The feed intake and performance of dairy cows fed on cut grass

1962 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Halley ◽  
B. M. Dougall

SummaryIn the years 1959, 1960 and 1961 sections of the College herd of pedigree Guernsey cows were fed indoors on cut grass. The grass, cut twice each day, was fed in excess of appetite.The weight of grass dry matter consumed varied significantly in each year with the percentage of dry matter in the grass. In one year only did the dry-matter consumption vary significantly with the percentage of crude fibre in the grass.The weight of drinking water consumed varied significantly with the percentage of dry matter in the grass. The total water intake, i.e. drinking water plus uncombined water in the grass, remained almost constant at approximately 14 gal per cow per day.The use of a concentrate supplement in 1960 and 1961 produced small increases in yield which were not statistically significant. If, however, the differences recorded were real, then they would have been economic in one year and not in the other.The intake of starch equivalent, calculated from the chemical analyses of the grass, could not be reconciled with the performance of the cows.

1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (109) ◽  
pp. 167 ◽  
Author(s):  
KR King ◽  
CR Stockdale

During summer in the Goulburn Valley, two herds of Jersey- Friesian crossbred cows were used to study the effects of restricted access to drinking water. There were three treatments applied to two herds-(1) free access, (2) 20 min. access before each milking, and (3) 20 min. access before the night milking only. One herd was individually penned and had free access to shade while the other was grazed with no access to shade. Both herds were fed irrigated perennial pasture containing 24.5% dry matter. Maximum air temperature averaged 33.7�C. Over the whole experiment, restricting the access of dairy cows to drinking water did not significantly reduce mean milk yield (mean 12.6 kg/cow day-1) or mean liveweight of cows (mean 41 1 kg) in either herd. However, during the first 4 days of treatment, mean milk yield and mean liveweight were lower (P < 0.05) for cows on a once-a-day access than for those on either free or twice-daily access. In the pen experiment, intake of drinking water averaged 67,45 and 49 l/cow day-1 for treatments 1, 2 and 3, respectively; dry matter intake was unaffected by treatment (mean 15.6 kg/cow day-1). Because of the modifying influence of shade on the environment of the penned cows, there was no significant effects of climate on their water intake. It was concluded that farmers need not supply drinking water to dairy cows in all paddocks.


2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciene Lignani Bitencourt ◽  
José Ricardo Martins Silva ◽  
Bruno Menezes Lopes de Oliveira ◽  
Gilson Sebastião Dias Júnior ◽  
Fernanda Lopes ◽  
...  

Dietary yeast supplementation may improve the digestive efficiency of ruminants, but responses depend on the yeast strain and the diet composition. Corn silage and citrus pulp are usual carbohydrate sources for dairy cows in southeast Brazil. This study evaluated the supplementation of dairy cows fedding on corn silage-citrus pulp-based diets with Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077 (Lallemand SAS, Toulouse, France). Twenty multiparous, midlactation Holstein cows were assigned to two treatments in crossover design. Treatments were: live yeast on oyster meal capable of supplying a daily minimum of 1 × 10(10) CFU per cow or oyster meal top-dressed at 10 g to the morning meal. Diet contained (% of dry matter): 16.8% crude protein, 30.9% neutral detergent fiber, 43.9% corn silage, 2% tifton hay, 14.4% steam flaked corn, 16.9% citrus pulp and 21.7% soybean meal. Yeast supplementation increased daily yields of milk (29.4 vs. 28.5 kg, p = 0.11), protein (0.939 vs. 0.908 kg, p = 0.05), and lactose (1.294 vs. 1.241 kg, p = 0.06), but did not affect milk fat contents (p = 0.59). Daily dry matter intake was 21.4 with yeast and 20.7 kg for the control (p = 0.11). Total tract apparent digestibility of the neutral detergent fiber was 48.1% with yeast and 43.2% for the control (p = 0.08). There was a trend for increased intake of digestible organic matter with yeast supplementation (p = 0.07). The positive milk protein yield response to yeast supplementation may have resulted from the increased fiber digestibility, but the response mechanism could not be elucidated.


1959 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 230-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. C. Jones

1. Four varieties of marrow stem kale, three of thousand headed kales, Hungry Gap Kale and Rape-Kale were grown at three centres in mid-Wales. They were sampled in the early winter period and separate leaf and stem samples analysed for the proximate constituents and minerals.2. Leaf to stem ratios were measured on both a green and dry matter basis and the latter values used to calculate whole plant values for the chemical constituents.3. The leaves of the marrow stem kales were higher in dry matter than the stems, except in the case of the Purple Stem Kale. This variety resembled the thousand headed and rape-type kales in having a higher dry matter in the stems. On a dry matter basis, the leaves of all the varieties were richer than the stems in ether extract, crude protein, total ash and all the minerals except potassium and sodium. These elements occurred to a greater extent in the stems of the fleshy stemmed marrow stem kales than in the leaves. The stems were higher in crude fibre and nitrogen-free extractives.4. The leaves of the rape-type kales were higher than those of the other varieties in silica, phosphorus and potassium. They were the best source of phosphorus on a whole plant basis. The marrow stem kales had considerably higher leaf and stem values for sodium and were markedly superior to the other varieties as a source of the element.


