Estimation of dairy pastures - the need for standardisation

Na, Thomson; McCallum, D. Archibald; Howse, S.W.; Holmes, C. W.; Matthews, Priscilla; Matthew, C.

doi:10.33584/jnzg.1997.59.2245

Cited by 18 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Cutting above ground level to leave a constant stubble height was found by Michell and Large (1983) to introduce a bias, because there were differences in herbage mass below the same stubble height, depending on season and sward height. It is recommended for New Zealand dairy pastures (Thomson et al ., 1997) to use ground level as a reference base because sampling height must be consistent.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Matching grass supply to grazing patterns for dairy cows

Orr¹,

Rutter²,

Penning³

et al. 2001

Grass and Forage Science

104

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Four groups of ®ve spring-calving Holstein±Friesian cows were given a daily grass allowance in a stripgrazing system after either morning (AM; two groups) or afternoon (PM; two groups) milking over a 10week period. The dry-matter (DM) concentration of the grass tended to be higher after afternoon milking [AM, 178 vs. PM, 197 g DM (s.e.d. 5á32) kg ±1 fresh matter], and water-soluble carbohydrate concentrations were signi®cantly higher [AM, 175 vs. PM, 204 g kg ±1 DM (s.e.d. 6á67)]. Although the total times spent grazing (AM, 461 vs. PM, 462 min day ±1 ) were similar for both groups, cows receiving their allocation in the afternoon had a longer evening meal (>4 h duration) compared with those receiving their allocation in the morning (2±3 h), which also spent more time ruminating [AM, 454 vs. PM, 433 min day ±1 (s.e.d. 1á80)]. This short-term study demonstrated how a relatively simple change in management practice in strip-grazing systems could bene®t milk yield and pasture utilization. This is because the DM and watersoluble carbohydrate contents of the herbage are higher in the evening than in the morning, and this is when grazing animals concentrate much of their daily grazing activity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Matching grass supply to grazing patterns for dairy cows

Orr¹,

Rutter²,

Penning³

et al. 2001

Grass and Forage Science

104

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“…The partition of herbage mass between live and dead material, and the tiller population density (tillers m −2 ), were measured within circular quadrats with the same diameter (354 mm) as the platemeter when grazing‐behaviour measurements were made. The grass was cut to ground level (Frame, 1981; Thomson et al. , 1997) using scissors and subsamples of 50–60 grass tillers were separated into green leaves, green vegetative and reproductive stems, and dead material.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intake characteristics of perennial ryegrass varieties when grazed by yearling beef cattle under rotational grazing management

Orr¹,

Cook²,

Young³

et al. 2005

Grass and Forage Science

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Four intermediate-heading perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) varieties, which in previous studies had been associated with high-or low-intake characteristics when swards containing them had been continuously stocked with sheep, were sown as monocultures. They were rotationally grazed, using 1-d paddocks, with core groups of four yearling Simmental · Holstein beef heifers in 2002 and 2003 and ingestive and ruminative behaviour, and sward factors, were measured. There were two diploid (Belramo and Glen) and one tetraploid (Rosalin) perennial ryegrass varieties and one tetraploid hybrid (Lolium · boucheanum Kunth) (AberExcel) variety. Intake rate (IR) was significantly higher in August 2003 for heifers grazing Glen than those grazing Belramo [27AE5 vs. 20AE6 g dry matter (DM) min )1 ; P ¼ 0AE019], but there were no significant differences between varieties in two other measurement periods. This is in contrast to previous results with sheep when IR were significantly higher for Glen than Belramo and for AberExcel than Rosalin. Total jaw movement rates during grazing were significantly higher for heifers on the tetraploid swards than those on the diploid swards (87AE7 vs. 83AE6 jaw movements min )1 ; P ¼ 0AE023) in September 2002. Ruminating time was significantly lower for heifers on the tetraploid swards than those on the diploid swards (453 vs. 519 min 24 h )1 ; P ¼ 0AE012) in July 2002. Digestibility of grass snips was significantly higher on the tetraploid than the diploid swards [697 vs. 680 g digestible organic matter (DOM) kg )1 DM; P ¼ 0AE042] in September 2003 and, within diploids, was significantly higher for Glen than Belramo (696 vs. 663 g DOM kg )1 DM; P ¼ 0AE014). There were significant differences in sheath tube and leaf lengths and in the population density of tillers between and within ploidies, which might have been expected to have influenced intake characteristics, but this was not generally found under rotational grazing with cattle. In order to separate the effects of defoliation interval from those of grazing style of the different ruminant species, it is suggested that grass variety evaluations using continuously stocked cattle swards are required.

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“…This ranged from 25-50 readings per paddock. Thomson et al (1997) indicated that 50-80 readings per paddock should be taken to obtain the most accurate estimate of average herbage mass. L'Huillier & Thomson (1988) mention that little difference was found between different users when correct procedures were followed.…”

Section: Average Herbage Massmentioning

confidence: 99%

Practical use of the rising plate meter (RPM) on New Zealand dairy farms

Lile¹,

Blackwell²,

Na³

et al. 2001

ProNZG

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Herbage mass and rising plate meter (RPM) height was estimated using the RPM as part of a farmlet trial, at No. 2 Dairy, Dexcel Hamilton. Herbage mass estimations were collected over a 3-year period, from pre- and post-grazing and weekly farm walk estimates. The aim of the study was to determine how appropriate the RPM was for use on New Zealand dairy farms. The RPM gives reliable information using 50 readings per paddock for paddock selection, grazing residual, and average herbage mass between 1000 and 4000 kg DM/ha. There was a tendency however, for the RPM to underestimate herbage mass when compared with visual estimates. The RPM is limited in its estimation of herbage mass above 4000 kg DM/ha and cannot be relied upon to give useful results for dry matter intake and net herbage accumulation (particularly with weekly farm walk data). As long as RPM limits are observed, overall results show that the RPM is an inexpensive tool to aid in farm monitoring and decision making. Keywords: dairy farming, grazing residual, herbage mass, rising plate meter, RPM height

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Estimation of dairy pastures - the need for standardisation

Cited by 18 publications

References 3 publications

Matching grass supply to grazing patterns for dairy cows

Matching grass supply to grazing patterns for dairy cows

Intake characteristics of perennial ryegrass varieties when grazed by yearling beef cattle under rotational grazing management

Practical use of the rising plate meter (RPM) on New Zealand dairy farms

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