The effect of sward height on beef cow performance and on the relationship between calf milk and herbage intakes

1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. Wright ◽  
A. J. F. Russel
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Milk Intake ◽  
Beef Cow ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
Calf Performance ◽  
Cow Performance

ABSTRACTGroups of 12 spring-calving cows and their calves were allocated to each of three continuous grazing treatments: cows and calves grazed a 4- to 5-cm sward (LI), cows grazed a 4- to 5-cm sward and their calves grazed an 8- to 10-cm sward (Lh) and cows and calves grazed an 8- to 10-cm sward (Hh). In each case cows and calves grazed separately. Sward height had a large effect on both cow and calf performance and intake. The short swards reduced cow herbage intake proportionately by 0·2 compared with that of the taller sward. Cow live-weight gains were −0·60, −0·59 and 0·42 (s.e.d. 0·103) kg/day on treatments LI, Lh and Hh respectively while calf live-weight gains were 0·80, 0·95 and 1·14 (s.e.d. 0·040) kg/day. Calf milk intakes were 7·05, 5·78 and 9·34 (s.e.d. 0·508) kg/day respectively while daily herbage intakes were 17·2, 22·0 and 19·8 (s.e.d. 1·35) g organic matter per kg live weight for treatments LI, Lh and Hh. There was a negative association between calf herbage and milk organic matter intakes in the treatments where the calves had access to a more generous sward height (treatments Lh and Hh), the regression coefficient being −0·89 (s.e. 0·381), indicating the calves' ability to increase herbage intake in response to a reduction in milk intake. On the LI treatment there was no significant relationship between milk and herbage intakes. The ability of grazing suckled calves to compensate for a reduction in milk intake is thus dependent on sward conditions, and may also depend on herbage digestibility. The increase in herbage intake cannot however compensate fully for a restriction in milk supply.

The herbage intake and performance of autumn-calving beef cows and their calves when grazing continuously at two sward heights

1990 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. Wright ◽  
T. K. Whyte ◽  
K. Osoro
Keyword(s):  
Live Weight ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
Cow Performance ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Calving Difficulty

ABSTRACTThirty-nine Hereford × Friesian autumn-calving cows (mean calving date 17 September) and their Charolais-cross calves were used in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment to assess the effects of feeding level in winter and sward height in summer on intake and performance. Mean estimated metabolizable energy intakes during winter (30 October to 6 May) were 63 (L) or 92 (H) MJ/day. Two sward heights, 4·8 (SI) or 7·6 (Tl) cm, were imposed from turn-out to weaning on 3 July, and a further two sward heights, 4·7 (S2) or 8·0 (T2) cm, from weaning to housing on 1 October. At turn-out the H cows were 17 kg heavier (P > 0·05) than the L cows and their calves were 30 kg heavier (P < 0·01). Cow herbage intakes were significantly higher on the Tl and T2 treatments compared with the SI and S2 treatments as were live-weight changes: 0·94 v. –0·01 kg/day (P < 0·001) for Tl and SI treatments and 0·96 v. –0·18 kg/day (P < 0·001) for T2 and S2 treatments respectively. Calves on the Tl treatment had higher live-weight gains than those on the SI treatment (1·40 v. 0·63 kg/day; P < 0·001). After weaning the SI cows had significantly higher herbage organic matter intakes than the Tl cows (P < 0·05) and had significantly higher live-weight gains (0·51 v. 0·28 kg/day; P < 0·05). Calving difficulty and calf birth weight were not affected by any of the treatments. The results demonstrate that both previous and current level of nutrition have an effect on cow performance. When cows are turned out to pasture at body condition scores of 2·25 to 2·5, the sward heights recommended for spring-calving cows are equally appropriate for autumn-calving cows.

The effect of winter feeding level on subsequent grazing behaviour and herbage intake of Charolais heifers

1995 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Ferrer Cazcarra ◽  
M. Petit
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Compensatory Gain ◽  
Winter Diets ◽  
Effect Of Feeding ◽  
Grazing Behaviour

