Effect of three day-time stocking rates for dairy cows offered silage overnight

1984 ◽  
Vol 1984 ◽  
pp. 19-19
Author(s):  
D J Roberts ◽  
J D Leaver
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Design Experiment ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Grazing Season ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Reverse Trend ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Stocking Rates

In a previous study (Phillips and Leaver, 1983) grass silage was offered indoors overnight to dairy cows which were set-stocked during the day. The intakes of herbage DM were high in spring and declined thereafter, with silage DM intakes showing the reverse trend. This suggested that a single daytime stocking rate could be practised throughout the grazing season if silage was available ad libitum as a buffer feed. In this experiment, three daytime stocking rates were compared.In a continuous design experiment lasting 24 weeks (17 April to 5 October 1983) 36 late winter calving Friesian dairy cows and heifers were housed and offered grass silage ad libitum overnight in a feeding passage. During the daytime the cows were set-stocked at 8, 10 or 12 cows/ha. Concentrates were fed at a level of 3 kg/day for weeks 1-16 and 22-24; 5 kg/day were fed for weeks 17-21.

The effect of systems of grassland management and winter feeding on the productivity of an 18-month grass-cereal beef system

1978 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-107
Author(s):  
J. B. Moran ◽  
W. Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Grassland Management ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Field System ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Stocking Rates

ABSTRACTExperiments in two successive years with 24 cattle compared a six-paddock grazing system with a simpler two-field system. In each system the whole area was cut for conservation once during the season. The two systems were stocked each at 3·9 or 6·5 cattle/ha. In the following winters the cattle were offered grass silage (1974) or dried lucerne pellets (1975) ad libitum with two levels of barley.Daily gains on pasture were depressed by the higher stocking rate but there was no difference between grazing systems. The yield of conserved grass was least on the high stocking rate two-field system. The estimated output of utilized metabolizable energy per hectare was highest on the high stocking rate paddock grazing system but the output from the low stocking rate two-field system was almost as high. It was concluded that the latter system was valuable in many practical situations. Cattle that had been grazed at low stocking rates finished earlier in winter. There was some evidence of winter compensation in cattle weight gain on diets with dried lucerne pellets but not on grass silage diets.

Effects of replacing barley/soya with malt distillers grains (draff) in silage based complete diets for dairy cows

1989 ◽  
Vol 1989 ◽  
pp. 64-64
Author(s):  
J J Hyslop ◽  
D J Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Previous Experiment ◽  
Distillers Grains ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Design Experiment ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Friesian Cows

In a previous experiment outlined at last year's conference (Hyslop and Roberts, 1988), it was demonstrated that replacement of a proprietary pelleted concentrate with malt distillers grains (draff), should be limited to 15% of total dry matter intake (DMI) when draff is offered in two feeds per day. However there is little evidence to validate such a limitation when draff is used as a concentrate replacement in complete diets. This experiment examined the effect of replacing barley/soya with draff plus additional minerals in silage based complete diets.In a cyclic changeover design experiment consisting of 4 three week periods, fifteen British Friesian cows in early lactation were offered five treatments. Cows were given ad libitum access to one of five complete diets based on grass silage (69 “D”). Draff plus additional minerals gradually replaced barley/soya at increasing rates in diets 0-4 respectively.

A Comparison of three energy levels in straw mixes used for partial storage feeding of dairy cows

1986 ◽  
Vol 1986 ◽  
pp. 63-63
Author(s):  
D J Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Energy Levels ◽  
Design Experiment ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Optimum Energy ◽  
Grazing Area ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ad Libitum

Partial storage feeding (grazing during the daytime and housing overnight) is becoming an established management system after turnout in the spring. Ad libitum grass silage is the most common overnight feed. However, some farmers do not have adequate silage available and a straw mix is a possible alternative feed. There is little information available concerning the optimum energy content of straw mixes (or other forages) used for partial storage feeding. In this experiment 3 straw mixes were fed with different energy contents.In a continuous design experiment lasting 8 weeks (18 April to 12 June 1985) 60 autumn calving Friesian dairy cows and heifers were set stocked together during the daytime at 10 cows/ha. They were housed overnight and straw mixes, with low (L), medium (M) or high (H) metabolisable energy (ME) contents, were fed ad libitum each to 20 cows. In addition an average of 2.3 kg concentrates were offered daily. The grazing area was a perennial ryegrass ley which received 224 kg N, 13 kg P2O5 and 13 kg K2O/ha. The mean composition of the straw mixes, herbage and concentrate are given in Tables 1 and 2.

