Effect of altering the grazing interval on growth and utilization of grass herbage and performance of dairy cows under rotational grazing

Dale, A. J.; Mayne, C. S.; Laidlaw, A. S.; Ferris, C.P.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2494.2008.00631.x

Cited by 16 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 32 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The relatively similar prehension bite number per day between grazing intensities is in contrast to that found by Dale, Mayne, Laidlaw, and Ferris () when differences in rotation management resulted in post‐grazing heights decreasing from 6.5 to 6.1 cm and a reduction in prehension bite number per day. A low mean pre‐grazing sward height of 9.1 cm may have influenced the grazing behaviour of the cows, whereas in this experiment, the most severe grazing intensity still had a mean pre‐grazing sward height greater than 10 cm.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 50%

The effect of grazing intensity on the performance of high‐yielding dairy cows

Dale

Laidlaw

McGettrick

et al. 2018

Grass and Forage Science

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The study evaluated the impact of High, Moderate and Low grazing intensities throughout the grazing season, within a rotational stocking system, on the performance of high‐yielding dairy cows receiving a high level of concentrates. Sixty‐three Holstein‐Friesian dairy cows, 21 at each grazing intensity, were rotationally grazed. Average paddock size, post‐grazing sward heights and seasonal grazing stocking rates within the High, Moderate and Low grazing intensities were 0.143, 0.167 and 0.200 hectares, 5.2, 6.1 and 6.8 cm and 7.8, 6.7 and 5.6 cows ha−1 respectively. Grazing intensity had no effect on milk fat and protein content, end‐of‐study body condition score or end‐of‐study live weight although the latter tended towards significance (p = .057). Average daily milk yield per cow was higher within the Low grazing intensity (33.2 kg day−1) than High grazing intensity (30.5 kg day−1), and average daily fat‐plus‐protein yield was higher for Low and Moderate than High. Milk output per hectare was higher for the High grazing intensity than Low grazing intensity (33,544 and 26,215 kg ha−1 respectively). Grazing intensity had no effect on grazing bite number, blood metabolites or concentrations of milk fatty acids or on sward morphological components, although dead matter increased with time across all grazing intensities. Herbage utilization efficiency (above 1,600 kg DM ha−1) was 52%, 74% and 87% for Low, Moderate and High respectively. It is concluded that high‐producing dairy cows can graze at high levels of utilization when they are receiving high rates of concentrates. Although cow performance will be reduced, milk yield per ha will increase.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 50%

The effect of grazing intensity on the performance of high‐yielding dairy cows

Dale

Laidlaw

McGettrick

et al. 2018

Grass and Forage Science

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…To acquire more forage it is probably also necessary for horses to have a higher movement activity and we therefore expect horses to travel on average longer distances per day compared to cattle. Additionally, cattle were found to spend on average between 31 -38 % of the time ruminating which includes staying in the same location (Dale et al 2008;Abrahamse et al 2009). The movement and grazing activity of the animals could thus also potentially determine the spatial distribution of the animals within the available space.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behaviour of horses and cattle at two stocking densities in a coastal salt marsh

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose: Livestock grazing has been practiced in salt marshes in the Wadden Sea area since 600 B.C. Currently livestock grazing is also applied for conservation management. However, effects of such grazing management on salt marshes are likely to vary depending on the species of livestock and stocking density due to differences in the behaviour of the animals. Yet, little is known about the behaviour of different livestock species and stocking densities grazing in salt marshes. Methods: We studied the grazing behaviour of horses and cattle by focal observation in an experiment with four different grazing treatments on a coastal salt marsh. In all treatments we recorded diet choice, movement and grazing activity, and spatial distribution. Results: Livestock species shared an overlap in diet choice. Yet, horses more often foraged on the short grass Puccinellia maritima, while the cattle diet contained a higher amount of Aster tripolium. 2 Horses travelled longer distances per day and spent more time grazing than cattle. Spatial distribution of cattle was significantly clustered, while horses showed a random distribution utilizing the whole area. Conclusions: Animal behaviour differs between livestock species and stocking densities with respect to diet choice, activity and spatial distribution.

show abstract

“…Large weekly variations in herbage growth occurs, ranging from 15 kg DM ha −1 per day in mid‐April to over 100 kg DM ha −1 per day in mid‐May. One of the greatest challenges to grazing management is to increase the efficiency of herbage utilization during peak growth (Dale et al. , 2008) and provide grazing animals with as consistent a diet as possible throughout the grazing season.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of herbage mass and allowance on sward characteristics, milk production, intake and rumen volatile fatty acid concentration

McEvoy

Delaby

Murphy

et al. 2010

Grass and Forage Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of herbage mass and daily herbage allowance (DHA) on sward characteristics and animal performance, drymatter intake, rumen pH and volatile fatty acid production of unsupplemented spring-calving dairy cows throughout the main grazing season. Sixty-eight Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were randomly assigned across four treatments (n = 17) in a 2 · 2 factorial design. Two swards were created with different levels of pre-grazing herbage mass [allocated above 4 cm (>4 cm); 1700 kg DM ha )1 (medium; M) or 2200 kg DM ha )1 (high; H)] and two levels of DHA (>4 cm; 16 or 20 kg DM per cow d )1 ). An additional eight lactating ruminally cannulated Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were randomly assigned to each treatment in a replicated 4 · 4 Latin square design. Sward and animal measurements were collected across four periods each of 1 week duration in April and May (PI) and July and August (PII). Maintaining the medium-mass sward across the season improved the nutritive value of the sward in the latter part of the grazing season compared with high-mass swards, thus resulting in increased animal intakes and milk production throughout PII. The higher organic matter digestibility of the medium-compared with high-masses during PII indicates that grazing severity and herbage mass in the spring to mid-summer period will determine sward quality parameters in the late summer period.

show abstract

Effect of altering the grazing interval on growth and utilization of grass herbage and performance of dairy cows under rotational grazing

Cited by 16 publications

References 32 publications

The effect of grazing intensity on the performance of high‐yielding dairy cows

The effect of grazing intensity on the performance of high‐yielding dairy cows

Behaviour of horses and cattle at two stocking densities in a coastal salt marsh

Effect of herbage mass and allowance on sward characteristics, milk production, intake and rumen volatile fatty acid concentration

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About