2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 132-142
Author(s):  
T. T. Akpensuen ◽  
J. T. Amodu ◽  
R. J. Tanko ◽  
S. B. Abdu ◽  
O. A. T. Namo ◽  
...  

An experiment was carried out to evaluate two temperate forage legumes (Trifolium pratense and Trifolium repens) and two tropical forage legumes (Stylosanthes guianensis and Centrosema molle) for hay intake and digestibility in the cool tropical climate of Vom, Jos, Plateau State of Nigeria. The legumes were planted in the month of June, 2016 and harvested at early-podding stage for hay. Sixteen (16) growing male New Zealand White rabbits were used for the digestibility study. The rabbits were arranged in a Completely Randomised Design and in individual cages measuring 55 cm x 39 cm x 40 cm. Nutrient contents, intake and digestibility in rabbits were determined. Crude protein content was significantly (P<0.01) higher in T. repens (18.38%) compared to T. pratense (16.50 %), whereas S. guianensis produced the least value of 13.83%. The crude fibre content of the hay was significantly higher (P<0.0I) in S. guianensis (37.29 %) compared to the other forage legumes. Dry matter intake was significantly (P<0.01) higher in rabbits fed T. repens (77.88%) compared to T. pratense (76.57%), and the lowest value of 62.97% was obtained in S. guianensis. Crude protein intake was significantly (P<0.01) higher in rabbits fed T. repens (15.05 g d-1) compared to those fed T. pratense (12.71 g d-1), but S. guianensis had the least value of 8.64 g d-1. On the other hand, rabbits fed S. guianensis hay had a higher (P<0.01) crude fibre intake (23.39%). Trifolium repens was significantly (P<0.01) higher in dry matter and crude protein digestibility (64.79 and 85. 88 %), while S. guianensis had lower values of 56.89 and 71.33%, respectively. Trifolium repens also had a significantly (P<0.01) higher total nitrogen intake and retained compared to the other forage legumes. Nitrogen retained in T. repens was 2.40 g d-1 compared to 1.87 g d-1 in T. pretense, while S. guianensis had the lowest of 1.34 g d-1. The temperate forage legume hays were higher in nutrient content, intake and digestibility compared to the tropical legume hays. Therefore, the forage crops may serve as better supplementary feeds for livestock feeding especially during the dry season.


1957 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 359 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Milford

For each four subtropical grasses there is a significant correlation between daily dry matter intake and total nitrogen in faeces per day. The data have been tested for homogeneity under two hypotheses. In the first a test of the difference in slope between the four regression lines showed that they were not statistically different. It was shown that for a common mean value for total faecal nitrogen, the calculated mean daily dry matter intakes of Paspalum commersonii Lam., Urochloa pullulans Stapf, and Chloris gayana Kunth were similar and the relationship for these three could be expressed by one regression line. However, the calculated mean daily dry matter intake for Panicum maximum var. trichoglume (K. Schum.) Eyles was significantly different from those for the other three grasses and P. maximum var. trichoglume cannot be included in a general regression. In the second hypothesis it was shown that all regression lines could pass through the origin. However, as in the first hypothesis, P. commersonii, U. pullulans, and C. gayana could be represented by a common regression line whllst the regression line for P. maximum differed significantly in slope from those of the other three grasses. The results indicate that species can be grouped for this relationship, and that it could be used to measure intake of the free grazing animal on monospecific swards or on mixed swards of species with similar relationships. Lancaster's technique for determining digestibility is discussed in the light of these relationships. Neither percentage faecal nitrogen nor faecal crude fibre was found to be satisfactorily correlated with dry matter digestibility.


1969 ◽  
Vol 9 (36) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Romberg ◽  
GR Pearce ◽  
DE Tribe

A phalaris-dominant pasture received three treatments: no spray, sprayed with paraquat herbicide at early head emergence (spray 1) and at 50 per cent flowering (spray 2). A series of digestibility trials from November 1966 to March 1967 measured the voluntary intakes by sheep, and the nutrient digestibilities of the material resulting from each treatment. The level of crude protein in the sprayed pasture remained higher throughout the summer than in the unsprayed pasture. However, digestibility of crude protein was only higher for sprayed treatments during January 1967. Spraying did not significantly affect intakes or dry matter and crude fibre digestibilities throughout the period. Sheep receiving spray 2 pasture lost more weight than those receiving pasture from the other two treatments.


