectively, in year 2. Diet had no significant effect on milk composition. Pasture intake was reduced by supplementary feeding and the level of substitution depended on pasture allowance. The alkane-based and sward sampling techniques were used to estimate pasture intake and diet digestibility. Estimates of pasture substitution, based on measurements made with the alkane technique, were 0.3 and 0.6 kg DM reduction in pasture/kg DM grain consumed at the low and high pasture allowance, respectively, in both years. In year 1, the pasture substitution measured with the pasture difference method was 1 kg pasture DM/kg grain DM at both pasture allowances. In year 2, estimates of substitution calculated using the pasture difference method were 0.2 and 0.5 kg pasture DM/kg grain DM at the low and high pasture allowance respectively. In the second experiment (year 3), the effects of level of feeding barley on pasture intake, diet digestibility and milk production were measured during summer. The 4 levels of grain consumed were 0, 1.8, 3.4 and 6.7 kg barley DM/cow. day. Higher grain intake resulted in higher milk yield, higher protein concentration and yields of fat, protein and lactose. Milk yield responses per kilogram of barley diminished from 1.6 at the low barley intake to 0.8 kg milk/kg barley DM at the highest barley intake. It is suggested that higher levels of substitution and a potentially less efficient use of grain contributed to the poorer production responses at higher levels of grain feeding.

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