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

Pollock, Jessica G.; Gordon, Alan; Huson, Kathryn M.; McConnell, D. A.

doi:10.3390/ani10112176

Cited by 3 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…The objective of this study was to understand the impact of frequency of fresh pasture allocation on the feeding behaviour of lactating dairy cows. In addition, following the observed parity and PAF interaction effects on animal performance reported in a complimentary paper [20], this paper aims to investigate parity group and PAF interactions on animal feeding behaviour. Pollock, et al [20] observed primiparous animals in the 36 h PAF exhibited significantly (p < 0.001) greater milk energy output, on average 10.9 MJ cow −1 day −1 higher compared to primiparous animals in the 12 h and 24 h PAF.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The experiment was conducted during 2019 at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Hillsborough, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK (54 [20] outlines details of animal performance and pasture utilisation. This paper focuses on the effect of pasture allocation frequency on animal behaviour during Period Two.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, animal performance impacts from changing PAF have been mixed. Verdon, et al [19] observed lower milk yields from cows allocated seven grass allocations per day compared to those offered grass twice daily while Pollock, et al [20] in the complimentary paper noted improved performance from reducing the frequency of fresh pasture allocation from 12 h to 36 h allocations, however this was driven by greater performance from parity one animals alone. This suggests the behavioural responses to changing pasture management are multifactorial and cannot be considered in isolation.…”

Section: Influence Of Paf On Animal Feeding Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Animals were milked twice daily between 05:00 and 07:00 h and 15:00 and 17:00 h. Concentrates were offered during every milking to all animals at an average daily feed rate of 5.5 kg day −1 and 7.0 kg day −1 for primiparous and multiparous animals, respectively. The concentrate comprised of (g kg −1 as fed basis) soya hulls (187), maize meal (160), wheat (150), Hi-pro soya bean meal (125), rape seed meal (90), molasses (70), distillers grains (60), pollard (57), citrus-pulp (40), rumen-protected fat (20) and minerals/vitamins (41).…”

Section: Animal and Grazing Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Animal performance measurements were taken throughout the experiment including daily milk yield, weekly milk quality, total milk output and live weight change, as described by Pollock, et al [20].…”

Section: Animal and Grazing Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Effect of Frequency of Fresh Pasture Allocation on the Feeding Behaviour of High Production Dairy Cows

Pollock

Gordon

Huson

et al. 2022

Animals

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For ruminants, grazing and ruminating activities are essential in nutrient capture and ultimately animal performance however these activities can demand significant time and energy. This study evaluated the effect of three different pasture allocation frequencies (PAF’s; 12, 24 and 36 h) on the feeding behaviour of grazing dairy cows. Eighty-seven spring calving dairy cows were divided into three treatments. Animals were rotationally grazed with fixed paddock sizes of 0.14 ha, 0.28 ha and 0.42 ha paddocks for the 12 h, 24 h and 36 h treatments, respectively. Animals (14 per treatment) were fitted with behaviour halters that monitored feeding activity. Diurnal feeding patterns were evident for all animals irrespective of PAF, concentrating the majority of grazing during daytime (90%) and ruminating activity during night (73%). Treatment significantly affected feeding behavior patterns. Peak grazing activity coincided with fresh pasture allocation in the 12 h and 24 h treatments. In the 36 h treatment, grazing was more evenly distributed over each 24 h period with peak grazing activity witnessed daily between 17:00 and 19:00 regardless of fresh pasture allocation, suggesting lack of anticipation of fresh feed delivery. In the 12 h treatment primiparous animals exhibited greater grazing and ruminating activity relative to multiparous animals in the 12 h treatment highlighting the impact of competition for resources within each feed on lower dominance animals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Influence Of Paf On Animal Feeding Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Animal and Grazing Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Animal and Grazing Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

The Effect of Frequency of Fresh Pasture Allocation on the Feeding Behaviour of High Production Dairy Cows

Pollock

Gordon

Huson

et al. 2022

Animals

Self Cite

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Changes in milking time modify behavior of grazing dairy cows

Rosa,

Ximenes,

Schmitz

et al. 2024

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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Associations of Grazing and Rumination Behaviours with Performance Parameters in Spring-Calving Dairy Cows in a Pasture-Based Grazing System

Iqbal,

Draganova,

Morel

et al. 2023

Animals

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This study investigated the relationship of the length of time spent grazing and ruminating with the performance parameters of spring-calved grazing dairy cows (n = 162) over the lactation period for three lactation seasons (n = 54 per season). The cows were Holstein Friesian (HFR), Jersey (JE), and a crossbreed of Holstein Friesian/Jersey (KiwiCross), with 18 cows from each breed. The cows were either in their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th lactation year, and had different breeding worth (BW) index values (103 < BW > 151). The cows were managed through a rotational grazing scheme with once-a-day milking in the morning at 05:00 h. The cows were mainly fed on grazed pastures consisting of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), red clover (Trifolium pretense), and white clover (Trifolium repens), and received additional feeds on various days in the summer and autumn seasons. This study used an automated AfiCollar device to continuously record the grazing time and rumination time (min/h) of the individual cows throughout the lactation period (~270 days) for three consecutive years (Year-1, Year-2, and Year-3). The milk yield, milk fat, milk protein, milk solids, liveweight, and body condition score data of the individual animals for the study years were provided by the farm. PROC CORR was used in SAS to determine the correlation coefficients (r) between the behaviour and production parameters. A general linear model fitted with breed × lactation year, individual cows, seasons, feed within the season, grazing time, rumination time, as well as their interactions, was assessed to test the differences in milk yield, milk fat, milk protein, milk solids, liveweight, and body condition score. The type I sum of squares values were used to quantify the magnitude of variance explained by each of the study factors and their interactions in the study variables. Grazing time exhibited positive associations with MY (r = 0.34), MF (r = 0.43), MP (r = 0.22), MS (r = 0.39), LW (r = −0.47), and BCS (r = −0.24) throughout the study years. Rumination time was associated with MY (r = 0.64), MF (r = 0.57), MP (r = 0.52), and MS (r = 0.57) in all study years, while there were no effects of rumination time on LW (r = 0.26) and BCS (r = −0.26). Grazing time explained up to 0.32%, 0.49%, 0.17%, 0.31%, 0.2%, and 0.02%, and rumination time explained up to 0.39%, 6.73%, 4.63%, 6.53%, 0.44%, and 0.17% of the variance in MY, MF, MP, MS, LW, and BCS, respectively.

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

Cited by 3 publications

References 34 publications

The Effect of Frequency of Fresh Pasture Allocation on the Feeding Behaviour of High Production Dairy Cows

The Effect of Frequency of Fresh Pasture Allocation on the Feeding Behaviour of High Production Dairy Cows

Changes in milking time modify behavior of grazing dairy cows

Associations of Grazing and Rumination Behaviours with Performance Parameters in Spring-Calving Dairy Cows in a Pasture-Based Grazing System

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