AbstractTwo groups of eight Charolais heifers were used to examine the effect of feeding level during the post-weaning winter on the grazing behaviour and herbage intake over three periods during the first 2 months of grazing. The winter diets (L and H) were given to achieve a mean difference of 50 kg between groups at turn-out. The heifers were set-stocked together on a hill pasture where sward height was maintained at 12 cm.The winter live-weight gains were 0·31 and 0·70 (s.e. 0·032) kg/day for L and H heifers respectively, and spring gains 1·94 and 1·66 (s.e. 0·082) kg/day respectively. Intakes increased throughout the spring grazing for both groups. Absolute intakes were lower for L than for H heifers only during the first period (P < 0·05). Intake per kg live weight was higher in L than in H heifers (23·0 v. 21·1 (s.e. 0·54) g organic matter (OM) per kg live weight). Bite weights of H heifers were constant throughout (434, (s.e. 12·9) mg OM), while bite weights ofL heifers only reached those of H heifers in the last period. Bite weight was linearly related to live weight. Bite rates were not different between groups, but L heifers compensated for lower bite weight by grazing longer and they increased their grazing time after turn-out faster than H heifers. Grazing time was mainly responsible for higher relative intakes in L heifers, and thus, partly, for compensatory gain observed.

The effect of winter feeding level and summer sward height on the performance of autumn calving beef cows and their calves

1988 ◽  
Vol 1988 ◽  
pp. 60-60
Author(s):  
I.A. Wright ◽  
T.K. Whyte ◽  
K. Osoro
Keyword(s):  
Live Weight ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Calf Performance ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Friesian Cows ◽  
Winter Feeding

It has been demonstrated previously that sward height has a large effect on herbage intake and performance of spring calving cows and their calves (Wright and Russel, 1986) with maximum cow and calf live-weight gain occurring when sward height is maintained at 8 to 10 cm. No comparable information is available for autumn calving cows, and the aims of the present experiment were to examine the effect of sward height on cow and calf performance, in the pre- and post-weaning periods in cows that were turned out to pasture in late lactation at two levels of body condition.The experiment was a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial, with two levels of winter feeding, two sward heights from turn-out to weaning, and two sward heights from weaning to housing. During the summer grazing periods there were two replicates. Thirty-nine Hereford x Friesian cows (mean calving date 17 Sept, 1986) with Charolais-cross calves were used. The experiment started on 30 October 1986 when the cows and calves were housed in two groups. One group (L) was fed silage alone and the other group (H) was fed silage plus barley. Estimated daily metabolisable energy intakes were 63 MJ (L) and 92 MJ (H). Calves were fed 1 kg barley/day plus hay ad 1ibitum. The cows were mated to Charolais bulls for 8 weeks from 15 November 1986.

The influence of animal age and sward height on the herbage intake and grazing behaviour of Charolais cattle

1995 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Ferrer Cazcarra ◽  
M. Petit
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Biting Rate ◽  
Charolais Cattle ◽  
Grazing Behaviour

AbstractMature dry cows, 18-month-old heifers and 7-month-old female calves of the Charolais breed (eight animals of each age) were strip-grazed on moderate (15cm) or tall (52 and 32cm) cocksfoot swards over two 15-day experimental periods. The swards were leafy regrowths of 2 (short) and 8 (tall) weeks of age. Herbage intake was estimated by the alkane method, and grazing behaviour was visually recorded.Bite weight was lower, grazing time and biting rate greater, and organic matter in take of grass (OMIG) higher on shorter swards, the latter being related to a higher in vitro digestibility and nitrogen concentration. Average OMIG per kg live weight (M) was 15·2, 19·1 and 17·0 (s.e.d. 0·49)g in cows, heifers and calves respectively. The average allometric coefficient between OMIG and M was 0·88 (similar between swards), and close to that obtained with hay after the grazing trial.Faecal markers suggested a greater selectivity of calves compared with older cattle. Average bite weights (BW) were 310 (s.e. 40), 467 (s.e. 112) and 718 (s.e. 144)mg OM in calves, heifers and cows respectively. The allometric coefficient between BW and M was higher in short swards than in tall ones. Biting rates increased and grazing times tended to decrease with age of cattle.

A note on herbage intake by Greyface ewes on perennial ryegrass white clover swards in the autumn

1991 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. Gunn ◽  
J. M. Doney ◽  
W. F. Smith ◽  
A. D. M. Smith ◽  
D. A. Sim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Long Term Effect ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
Stocking Rates

The effects on herbage intake of changes of herbage mass associated with different stocking rates were studied in Greyface (Border Leicester × Scottish Blackface) ewes in the autumn. Intake was measured in 5-day periods in late September (PI), late October (P2) and late November (P3) on two established, perennial ryegrass/white clover swards (SI and S2). Both swards had previously been variably stocked to produce areas with a range in herbage masses, some of which were grazed continuously (G) at stocking rates declining from 18 to 6 ewes per ha.Intake was also measured in P2 and P3 on other areas of the swards which were ungrazed for 6 weeks in September and October (C) and then stocked at 18 ewes per ha. Intakes of dry matter, organic matter and digestible organic matter were 16 g, 10 g and 7·5 g/kg live weight, respectively. Organic matter digestibility was 075 in PI and P2 but declined in P3.Differences in herbage intake and digestibility arose largely because of differences between the swards in herbage mass, sward height and sward density. Ewes in condition scores > 3·00 in early September had lower intakes at all times than did thinner ewes. Changes in sward management associated with different strategies of use had little long-term effect on herbage intake. Keywords: digestibility, herbage, sheep, stocking rate.

