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The effect of a short extended grazing period in the spring and straw allocation on the milk yield and composition of autumn calving dairy cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 November 2017

L A Sinclair  and
C McAleer
L A Sinclair*
Affiliation:
Harper Adams University College, Newport, Shrosphire TF10 8NB, United Kingdom
C McAleer
Affiliation:
Harper Adams University College, Newport, Shrosphire TF10 8NB, United Kingdom
*
Email: lsinclair@harper-adams.ac.uk
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Extract

Milk production from grass by autumn calving dairy cows can be increased through extending the grazing season in early spring, therefore reducing the reliance on more expensive conserved forage and concentrates (Peyraud et al., 2004). Turning cows out to pasture earlier in the spring has also been associated with an increase in milk and milk protein yield (Sayers and Mayne, 2001). In contrast, milk fat content may be decreased, possibly due to the lower fibre content of spring grass (Sayers and Mayne, 2001). The inclusion of chopped straw in the ration offers the potential of increasing dietary fibre intake and therefore maintaining milk fat levels (Ferris et al., 2000). The objectives of the current study were to determine the effect of extending the grazing season in spring and increasing the fibre content of the ration on the intake and performance of autumn calving dairy cows.

Type
Theatre Presentations
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 2009 , April 2009 , pp. 82
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2009

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References

Ferris, C.P., Patterson, D.C., Gordon, F.J. and Kilpatrick, D.J. (2000). The effects of incorporating small quantities of straw in grass/grass silage based diets for dairy cows. Grass and Forage Science 55, 146–158.Google Scholar
Peyraud, J.L., Mosquera-Losada, R. and Delaby, L. (2004). Challenges and tools to develop efficient dairy systems based on grazing: how to meet animal performance and grazing management. In: Proc. 20th Meeting of the European Grassland Federation, 373–384.Google Scholar
Sayers, H.J. and Mayne, C.S (2001). Effect of early turnout to grass in spring on dairy cow performance. Grass and Forage Science 56, 259–267.CrossRefGoogle Scholar