scholarly journals The Effect of Frequency of Fresh Pasture Allocation on Pasture Utilisation and the Performance of High Yielding Dairy Cows

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2176
Author(s):  
Jessica G. Pollock ◽  
Alan W. Gordon ◽  
Kathryn M. Huson ◽  
Deborah A. McConnell
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
The Other ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Utilisation Rate ◽  
High Production ◽  
Grazing Behaviour

Pasture allocation frequency (PAF) can influence pasture availability and grazing behaviour, which subsequently may impact on animal performance. Limited research to-date has investigated grazing management methods to improve the performance of high production dairy cows whilst also achieving high grass utilisation rates. This study evaluated the effect of three different PAF’s (12, 24 and 36 h) on pasture utilisation, the performance of high yielding dairy cows and the interaction with parity. The experiment included two 60-day periods, 90 spring calving dairy cows (27 primiparous animals) in period one and 87 (24 primiparous animals) in period two. The average pre-grazing sward height (11.4 cm) was similar for all treatments in both periods. In period one, pasture utilisation rate was significantly higher (8%) in the 36 h compared to the 12 h treatment. In period two, milk energy output was significantly greater for primiparous animals in the 36 h treatment relative to the other treatments.

Grazing behaviour and pattern of intake of dairy cows grazing kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) grass pastures in relation to sward height and length of grazing session

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 233 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Dobos ◽  
W. J. Fulkerson ◽  
K. Sinclair ◽  
G. N. Hinch
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Feeding Strategies ◽  
Intake Rate ◽  
Pennisetum Clandestinum ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Grazing Period ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Strip Grazing

To investigate how grazing time, herbage dry matter intake (DMI) and intake rate (IR) are influenced by intensive grazing management, dairy cows strip-grazing subtropical grass pastures (Pennisetum clandestinum) at two compressed sward heights (10 and 13 cm) and at five grazing durations (1, 2, 4, 8 and 15 h) and replicated over 3 days were studied. The study was conducted in summer and the cows were observed every 20 min from 1600 to 0700 hours to calculate the time spent (min/h) grazing, ruminating and resting. Total time spent grazing was 45 min longer for cows grazing the 13-cm sward than for those grazing the 10-cm sward over the 15-h grazing period. The rate of increase in grazing time was 0.64 h/h grazing duration up to 4 h after introduction to fresh pasture. IR of cows grazing the 13-cm sward was significantly higher than those grazing the 10-cm sward (0.17 v. 0.12 kg DM/min spent grazing). The difference in IRs between sward height treatments resulted from the higher DMI in the 13-cm sward within the first 4 h of grazing compared with the 10-cm sward, although following the first 4-h grazing period IR was similar for both sward heights. Grazing time increased with sward height up to a maximum of 4 h after introduction to fresh pasture and had also maximised herbage DMI by this time. These results have important practical implications for dairy cow grazing management systems because they show that dairy managers could remove cows after 4 h with little compromise in production and will help in developing optimum supplementary feeding strategies when pasture availability limits DMI.

GRAZING BEHAVIOUR OF DAIRY COWS AND BODY CONDITION SCORE ASSOCIATED WITH SWARD CHARACTERISTICS OF FOUR PASTURE TYPES

2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-226
Author(s):  
O. A. CASTELÁN-ORTEGA ◽  
C. G. MARTÍNEZ-GARCÍA ◽  
F. L. MOULD ◽  
P. DORWARD ◽  
G. C. MIRANDA-DE LA LAMA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Nutrient Intake ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Bite Rate ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Native Pastures ◽  
Grazing Behaviour

SUMMARYThe objectives were to assess the following: (1) the relationship between sward height and chemical composition of four pasture types in association with grazing behaviour and body condition score (BCS) of dairy cows, and (2) the possibility of developing predictive equations of the nutrient intake and grazing behaviour within a continued grazing system. Pasture type had a significant (p < 0.01) effect on nutrient supply from January to June for all pastures investigated. Ryegrass–white clover pasture (RW) had the highest metabolizable protein and metabolizable energy, followed by kikuyu pasture (KP), which was significantly (p < 0.001) higher than native pastures 1 and 2 (NP1 and NP2). The highest values for effective grazing time, bite rate and BCS were found when dairy cows grazed RW followed by KP, NP2 and NP1. The results suggested that pasture type and sward height influenced grazing behaviour and BCS of dairy cows during the dry season. In the same vein, RW showed higher effective grazing time, bite rate, nutrient intake and BCS than the other three pastures suggesting that RW pastures that appear to be more expensive than native pastures could result in superior cow performance.