Effects of double suckling at pasture 2. Calf performance

1982 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. B. Nicoll
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Milk Intake ◽  
Total Weight ◽  
Calf Growth ◽  
Grazing Experiment ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
Calf Performance ◽  
Annual Total

ABSTRACTTwo experiments were conducted to compare the effects of single and double suckling on the performance of calves at pasture. In association with their own (status 1) calf, each double-suckled cow fostered a Friesian male (status 2) calf during the post-partum housing period. Calf live weights, milk intakes, and daylight grazing times and suckling activities were recorded.Single-suckled calves were significantly heavier at weaning (221 and 209 kg) than either status 1 (185 and 170 kg) or status 2 (180 and 175 kg) double-suckled calves in experiments 1 and 2 respectively. Daily gains of the single- and status 1 and 2 double-suckled calves were 0·87, 0·69 and 0·61 kg/day in experiment 1, and 0·94, 0·72 and 0·70 kg/day in experiment 2. Single-suckled calves consumed significantly more milk per day during three 28- day periods at pasture than did either status 1 or status 2 double-suckled calves (7·9, 5·2 and 50kg/day, and 90, 7·2 and 6·5 kg/day in experiments 1 and 2). Status effects in the double-suckled calves were not significant for live weights, weight gains or milk intakes.Double-suckled calves spent more time grazing and sucked their own or assigned foster dams less frequently than did single-suckled calves. Status 2 double-suckled calves spent more time grazing (experiment 1) and sucked for significantly shorter periods from more foreign dams than did their status 1 contemporaries.It was concluded that double suckling increased annual total weight of calf output per cow but that it was achieved at the expense of individual calf growth performance. Reduced milk intake appeared to be a major factor in limiting live-weight gains in the double-suckled calves.

The prediction of voluntary intake of grazing dairy cows

1986 ◽  
Vol 107 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey Caird ◽  
W. Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Simple Equation ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Farm Planning ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows

SUMMARYInformation on the total organic matter intake, concentrates supplied (C), live weight (LW), week of lactation (WL), milk yield (MY), herbage organic matter digestibility (HOMD), herbage mass, sward height (SHT) or herbage allowance (HAL) measured individually for 357 cows at one of three sites was assembled. Observed intake was compared with intakes predicted by existing intake equations and new prediction equations based on regression models or regression and least-squares constants were developed. Major factors affecting intake were MY, LW, WL, C and HAL or SHT. Although HOMD was correlated with intake, better predictions were obtained when HOMD was omitted. There were differences between sites possibly associated with differences in measurement techniques.The predictive value of some existing equations and new equations were tested against independent sets of data. A simple equation (A) based on MY and LW (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1975) gave satisfactory average predictions but the mean square prediction error (MSPE) was high. The equations of Vadiveloo & Holmes (1979) adjusted for bias gave a relatively low MSPE. The preferred new equations for grazing cattle included MY, LW, WL, C and HAL or SHT, and their MSPE were similar to or lower than for indoor equations.The discussion indicates that a simple equation (A) would give adequate predictions for farm planning. The more detailed equations illustrate the inter-relations of animal with sward conditions and concentrate allowances. Predicted intakes may deviate from actual intakes because of short-term changes in body reserves.

The effect of winter food level on compensatory growth of weaned, suckled calves grazed at two sward heights

1986 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. Wright ◽  
A. J. F. Russel ◽  
E. A. Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Compensatory Growth ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Food Level ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Subsequent Performance ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Winter Food ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
Winter Feeding