Effect of concentrate level and stocking rate on performance of dairy cows calving in late winter

1976 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Post Partum ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Grazing Season ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Stocking Rates

SUMMARYA 2 × 2 factorial design experiment was conducted for 2 years using 72 British Friesian cows to assess the effects of two levels of concentrate input (822 and 610 ± 13·7 kg/cow) and two stocking rates (6·4 and 4·9 cows/ha) on animal performance. The animals, which had a mean calving date of 22 January, were blocked according to calving date and allocated at random to treatments within each block.All concentrates were given during the post-partum, indoor-feeding period in addition toad libitumgrass silage. All animals received equal concentrate inputs/kg milk produced for the first 4 weeks after calving following which the input to the low concentrate animals was reduced. The animals went to pasture during mid-April and were rotationally grazed for a 24-week period. The pasture received 450 kg N/ha. No interaction between concentrate input and stocking rate was found. The mean milk outputs during the winter period were 2064 and 1971 ±23·9 kg, during the grazing period 2679 and 2739 ± 53·2 kg, and during the total lactation 4991 and 4984 ± 78·8 kg for the high and low concentrate groups respectively. The mean live weights for the two groups were 515 and 496 + 3·1 kg at the end of the winter period and 549 and 537 ± 4·1 kg at the end of the grazing season. The mean values for the high and low stocking rates respectively were: output/cow at pasture, 2571 and 2847 ± 53·2 kg; total lactation yield, 4804 and 5170 + 78·8 kg; live weight at end of grazing season, 529 and 558 + 4·1 kg. Milk composition data are also presented.

scholarly journals Effect of increasing digestible undegraded protein supply to dairy cows in late gestation on the yield and composition of milk during the subsequent lactation

1996 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Moorby ◽  
R. J. Dewhurst ◽  
S. Marsden
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Protein Supplement ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Body Protein ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Management Regime ◽  
Protein Pool ◽  
Ad Libitum

AbstractEffects of feeding a protein supplement to dairy cows during the dry period on performance during the following lactation were investigated in two experiments. Holstein-Friesian cows were paired towards the end of lactation, and, after drying off, one of each pair received a typical dry cow management regime of ad libitum grass silage (experiment 1), or a mix of grass silage and distillers' grains or pressed beet pulp (experiment 2). The other cows were offered restricted access to the same basal diet, together with ad libitum access to barley straw and 0·5 kg/day high protein maize gluten meal. During the following lactation, animals from both groups were treated without reference to dry period treatment, and were offered equal access to the same lactation diet. Data were analysed by analysis of variance of experiment means and by parallel curve analysis using sample means. In experiment 1, milk yields were similar (27·2 v. 27·9 (s.e.d. 2·12) kg/day for control and supplemented animals respectively) but milk protein yields, and hence concentrations, were significantly higher (P < 0·001) from supplemented animals (28·9 v. 31·8 (s.e.d. 0·58) g/kg). In experiment 2, milk yields were significantly higher (P < 0·001) from supplemented animals (mean 33·3 v. 35·4 (s.e.d. 1·66) kg/day; however, milk protein yields were also significantly increased (P < 0·001) and the change in milk protein concentration was small. No difference in dry-matter intake was recorded in a subset of animals during early lactation in experiment 2. It is hypothesized that the maternal labile body protein pool was maintained or replenished during the dry period by the provision of the protein supplement, and that this had a significant effect on subsequent lactation performance.

Supplementary feeding of dairy cows on continuously stocked pasture

1984 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. Jennings ◽  
W. Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Latin Square ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Total Output ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Stocking Rates

SummaryTwo experiments were conducted with milking cows on continuously stocked perennial ryegrass pastures. In each a control group, T0, received 1 kg/day of a concentrate supplement and treatment groups T1 and T2 received 4 kg (Expt 1) or 5 kg/day (Expt 2) of a low quality T1 or a high quality T2 concentrate. In Expt 1 treatments were applied continuously for 14 weeks to a total of 30 cows. In Expt 2 a Latin square design for 9 weeks was conducted with 18 cows. The stocking rate of the pasture declined from 9·6 to 5·1 cows per ha (mean 6·7 cows/ha) from May to August (Expt 1) and was maintained at 3 cows/ha in August-October (Expt 2).Supplements increased total intakes by 0·92 and 0·77 kg organic matter (OM)/kg OM supplied in the concentrates respectively for Expts 1 and 2. Milk yields increased by 0·6 and 0·5 kg/kg concentrate supplied and supplemented cows showed small increases in live weight. Differences in lactation milk yield just approached significance. Grazing times were only slightly reduced by supplements and bite sizes were lower than normal. There was no important difference in animal performance between the two concentrates. The total output from the pasture was 19·6t milk and 115 GJ of utilized metabolizable energy per hectare.Reasons for the high supplementary effect of the concentrates and its implications for stocking rates are discussed.