Grazing behaviour and weight change of cattle turned out to pasture in spring

2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 801-808 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Charmley ◽  
R. W. Jannasch ◽  
J. Boyd
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Weight Change ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
The Other ◽  
Early Group ◽  
Initial Weight ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Behavioural Patterns ◽  
Late Group ◽  
Grazing Behaviour

In the first of two trials, 20 Hereford steers were allocated to two adjacent 1.6-ha pastures on 29 May 1996. Steers in one pasture were given no supplement, while those in the other received supplemental silage each day. All steers on each treatment grazed their allocated paddock continuously for 28 d. Steers on pasture were weighed and their behaviour was monitored periodically throughout the 4 wk of grazing. The dry matter (DM) availability at turnout (651 kg hd-1) was considered in excess to requirement, since neither availability nor sward height declined over 28 d. In spite of this, steers lost 15 kg after turnout and took 12 d to regain their initial weight. There were no treatment effects. Nutrient composition of the sward changed in accordance with advancing maturity. Percent of time observed grazing (51%) did not change over the 28-d period; however, rumination time increased from around 10 to 30%. Grazing behaviour was similar for steers on both treatments. Silage intake averaged only 1.3 kg DM hd-1d-1. In 1997, 28 yearling steers were used in a 2 × 2 factorial design to study the effect of turnout date to pasture [21 May (E) vs. 4 June (L)] and supplemental silage feeding on weight change, grazing behaviour, pasture productivity and forage quality over 28 d. The DM availability at turnout was 391 kg hd-1. Available DM and sward height declined in both early and late treatments after turnout. The early group had to be removed from the trial after 16 d when sward height dropped below 4 cm. Sward quali ty after turnout declined only for the late group. Loss of body weight (BW) and days to regain initial BW after turnout were greater for early versus late steers. Steers ate only 0.5 kg silage DM hd-1d-1, but this reduced weight loss in late steers. Cattle turned out later spent less time grazing (P < 0.001 at 5 and 14 d) but no less time ruminating. Transient weight loss associated with turnout to pasture cannot be wholly explained by behavioural patterns. Other factors, such as altered ruminal conditions, must also play an important role. Key words: Pasture, steer performance, grazing behaviour, weight change

scholarly journals Milk production, nitrogen utilization, and methane emissions of dairy cows grazing grass, forb, and legume-based pastures

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Randi L Wilson ◽  
Massimo Bionaz ◽  
Jennifer W MacAdam ◽  
Karen A Beauchemin ◽  
Harley D Naumann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
The Other ◽  
Nitrogen Partitioning ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Creatinine Concentration ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
N Utilization

Abstract Achieving high animal productivity without degrading the environment is the primary target in pasture-based dairy farming. This study investigated the effects of changing the forage base in spring from grass-clover pastures to forb or legume-based pastures on milk yield, N utilization, and methane emissions of Jersey cows in Western Oregon. Twenty-seven mid-lactation dairy cows were randomly assigned to one of three pasture treatments: grass-clover-based pasture composed of festulolium, tall fescue, orchardgrass, and white clover (Grass); forb-based pasture composed of chicory, plantain, and white clover (Forb); and legume-based pasture composed of red clover, bird’s-foot trefoil, berseem clover, and balansa clover (Legume). Pastures were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates (i.e., blocks) with each replicate grazed by a group of three cows. Production and nutritive quality of the forages, animal performance, milk components, nitrogen partitioning, and methane emissions were measured. Feed quality and dry matter intake (DMI) of cows were greater (P ≤ 0.05) for Legume and Forb vs. Grass, with consequent greater milk and milk solids yields (P &lt; 0.01). Cows grazing Forb also had more (P &lt; 0.01) lactose and linoleic acid in milk compared with cows grazing the other pastures, and less (P = 0.04) somatic cell counts compared with Grass. Cows grazing Forb had substantially less (P &lt; 0.01) N in urine, milk, and blood compared with cows grazing the other pastures, with not only a greater (P &lt; 0.01) efficiency of N utilization for milk synthesis calculated using milk urea nitrogen but also a larger (P &lt; 0.01) fecal N content, indicating a shift of N from urine to feces. Both Forb and Legume had a diuretic effect on cows, as indicated by the lower (P &lt; 0.01) creatinine concentration in urine compared with Grass. Methane emissions tended to be less (P = 0.07) in cows grazed on Forb vs. the other pastures. The results indicate that Forb pasture can support animal performance, milk quality, and health comparable to Legume pasture; however, Forb pasture provides the additional benefit of reduced environmental impact of pasture-based dairy production.