1961 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Castle ◽  
A. D. Drysdale ◽  
R. Waite

SummarySince grassland conservation crops are normally bulky fibrous feeds and often limit the appetite and nutrient intake of dairy cows, a feeding trial was made in which a basal ration of hay and grass silage was compared with similar rations containing roots. Three rations were compared in a 12–week winter feeding trial using twelve Ayrshire cows. Ration A consisted of 8 lb of hay and 65 lb of grass silage daily, whilst rations B and C contained 30 and 60 lb of fodder-beet, respectively, in addition. With all three rations concentrates were given at 3½ lb per 10 lb of milk. The total weights of dry matter consumed per day were 29·1, 32·5 and 35·4 lb, respectively, for rations A, B and C and were significantly different. For every 1 lb of additional fodder-beet dry matter eaten the decline in the amount of basal feeds consumed was 0·45 lb. The largest effect was on the silage which fell from 10·8 lb of silage dry matter per day for ration A to 8·8 lb for ration B and 6·8 lb for ration C.The weight of starch equivalent (S.E.) given per day increased significantly from 18·1 lb for treatment A to 22·2 lb for treatment C, whilst at the same time the total weight of crude fibre and lignin eaten decreased significantly in the rations containing fodder-beet.The mean daily milk yields for rations A, B and C were 37·4, 39·2 and 38·5 lb, respectively, with a response of 0·9 lb milk per 1 lb of extra S.E. given between rations A and B but no further response between rations B and C. The fat percentages of the milk were not significantly different for the three rations whereas the solidsnot-fat (S.N.F.) varied significantly from 8·58% for ration A to 8·77% for ration C— a response of 0·05% S.N.F. for each additional 1 lb of S.E. The change in the S.N.F. was mainly in the protein fraction of the milk. The cows were significantly heavier when on ration C than when on ration A.The effect of feeding roots on the appetite of the cow and on the resulting milk quality, and the problems of growing roots on intensively managed grassland farms are briefly discussed.


1972 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 491-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. Reid ◽  
J. F. D. Greenhalgh ◽  
J. N. Aitken

SUMMARYFor phase I of a rotational grazing experiment (three grazing cycles; May–July) a group of nine cows (group S) were ‘conditioned’ to eat fouled herbage by being allowed to graze only on slurry-treated pasture (area 1), and two further groups of nine (groups H and C) grazed on an adjacent area (2) of untreated pasture. One-third of area 2 was harrowed after each grazing. During phase II (the fourth grazing cycle; August) group H grazed on the harrowed part and groups S and C grazed on the remainder of area 2. The herbage allowance was 15 kg dry matter per cow per day in phase I and 12 kg in phase II.In phase I, group S cows ate significantly less than groups C and H combined (9·2 v. 10·5 kg organic matter per day), and lost weight (– 0·37 v. + 0–03 kg/day), but their milk yields were not significantly lower (16·1 v.16–6 kg/day). In phase II neither intake nor milk yield differed significantly between the three groups, but group S cows gained weight while the other two groups lost weight.It was concluded that neither conditioning the cows nor harrowing the pasture was an effective means of avoiding rejection of fouled pasture.


1957 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Glover ◽  
M. H. French

The role of crude fibre in modifying the general equation relating the digestibility coefficient of crude protein to the percentage of crude protein in the dry matter of a feed is described.It is shown that for normal average food-stuffs the effect is slight and that for all practical routine purposes the original equation will provide satisfactory estimates of the digestibility coefficient when only the crude-protein content of the dry feed is known.On the other hand, when exceptional feeds are encountered, particularly those in which the crudefibre/crude-protein relationship is abnormal, then more accurate estimates of the digestibility coefficient of crude protein can be obtained from the modified equation which is described above.


1998 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 276-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Wen-Shyg Chiou ◽  
Bi Yu ◽  
Chang Lin

Trials were conducted to study the effect of dietary fibre on performance and nutrient digestibility in growing rabbits. The basal diet was supplemented with 12% cellulose, pectin, lignin, or alfalfa, in four different treatments. Twenty-four 4-week-old Californian male rabbits were randomly allocated into four groups and placed in individual cages. The lignin supplement severely affected both feed intake and performance, pectin second, with dietary cellulose having the least effect. Dietary lignin significantly decreased the digestibility of crude protein, gross energy and dry matter content ( P < 0.05). Rabbits on the pectin supplemented diet digested dry matter, crude fibre and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) better ( P < 0.05) than other treatment groups. On the other hand, rabbits in the lignin group digested crude fibre, acid detergent fibre (ADF) and NDF significantly less well than rabbits in other groups ( P < 0.05). Dietary lignin also significantly decreased the caecal concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA, P < 0.05) but did not significantly affect the molar ratios of the VFAs among treatment groups. The turnover rate of the marker, chromic oxide, in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of rabbits was 64.94, 51.81, 44.05 and 29.59 h in the pectin, alfalfa, lignin and cellulose treatment groups, respectively. The rate of turnover in the digestive tract significantly influenced digestibility of fibre components but did not significantly influence caecal fermentation.


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