ABSTRACTTwo experiments were conducted with weaned, suckled calves to investigate the effect of feeding level during the post-weaning winter on their subsequent performance when continuously grazed on pasture maintained at two sward heights. Low, medium and high levels of winter feeding resulted in winter live-weight gains of 0·31, 0·58 and 0·79 (s.e. 0·027) kg/day (P < 0·001) during the 152-day winter in experiment 1 and 0·44, 0·69 and 0·84 (s.e. 0·029) kg/day (P < 0·001) for 189 days in experiment 2. During summer (93 days in experiment 1 and 87 days in experiment 2) there was a significant effect of winter food level on performance when live-weight gains were 1·10, 1·02, 0·87 and 1·35, 1·23 and 1·19 (s.e. 0·060) kg/day for the low, medium and high winter food levels on the short and tall swards respectively in experiment 1 (P < 0·01) and 0·86, 0·66, 0·51 and 1·26, 1·18 and 0·91 (s.e. 0090) kg/day in experiment 2 (P < 0·001). The cattle showing compensatory growth had higher herbage intakes and it is postulated that this occurred because of a negative association between body fat and herbage intake. Sward height had a large positive effect on herbage intake and live-weight gain and it is concluded that for maximum intake on ryegrass swards, herbage height should be at least 8 cm. Lower levels of winter live-weight gain delayed the time to slaughter, but allowed cattle to achieve heavier carcass weights at a fixed level of fatness.It is concluded that there is no single optimum winter food level for weaned, suckled calves but that the choice will depend upon several factors, including availability of winter and summer food resources, the length of the winter feeding period, the desired date of slaughter and type of carcass to be produced.

The effect of body condition and previous nutrition on the herbage intakes of ewes grazing autumn pastures at two sward heights

1994 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Sibbald ◽  
W. G. Kerr
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Day Treatment ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
High Body ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Grazing Period

AbstractTo examine the effects of body condition and previous nutrition on the herbage intake of ewes grazing swards of different heights in autumn, 96 Scottish Blackface X Border Leicester ewes with a wide range of body condition (score 1·75 to 3·50), were initially housed and given 50 g dry matter (DM) per kg metabolic live weight (M)0·75 per day (treatment L) or 95 g DM per kg M0·75 per day (treatment H) of a pelleted dried grass diet (11·6 MJ metabolizable energy per kg DM) for 6 weeks after weaning in July. The H ewes gained more live weight (9·0 v. 2·7 kg) and body condition score (0·39 v. 0·17) than the L ewes. Half the animals from each treatment were then allocated to each of two ryegrass pastures with a sward height of 5 cm (LS) or 10 cm (HS) for a further 6-week grazing period. During the grazing period there was no significant effect of indoor feeding level on herbage intake, but the L ewes gained more live weight (6·4 v. 5·0 kg) than the H ewes. On the HS, compared with the LS sward, mean herbage intakes were higher (70·0 v. 60·5 g DM per kg M0·75) as were gains in live weight and condition score (7·9 v. 3·4 kg; 0·18 v. 0·0). There were no interactions between the effects of sward height and previous feeding level on herbage intake. Ewes in low body condition (< 2·5) at the start of the grazing period ingested the same amount of herbage on both swards (70·3 g DM per kg M0·75) whereas ewes in high body condition (> 2·5) ingested more (67·0 v. 51·6 g DM per kg M0·75) on the HS compared with the LS sward. The responses of ewes in low and high body condition to different sward heights are discussed in relation to appetite drive and aspects of grazing behaviour.

An investigation of the effect of initial milk yield level on the response to sward height and concentrate supplementation in grazing dairy cows

1995 ◽  
Vol 1995 ◽  
pp. 156-156
Author(s):  
R. Pulido ◽  
J.D. Leaver
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
Concentrate Supplementation ◽  
Yield Level ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Cow Performance ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows

The increase of milk yield potential of dairy cows raises a number of questions relating to their management at pasture where the intake potential might be limiting. The interaction of initial milk yield (IMY), sward availability (SH) and level of concentrate supplementation (CI) is largely unknown.Two experiments of 42 and 24 days in spring and midsummer were carried out with 45 and 27 Holstein Friesian cows respectively. In spring, five IMY groups (range 16.9 to 35.5 kg/day) and in midsummer three IMY groups (range 22.2 to 31.8 kg/day) were used. In both periods, three compressed sward height(3 to 5, 5 to 7 and 7 to 9 cm) and three CI (0, 3 and 6 kg/day, with 160 g CP/kg DM, 12.8 MJ ME/kg DM) were used. The grazing area consisted of 7.9 ha of perennial ryegrass which was set stocked. The herbage intake (HDMI) was estimated indirectly from individual cow performance. Grazing time (GT) was recorded for each cow on 24 hour observations. Multiple regression analyses were carried out relating the dependent variables herbage intake, grazing behaviour and milk production to the independent variables (IMY, SH, CI).

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