Grazing dairy cows are characterized by converting a low proportion of dietary N into milk N. This low N use efficiency (NUE) is mainly due to an excessive supply of crude protein (CP) of pasture with regard to animal requirements. Excess N in the diet has negative effects for the animal; it alters the organoleptic characteristics of milk and pollutes the environment through N excretions. The aim of this review was to analyze the available information on nutritional strategies to improve NUE by grazing dairy cows, such as diluting the dietary N through supplementation, synchronizing ruminal carbohydrate (CHO), and N fermentation rates, and using pastures with a high water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) content. There is a beneficial effect of carbohydrate supplementation on NUE, with an increase in milk yield (MY) of 0.83 ± 0.34 kg milk kg -1 supplement and a reduction of ammonia N (NH 3 -N) in the rumen. A better synchrony between CHO and rumen N does not improve MY and NUE. However, a positive effect on NUE was identified as a result of increasing the WSC/CP ratio. The use of cultivars with high WSC content increases the dry matter intake (DMI), MY, and milk N production, with no consistent effect on NUE.

RESUMENEl objetivo del estudio fue evaluar los efectos de las condiciones climáticas del verano sobre la producción de leche, actividad animal y temperatura timpánica (TT; n = 15), utilizando variables climáticas y tres índices de comodidad térmica. Los datos se analizaron considerando hora del día y categorías del índice comprensivo del clima (CCI). Se estimaron modelos de regresión simple para predecir la tasa de respiración (RR) de las vacas (α = 0,05). Los índices termales fueron normales y pobres predictores de RR (r 2 < 0,35; P < 0,001). La proporción de animales en pastoreo, echados y rumiando se redujo (P < 0,002) en 9,4; 1,7%; y 5,4 cuando el valor de CCI ≥ 25, mientras que los animales en pie y bajo sombra aumentaron 7,4 y 6,3%. Además se registró una correlación positiva entre RR y CCI. Las vacas tuvieron mayores TT en las categorías de CCI "moderado" y "suave" vs. "normal", así como también para PM vs. AM. El mayor valor de TT se observó en los días con máximos valores en los índices térmicos. Hubo diferencias tanto en la producción de leche como en los valores de CCI entre AM vs. PM (P < 0,001). Sin embargo, no hubo diferencias en la producción de leche entre las categorías de CCI (P = 0,19). Aunque las vacas mostraron signos de estrés por calor la producción diaria de leche no disminuyó al asociarlas a las categorías de CCI, demostrando que los animales fueron capaces de enfrentar las condiciones climáticas estivales.Palabras clave: comodidad térmica, cambio climático, bienestar animal. SUMMARYThe objective of the study was to assess the effects of summer weather conditions on animal performance and behaviour in southern Chile. Data of milk yield, animal activity, tympanic temperatures (TT; n = 15), and three comfort thermal indices were collected in La Araucanía Disctrict. Time of day and comprehensive climate index (CCI) categories were considering as influential factors. Simple regression models were estimated to predict the respiration rate of cows as an estimator of thermal comfort. Daily values of thermal indices were poor predictors of respiration rate, as well as climatic variables (r 2 < 0.35; P < 0.001). During days with CCI ≥ 25 there was a reduction (P < 0.002) in the proportion of animals on grazing (9.4%), lying (1.7%), and ruminating (5.4%). The proportion of animals standing and under shade increased 7.4 and 6.3%, respectively. Respiration rates were positively correlated with greater CCI values. The TT was higher for CCI categories "moderate" and "mild" vs. "normal" also for PM vs. AM. The highest TT was observed on days that had higher values of the thermal indices, especially CCI. There were differences for milk production and CCI values between AM vs. PM (P < 0.001). However, no differences for milk production were observed between CCI categories observed (P = 0.19). In conclusion, although cows showed signs of heat stress daily milk production did not show differences among CCI categories, showing that they were able to cope adverse climatic conditions of summer in southern Chi...

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Perennial ryegrass pastures are the main feed for dairy cows in temperate regions. Alternatives to increase farm sustainability such as naturalized pastures have been proposed, and only limited knowledge exists regarding their potential as a forage source for grazing dairy systems. A field study was undertaken between September 2006 and September 2009 in Valdivia, Chile, to assess the effect of three pasture renovation strategies [naturalized fertilized (NFP); cultivated fertilized Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens mixture (RGWC); and cultivated fertilized Bromus valdivianus, Dactylis glomerata, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens mixture (MIXED)] over a naturalized degraded pasture on herbage production, botanical change and chemical composition. The three renovation strategies increased total herbage accumulation. the naturalized fertilized pasture produced similar amounts of dry matter as the cultivated fertilized mixtures. A higher grazing efficiency (the proportion of total herbage mass accumulation, removed by grazing dairy cows) was estimated for NNFP, RGWC and MIXED. Fertilization and liming increased the proportions of Lolium perenne and Bromus spp. at the expense of Agrostis capillaris and Trifolium repens. In the cultivated mixtures, the amount of Lolium perenne tended to decrease over time. Crude protein concentration and digestibility tended to be higher for naturalized fertilized and perennial ryegrass-white clover pastures throughout the experiment. These results suggest that fertilization and liming of a low-producing naturalized pasture might be a sound alternative for pasture improvement.

The aim of the present study was to assess and compare the nutrient concentration, the in vitro fermentation and the in situ rumen degradation characteristics of Brassica rapa ssp. rapa L. (turnips) and Brassica napus ssp. biennis L. (forage rape). Five varieties of each species were established in three field replicates and were organised in a randomised complete-block nested design. All varieties were harvested and further analysed for chemical composition, in vitro gas-production kinetics, volatile fatty acid (VFA) production and in situ degradation kinetics of dry matter (DM) and crude protein. Turnips showed higher ash, total sugars, raffinose, sucrose, glucose and fructose concentrations (P &lt; 0.001) than did forage rape. Turnip varieties differed in their sucrose, glucose, fructose and total soluble sugar concentration (P &lt; 0.001), whereas rape varieties differed in their neutral detergent fibre concentration (P = 0.004) and digestible organic matter on a DM basis (P &lt; 0.01). Regarding DM-degradation parameters, turnips had a higher soluble fraction ‘a’ (P &lt; 0.01) and a lower insoluble, but potentially degradable fraction ‘b’ (P &lt; 0.01) than did rape, but the fractional degradation rate ‘c’ (0.18/h) was similar to that of rape. Rates of gas production were slightly higher (P = 0.018) for turnip than for rape. No effects for brassica species nor for varieties within species were detected (P &gt; 0.05) for total in vitro VFA production, as well as for the relative proportions of acetate, propionate, butyrate, branch chained VFA and the actetate:propionate ratio. Our study showed that most of the differences that were observed in terms of chemical composition and degradation kinetics did not result in differences in in vitro fermentation products.