scholarly journals THE PERFORMANCE OF DAIRY CATTLE GRAZING TWO VARIETIES OF TALL FESCUE

1974 ◽  
pp. 200-208
Author(s):  
G.F. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Cattle Grazing ◽  
The Other ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Clover Content

Two varieties of tall fescue were compared with 'Grasslands Ariki' ryegrass as feeds for lactating, and growing catmtle. In three shortterm experimeats the dairy cows grazing the different types of pasture produced similar quantities of milk and in most cases the fat and protein contents did not differ significantly. On the other hand, the exclusion of clover from the grass swards led to a lower milk production. Liveweight gains were consistently higher for yearling cattle grazing Ariki ryegrass compared with the two fescue swards. The invitro digestibility of S170 was lower than the value for G4710 but because of the high clover content of the S170 pastures animal performance was similar.

Selective grazing by dairy cows in the presence of dung and the defoliation of tall grass dung patches

1998 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bao ◽  
P. S. Giller ◽  
G. Stakelum
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Tall Grass ◽  
Late Season ◽  
Average Area ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Selective Grazing ◽  
Biting Rate ◽  
Relative Utilization ◽  
Grazing Behaviour

AbstractTwo studies investigated the effect of contaminated pasture on selective grazing, overall grazing behaviour and the process of defoliation of dung patches through experiments targeted at four major questions: (a) how does relative utilization of tall and short grass change as the sward is grazed down? (b) what effect does herbage mass and sward height have on the relative utilization of short and tall grass? (c) how are tall grass patches actually utilized by cattle? and (d) how is overall grazing behaviour influenced by contamination of the sward?Experiments were conducted in mid to late season using Friesian dairy cattle. In experiment 1, two -pasture types (topped sward (T) v. grazed-only sward (G)) were used. The distribution of bites on tall grass from both pasture types indicated that the grazing animals tended initially to graze short grass when they met a new sward, and then select tall grass as the swards were progressively grazed down. This switch happened earlier in the defoliation process in the topped sward. In experiment 2 observations were conducted on previously grazed and previously ungrazed swards. The distribution of bites on tall grass showed a similar trend to that found in experiment 1 and as the sward was gradually grazed, biting rate significantly declined. There was also a significantly higher total grazing time on the previously ungrazed sward (no contamination by dung). Comparing data based on a consistent biting rate (calculated as the time for 20 consistent bites) and natural biting rate (calculated as the total time for 20 bites) suggested that the grazing animals had increased difficulty in handling tall grass which may explain the declining biting rate as the swards were being grazed down and more bites were directed at tall grass. The defoliation of tall grass dung patches appeared to be concentrated around the edges of the patch. The average area of sward affected by a single dung pat was 1·04 m2 measured at the pre-grazing stage and was markedly reduced to 0·51 m2 at the post-grazing stage. In conclusion, selective grazing is likely to exist due to the presence of dung and conditioned by dung distribution and sward type and this in turn modifies biting rate during grazing down of a sward.

The effect of spring grass availability and grazing rotation length on the production and quality of herbage and milk in early spring

2019 ◽  
Vol 157 (5) ◽  
pp. 434-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Claffey ◽  
L. Delaby ◽  
N. Galvin ◽  
T. M. Boland ◽  
M. Egan
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Rotation Length ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe importance of spring grass in the diet of early lactation dairy cows has been widely acknowledged. Numerous studies completed on a plot/paddock basis have identified methods of increasing herbage availability in spring, but little focus was placed on how this impacts animal production. The aim of the current study was to investigate the impact of opening farm cover (OFC; grass availability on farm at turnout in spring; 1036 (high), 748 (medium) and 544 (low) kg DM/ha) and spring rotation length (fast – 56 days and normal – 63 days) on animal performance in early lactation and herbage production and quality. Spring rotation length had little effect on animal performance, herbage variables or sward composition. High OFC increased pre-grazing herbage mass, allowing for increased daily herbage allowance (DHA) compared to medium and low OFC. There was a reduced proportion of leaf in the sward of the high OFC compared to the low OFC, resulting in lower organic matter digestibility. Despite the reduction in sward quality observed as a consequence of achieving high OFC in spring, the greater DHA available to animals increased milk production (+1.4 kg milk/cow/day). Additionally, animals grazing a medium or low OFC had a greater requirement for silage supplementation in spring (+1.3 kg DM/cow/day). The benefits of the higher DHA highlighted in the current study suggest that autumn grazing management must be adapted to increase herbage availability in spring. However, the benefits observed in milk production did not persist beyond the first grazing rotation.

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