Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-qlrfm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-12T02:48:33.241Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Frequent moving of grazing dairy cows to new paddocks increases the variability of milk fatty acid composition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 December 2014

M. Coppa
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Via L. da Vinci 44, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy
A. Farruggia
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR1213 Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France UMR1213 Herbivores, Clermont Université, VetAgro Sup, BP 10448, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
P. Ravaglia
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Via L. da Vinci 44, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy INRA, UMR1213 Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France UMR1213 Herbivores, Clermont Université, VetAgro Sup, BP 10448, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
D. Pomiès
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR1213 Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France UMR1213 Herbivores, Clermont Université, VetAgro Sup, BP 10448, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France INRA, UE1296 Monts d’Auvergne, F-63820 Laqueuille, France
G. Borreani
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Via L. da Vinci 44, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy
A. Le Morvan
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR1213 Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France UMR1213 Herbivores, Clermont Université, VetAgro Sup, BP 10448, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
A. Ferlay*
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR1213 Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France UMR1213 Herbivores, Clermont Université, VetAgro Sup, BP 10448, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Get access

Abstract

The aim of this work was to investigate the variations of milk fatty acid (FA) composition because of changing paddocks in two different rotational grazing systems. A total of nine Holstein and nine Montbéliarde cows were divided into two equivalent groups according to milk yield, fat and protein contents and calving date, and were allocated to the following two grazing systems: a long duration (LD; 17 days) of paddock utilisation on a heterogeneous pasture and a medium duration (MD) of paddock utilisation (7 to 10 days) on a more intensively managed pasture. The MD cows were supplemented with 4 kg of concentrate/cow per day. Grazing selection was characterised through direct observations and simulated bites, collected at the beginning and at the end of the utilisation of two subsequent MD paddocks, and at the same dates for the LD system. Individual milks were sampled the first 3 days and the last 2 days of grazing on each MD paddock, and simultaneously also for the LD system. Changes in milk FA composition at the beginning of each paddock utilisation were highly affected by the herbage characteristics. Abrupt changes in MD milk FA composition were observed 1 day after the cows were moved to a new paddock. The MD cows grazed by layers from the bottom layers of the previous paddock to the top layers of the subsequent new paddock, resulting in bites with high organic matter digestibility (OMD) value and CP content and a low fibre content at the beginning of each paddock utilisation. These changes could induce significant day-to-day variations of the milk FA composition. The milk fat proportions of 16:0, saturated FA and branched-chain FA decreased, whereas proportions of de novo-synthesised FA, 18:0, c9-18:1 and 18:2n-6 increased at paddock change. During LD plot utilisation, the heterogeneity of the vegetation allowed the cows to select vegetative patches with higher proportion of leaves, CP content, OMD value and the lowest fibre content. These small changes in CP, NDF and ADF contents of LD herbage and in OMD values, from the beginning to the end of the experiment, could minimally modify the ruminal ecosystem, production of precursors of de novo-synthesised FA and ruminal biohydrogenation, and could induce only small day-to-day variations in the milk FA composition.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2014 

