The effect of herbage surface water and the provision of supplementary forage on the intake and feeding behaviour of cattle

Abstract

High rainfall and the corresponding low herbage DM content has been shown to adversely affect cattle intakes and production. This could arise from physical restrictions on intake or digestion rate, or other behavioural limitations such as reduced palatability. A knowledge of the reason for the intake reduction would assist in determining the optimum supplement to feed. Eight steers were offered four diets in a changeover design. The diets were: A, cut herbage; B, cut herbage with added surface water; C, as B but with a low dry matter (DM) forage supplement (silage); and D, as B but with a high DM forage supplement (hay). The addition of surface water to herbage reduced DM intake and feeding time but had no effect on biting rate or rate of intake. Neither hay nor silage was eaten in sufficient quantities to restore DM intake, even though the silage was of similar nutrient composition to the herbage.

The addition of external water to fresh grass does not affect dry matter intake, feeding behaviour and rumen characteristics in dairy cows

“…At pasture, Malossini et al [23] also observed lower daily intakes in cows during periods of heavy rain. Similarly, in the more recent studies of Butris and Phillips [5] and Phillips et al [28], the intake of grass DM by steers was reduced by the presence of surface water.…”

“…However, contrasted conclusions have been given by different authors since Butris and Phillips [5] found that water external to the plant affected the daily eating time without decreasing the eating rate. The large amounts of water eaten with fresh grass could also contribute to the rumen fill but this hypothesis remains a matter of debate [6].…”

“…Vérité and Journet [36] observed a slight but significant reduction (5%) of DM intake in dairy cows fed indoors with grass wet by dew (12.8 kg DM) compared to grass without dew (13.5 kg DM). In the trials of Butris and Phillips [5] and Phillips et al [28], the daily grass intake of steers was significantly reduced by 2.0 and 1.3 kg DM (-22 and -14%, respectively) due to an external supply of water. In these two trials, the grass was immersed completely in tanks filled with water and then drained for 5 min before being offered to the cows.…”

“…This dilution is close to the maximum value possible to get in the field since the amount of water added was all that the grass could retain. Only a complete soaking of the grass could lead to even greater dilutions [5,28]. However, such experimental conditions do not exist in practice.…”

Bahiagrass Tolerance to Aminocyclopyrachlor in Florida

“…However, average herbage nutritive value of Mulato was approximately 64% IVDOM and 14% CP and it was expected that heifers would have greater ADG at greater herbage allowance levels. The environmental conditions during the summer in South Florida such as frequent rainfall and flooding conditions impacted grazing time thereby reducing DM intake (Butris and Phillips, 1987). Therefore, environmental conditions may impact forage intake and consequently forage quality in tropical and subtropical areas.…”