Grazing behaviour of Miranda donkeys in a natural mountain pasture and parasitic level changes

SUMMARYThe objectives were to assess the following: (1) the relationship between sward height and chemical composition of four pasture types in association with grazing behaviour and body condition score (BCS) of dairy cows, and (2) the possibility of developing predictive equations of the nutrient intake and grazing behaviour within a continued grazing system. Pasture type had a significant (p < 0.01) effect on nutrient supply from January to June for all pastures investigated. Ryegrass–white clover pasture (RW) had the highest metabolizable protein and metabolizable energy, followed by kikuyu pasture (KP), which was significantly (p < 0.001) higher than native pastures 1 and 2 (NP1 and NP2). The highest values for effective grazing time, bite rate and BCS were found when dairy cows grazed RW followed by KP, NP2 and NP1. The results suggested that pasture type and sward height influenced grazing behaviour and BCS of dairy cows during the dry season. In the same vein, RW showed higher effective grazing time, bite rate, nutrient intake and BCS than the other three pastures suggesting that RW pastures that appear to be more expensive than native pastures could result in superior cow performance.

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Parasitological Significance of Bovine Grazing Behaviour

Nature ◽

10.1038/1751088a0 ◽

1955 ◽

Vol 175 (4468) ◽

pp. 1088-1089 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

J. F. MICHEL

Keyword(s):

Grazing Behaviour

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RUAKURA STUDIES ON THE GRAZING BEHAVIOUR OF DAIRY CATTLE

Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association ◽

10.33584/jnzg.1955.17.1044 ◽

1955 ◽

pp. 96-105

Author(s):

P. Brumby

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cattle ◽

Grazing Cattle ◽

Extensive Grazing ◽

Grazing Behaviour

At the outset it must be made clear that this paper is largely based on John Hancock's extensive grazing behaviour studies at Ruakura. More recently I have had the opportunity of carrying out further observations on grazing cattle. A brief review of these, of Hancock's earlier work, and a number of related overseas reports form the basis of this paper.

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The effect of species complexity and sodium fertilizer application on the grazing behaviour of calves

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) ◽

10.1017/s0308229600024673 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 1993 ◽

pp. 142-142

Author(s):

M. Youssef ◽

P.C. Chiy ◽

C.J.C. Phillips ◽

M. Metwally

Keyword(s):

Perennial Ryegrass ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Grass Species ◽

Individual Plant ◽

Adult Cattle ◽

High Sodium ◽

Red Fescue ◽

Stages Of Growth ◽

High Sodium Diet ◽

Grazing Behaviour

Cattle exhibit preferences not only for certain sward species but for the same species at different stages of growth, and the various parts of an individual plant and for individual plant of preferred composition. This tendency is termed selective grazing (Fontenot and Blaser, 1965). For example ruminants will select a high Sodium diet. Calves tend to be more selective than adult cattle, muzzling herbage before eating.The aim of the present experiment was to investigate the effect of sward complexity, species and sodium fertilizer on the grazing behaviour of calves.Sixteen dairy Friesian calves, aged 5 to 6 months, with no previous grazing experience, were allocated to groups of 4 similar calves, and then at random to four pasture treatments of 3480m2 each with one (Perennial Ryegrass, P), two (P and Timothy, T), three (P, T and Cocksfoot, C) and four (P, T.C and Red Fescue, R) grass species in a balanced change over design. Each species was sown in plots of 290m2 and one half of each plot received 48Kg/ha. nacl.

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