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

Abrahamse, PA, Dijkstra, J, Vlaeminck, B and Tamminga, S 2008. Frequent allocation of rotationally grazed dairy cows changes grazing behavior and improves productivity. Journal of Dairy Science 91, 20332045.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Adler, PB, Raff, DA and Lauenroth, WK 2001. The effect of grazing on the spatial heterogeneity of vegetation. Oecologia 128, 465479.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
AOAC 1997. Official methods of analysis, 16th edition. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.Google Scholar
Aufrère, J and Michalet-Doreau, B 1983. In vivo digestibility and prediction of digestibility of some by-products. In Feeding value of by-products and their use by beef cattle – EEC seminar EUR 8918 EN (ed. CV Boucqué, LO Fimes and GB Cottyn), pp. 2535. Commission of the European Union, Brussels, Luxembourg.Google Scholar
Borreani, G, Coppa, M, Revello-Chion, A, Comino, L, Giaccone, D, Ferlay, A and Tabacco, E 2013. Effect of different feeding strategies in intensive dairy farming systems on milk fatty acid profiles, and implications on feeding costs in Italy. Journal of Dairy Science 96, 68406855.Google Scholar
Braun-Blanquet, J 1932. Plant sociology: the study of plant communities (ed. GD Fuller, HS Conard), pp. 438. McGraw-Hill book company Inc., New York, NY, USA.Google Scholar
Carpino, S, Licitra, G and Van Soest, PJ 2003. Selection of forage species by dairy cattle on complex Sicilian pasture. Animal Feed Science and Technology 105, 205214.Google Scholar
Chilliard, Y, Glasser, F, Ferlay, A, Bernard, L, Rouel, J and Doreau, M 2007. Diet, rumen biohydrogenation and nutritional quality of cow and goat milk fat. European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology 109, 828855.Google Scholar
Collomb, M, Bütikofer, U, Sieber, R, Jeangros, B and Bosset, JO 2002. Correlations between fatty acids in cows’ milk fat produced in the lowland, mountain and highlands of Switzerland and botanical composition of the fodder. International Dairy Journal 12, 661666.Google Scholar
Coppa, M, Farruggia, A, Pradel, P, Lombardi, G and Martin, B 2011a. An improved grazed class method to estimate species selection and dry matter intake by cows at pasture. Italian Journal of Animal Science 10, 5865.Google Scholar
Coppa, M, Gorlier, A, Lonati, M, Martin, B, Russo, EM and Lombardi, G 2012. The management of the transition from hay- to pasture-based diets affects milk fatty acid kinetics. Dairy Science and Technology 92, 279295.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coppa, M, Verdier-Metz, I, Ferlay, A, Pradel, P, Didienne, R, Farruggia, A, Montel, MC and Martin, B 2011b. Effect of different grazing systems on upland pastures compared with hay diet on cheese sensory properties evaluated at different ripening times. International Dairy Journal 21, 815822.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coppa, M, Ferlay, A, Monsallier, F, Verdier-Metz, I, Pradel, P, Didienne, R, Farruggia, A, Montel, MC and Martin, B 2011c. Milk fatty acid composition and cheese texture and appearance from cows fed hay or different grazing systems on upland pastures. Journal of Dairy Science 94, 11321145.Google Scholar
Couvreur, S, Hurtaud, C, Lopez, C, Delaby, L and Peyraud, JL 2006. The linear relationship between the proportion of fresh grass in the cow diet, milk fatty acid composition, and butter properties. Journal of Dairy Science 89, 19561969.Google Scholar
Dewhurst, RJ, Shingfield, KJ, Lee, MRF and Scollan, ND 2006. Increasing the concentrations of beneficial polyunsaturated fatty acids in milk produced by dairy cows in high-forage systems. Animal Feed Science and Technology 131, 168206.Google Scholar
Dumont, B, Garel, JP, Ginane, C, Decuq, F, Farruggia, A, Pradel, P, Rigolot, C and Petit, M 2007. Effect of cattle grazing a species-rich mountain pasture under different stocking rates on the dynamics of diet selection and sward structure. Animal 1, 10421052.Google Scholar
Farruggia, A, Dumont, B, D’Hour, P and Egal, D 2008. How does protein supplementation affect the selectivity and performance of Charolais cows on extensively grazed pastures in late autumn? Grass and Forage Science 63, 314323.Google Scholar
Farruggia, A, Pomiès, D, Coppa, M, Ferlay, A, Verdier-Metz, I, Le Morvan, A, Bethier, A, Pompanon, F, Troquier, O and Martin, B 2014. Animal performances, pasture biodiversity and dairy product quality: how it works in contrasted mountain grazing systems. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 185, 231244.Google Scholar
Ferlay, A, Martin, B, Lerch, S, Gobet, M, Pradel, P and Chilliard, Y 2010. Effect of supplementation of maize silage diets with extruded linseed, vitamin E and plant extracts rich in polyphenols, and morning v. evening milking on milk fatty acid profile in Holstein and Montbéliarde cows. Animal 4, 627640.Google Scholar
