Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-8bljj Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-28T12:16:52.399Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Feed intake of grazing cattle. IV. A study with milk cows of the influence of pasture restriction combined with supplementary feeding on production per animal and per acre

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

W. Holmes ,
J. G. W. Jones  and
C. Adeline
W. Holmes
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), Ashford, Kent
J. G. W. Jones
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), Ashford, Kent
C. Adeline
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), Ashford, Kent
Get access

Extract

The possibility that restriction of pasture and controlled supplementation of the diet of milking cows with concentrates might improve the efficiency of utilisation of grazing was examined in a double reversal grazing experiment with 9 Ayrshire cows per treatment which extended over 4 months.

Cows received either pasture alone allocated daily by electric fence (treatment B), or half the pasture area plus one-third of their expected DOM intake offered as concentrates (treatment A).

In the first two periods, treatment A resulted in closer defoliation of the pasture.

Over the whole experiment there was no significant difference in yield of fat-corrected milk between treatments, although treatment A depressed butterfat percentage and raised milk yield significantly. Treatments did not influence live-weight gain significantly and toth groups gained over the season.

Feed intake estimated by chromic oxide-faecal index methods was similar for both treatments except in period 1. Intake estimates by clipping methods or by faecal index methods were in close agreement in period 1 for treatment B and in reasonable agreement in periods 2 and 3.

The results are discussed particularly with a view to the possibilities of replacing some grazing with barley or other concentrated feeds. On the available evidence this is economically feasible only where very profitable uses of the grassland saved are possible.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 8 , Issue 1 , February 1966 , pp. 47 - 57
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1966

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Brandt, A. E., 1938. Tests of significance in reversal or switchback trials. Res. Bull. Iowa agric. Expt. Sta. no. 234.Google Scholar
Campbell, A. G., Phillips, D. S. M., & O'Reilly, E. D., 1962. An electronic instrument for pasture yield estimation. J. Brit. Grossl. Soc., 17: 17–89.Google Scholar
Castle, M. E., Drysdale, A. D., & Watson, J. N., 1960. The effect of feed supplements on the yield and composition of milk from cows grazing good pasture. J. Dairy Res., 27: 27–419.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Castle, M. E., Drysdale, A. D., & Watson, J. N., 1964. The feeding of supplementary concentrates to dairy cows grazing good pasture. J. Brit. Grassl. Soc., 19: 19–381.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Corbett, J. L., & Boyne, A. W., 1958. The effects of a low-protein food supplement on the yield and composition of milk from grazing dairy cows and on the composition of their diet. J. agric. Sci., 51: 51–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Corbett, J. L., Langlands, J. P., & Reid, G. W., 1963. Effects of season of growth and digestibility of herbage on intake by grazing dairy cows. Anim. Prod., 5: 5–119.Google Scholar
Greenhalgh, J. F. D., & Runcie, K. V., 1962. The herbage intake and milk production of strip-and zero-grazed dairy cows. J. agric. Sci., 59: 59–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holmes, W., 1962. Grazing management for dairy cattle. J. Brit. Grassl. Soc., 17: 17–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holmes, W., Arnold, G. W., & Provan, A. L., 1960. Bulk feeds for milk production. I. The influence of level of concentrate feeding in addition to silage and hay on milk yield and milk composition. J. Dairy Res., 27: 27–191.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holmes, W., & Jones, J. G. W., 1964. The efficiency of utilisation of fresh grass. Proc. Nutr. Soc., 23: 23–88.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Holmes, W., & Jones, J. G. W., 1965. The feed intake of milk cows. II. The effect of roughage quality during late pregnancy and lactation. Anim. Prod., 7: 7–39.Google Scholar
Holmes, W., & Sykes, J. D., 1960. The influence of supplementary feeding in the summer period on feed intake and profitability of dairy cows. Proc. 8th int. Grassl. Congr., Reading, pp. 688–692.Google Scholar
Huffman, C. F., 1959. Summer feeding of dairy cattle—a review. J. Dairy Sci., 42: 42–1495.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jones, J. G. W., Drake-Brockman, R. M., & Holmes, W., 1965. The feed intake of grazing cattle. III. The influence of level of milk yield. Anim. Prod., 7: 7–141.Google Scholar
Milk Marketing Board, 1959. Report of the Production Division, Thames Ditton, Surrey, p. 68.Google Scholar
Mott, G. O., 1961. Grazing pressure and the measurement of pasture production. Proc. 8th int. Grassl. Congr., Reading, pp. 606–611.Google Scholar
Musangi, R., Holmes, W., & Jones, J. G. W., 1965. Barley supplementation and voluntary feed intake of fattening beef cattle under restricted and unrestricted grazing conditions. Proc. Nutr. Soc., 24: i.Google Scholar
Musanoi, R. S., 1964. Some factors influencing the voluntary intake of roughage by beef cattle (with particular reference to the influence of concentrates, type of roughage and pasture restriction). M.Sc. Thesis, University of London.Google Scholar
Stevenson, Audrey E., 1962. Measurement of feed intake by grazing cattle and sheep. VIII. Some observations on the accuracy of the chromic oxide technique for the estimation of faeces output of dairy cattle. N.Z. J. agric. Res., 5: 5–339.CrossRefGoogle Scholar