Gerson, T, John, A and King, ASD 1986. Effects of feeding ryegrass of varying maturity on the metabolism and composition of lipids in the rumen of sheep. Journal Agricultural Science 106, 445448.Google Scholar
Hoden, A, Muller, A, Journet, M and Faverdin, P 1986. Pâturage pour vaches laitières 1. Comparaison des systèmes de pâturage ‘rationné’ et ‘tournant simplifié’ en zone normande. Bulletin Technique du Centre de Recherches Zootechniques et Vétérinaires de Theix 64, 2535.Google Scholar
Hurtaud, C, Faucon, F, Couvreur, S and Peyraud, JL 2010. Linear relationship between increasing amounts of extruded linseed in dairy cow diet and milk fatty acid composition and butter properties. Journal of Dairy Science 93, 14291443.Google Scholar
Khanal, RC, Dhiman, TR and Boman, RL 2008. Changes in fatty acids composition of milk from lactating dairy cows during transition to and from pasture. Livestock Science 114, 164175.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kratz, M, Baars, T and Guyenet, S 2013. The relationship between high-fat dairy consumption and obesity, cardiovascular, and metabolic disease. European Journal of Nutrition 52, 124.Google Scholar
Leiber, F, Kreuzer, M, Nigg, D, Wettstein, HR and Scheeder, MRL 2005. A study on the causes for the elevated n-3 fatty acids in cows’ milk of Alpine origin. Lipids 40, 191202.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, B, Verdier-Metz, I, Buchin, S, Hurtaud, C and Coulon, JB 2005. How does the nature of forages and pastures diversity influence the sensory quality of dairy livestock products? Animal Science 81, 205212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pomiès, D, Martin, B, Pradel, P, Verdier-Metz, I, Constant, I, Delbès-Paus, C, Troquier, O, Fournier, F, Montel, MC and Farruggia, A 2013. Design of low-input dairy farming systems in mountain areas: animal performances and cheese sensory properties. In Proceedings of the 17th Meeting of the FAO-CIHEAM Mountain Pasture Network – pastoralism and ecosystem conservation (ed. G Lombardi, E Mosimann, A Gorlier, G Iussig, M Lonati, M Pittarello, and M Probo), pp. 22–26. Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences – University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.Google Scholar
Smith, HJ, Taweel, HZ, Tas, BM, Tamminga, S and Elgersma, A 2005. Comparison of techniques for estimating herbage intake of grazing dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 88, 18271836.Google Scholar
Sollemberg, LE and Newman, YC 2007. Grazing management. In Forages, the science of grassland agriculture (vol. II 6th edition, ed. RF Barnes, CJ Nelson, KJ Moore and MC Collins), pp. 651659. Blackwell Publishing Professional, Ames, IA, USA.Google Scholar
Sweeney, RA and Rexroad, PR 1987. Comparison of LECO FP-228 ‘‘nitrogen determinator’’ with AOAC copper catalyst Kjeldahl method for crude protein. Journal Association of Official Agricultural Chemists International 70, 10281030.Google Scholar
Teague, WR and Dowhower, SL 2003. Patch dynamics under rotational and continuous grazing management in large, heterogeneous paddocks. Journal of Arid Environment 53, 211229.Google Scholar
Urban, B and Caudal, JP 1990. Herbomètre automatisé. In Les Journées de la mesure électronique, informatique, automatique (ed. INRA Département Informatique), pp. 5759. INRA Département Informatique, Port Leucate, France.Google Scholar
Van Soest, PJ, Robertson, JB and Lewis, BA 1991. Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. Journal of Dairy Science 74, 35833597.Google Scholar
Verheyden-Tixier, H, Renaud, PC, Morellet, N, Jamot, NJ, Besle, JM and Dumont, B 2008. Selection for nutrients by red deer hinds feeding on a mixed forest edge. Oecologia 156, 715726.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vlaeminck, B, Fievez, V, Cabrita, ARJ, Fonseca, AJM and Dewhurst, RJ 2006. Factors affecting odd- and branched-chain fatty acids in milk: a review. Animal Feed Science and Technology 131, 389417.Google Scholar
Vlaeminck, B, Abrahamse, PA, Fievez, V, Lourenco, M, Dijkstra, J and Tamminga, S 2010. The effect of allocation frequency in rotational grazing systems on the fatty acid profile in milk fat of dairy cows. In Proceeding of the 23rd General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation – grassland in a changing world (ed. H Schnyder, J Isselstein, F, Taube, K Auerswald, J Schellemberg, M Wachendorf, A Hermann, M Gierus, N Grage, and A Hopkins), pp. 586–588. Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.Google Scholar
Willems, H, Kreuzer, M and Leiber, M 2014. Alpha-linolenic and linoleic acid in meat and adipose tissue of grazing lambs differ among alpine pasture types with contrasting plant species and phenolic compound composition. Small Ruminant Research 116, 153164.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Coppa Supplementary Material

Tables S1-S2

Download Coppa Supplementary Material(File)
File 521.7 KB