The response of January/February calving british friesian cows to level of protein supplementation

1986 ◽  
Vol 1986 ◽  
pp. 8-8
Author(s):  
A Reeve ◽  
R D Baker ◽  
R G Hodson
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Protein Supplementation ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Protein Requirements ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Recent Debate ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Present Trial ◽  
General Reduction ◽  
Friesian Cows

There has been much recent debate about the protein requirements of lactatinq dairy cows, and this issue has been heightened by a general reduction in concentrate feeding in response to the imposition of milk quotas. Furthermore, the value of silage as a source of protein has been questioned widely. The objective of the present trial was to determine the effect of increasing supplementary protein on the performance of cows with ad libitum access to high quality grass silage.The trial, using January/February calving British Frieslan cows in second or subsequent lactations, was performed at Ravenscroft Hall Farm, Middlewich, Cheshire. Four groups of 15 cows were offered either 3 or 6 kg/head/day of cereal/soya/fishmeal based compound feeds containing either 214 (L) or 403 (H) g CP/kg DM, and high quality grass silage ad libitum.

Effect of Metabolisable Protein on intake of grass silage and milk protein yield in dairy cows.

1994 ◽  
Vol 1994 ◽  
pp. 113-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.R. Newbold ◽  
B.R. Cottrill ◽  
R.M. Mansbridge ◽  
J.S. Blake
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Protein Yield ◽  
Holstein Cows ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Few Data

Few data are available to evaluate the Metabolisable Protein (MP) System (AFRC, 1992) as an aid to ration formulation for dairy cows. Responses of lactating dairy cows to MP were evaluated in two experiments.In Experiment One, groups of 10 Holstein cows were offered grass silage ad libitum and 7kg DM/d of one of six (treatments 1-6) compound foods from 39d after calving, for eight weeks. All rations were isoenergetic, assuming silage intake of 11kg DM/d (typical for the herd). Ratios between MP supply (calculated from in situ protein degradability measurements) and requirement (calculated for a standard cow: 565kg live weight, 281 milk/d, 40g/kg butterfat, 33g/kg milk protein, liveweight change =0kg/d) were 1.00, 1.02, 1.06, 1.06, 1.1 and 1.17 for treatments 1-6, respectively.

The inter-relationships of grazing method and stocking rate in the efficiency of pasture utilization by dairy cattle

1963 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. P. McMeekan ◽  
M. J. Walshe
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Vanishing Point ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Stocking Rates

1. A large-scale grazing management study comparing rotational grazing and continuous grazing with dairy cows at two stocking rates over four complete production seasons is described.2. The four treatments were: (i) controlled grazing, light stocking rate; (ii) controlled grazing, heavy stocking rate; (iii) uncontrolled grazing, light stocking rate; (iv) uncontrolled grazing, heavy stocking rate.Each treatment involved 40 cows for a first 2-year phase and 42 cows for the following 2 years. Each herd had a normal age distribution pattern and seven 2-year-old first lactation heifers (17% of total herd) were introduced each year to maintain this pattern.3. Stocking rate was the more important factor affecting the efficiency of pasture utilization as measured by per acre output of milk and butterfat. In general, high stocking was associated with higher outputs per acre despite lower yields per animal.4. Grazing method was of less importance. In general, controlled rotational grazing was superior to uncontrolled continuous grazing, both per animal and per acre, but the average influence even of these extremes of management was only half that of stocking rate.5. Significant interactions between stocking rate and grazing method existed. Under continuous grazing a point was reached where production per acre declined to the vanishing point with increased stocking rate due to excessive depression of per cow yield: this point was not reached under rotational grazing at the same high stocking levels.6. The results suggest that optimum stocking rate under rotational grazing occurs at a level some 5–10% higher than under continuous grazing. A depression of 10–12% in per cow yield, compared with more lenient grazing, corresponds with optimum stocking level irrespective of the grazing system. This estimate is suggested as a guide line in applying the principles involved.

scholarly journals Influence of stocking rate and advancing season on forage intake, digestibility, and ruminal fermentation in steers supplemented with dried distillers grains with solubles while grazing northern Great Plains rangelands1

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayla E Chilcoat ◽  
Matthew S Crouse ◽  
Michael R Undi ◽  
Joel S Caton ◽  
Bryan W Neville
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Ruminal Fermentation ◽  
Grazing Season ◽  
Distillers Grains With Solubles ◽  
Ruminal Ph ◽  
Stocking Rates

Abstract The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of stocking rate and advancing season on diet chemical composition, intake, digestibility, and ruminal fermentation in steers supplemented with distillers grains with solubles [0.3% of body weight (BW)] while grazing northern Great Plains rangelands. Angus cross beef steers (n = 188; 320 ± 30.3 kg initial BW) were used to establish targeted stocking rates, and 12 ruminal cannulated steers (272 ± 20.0 kg initial BW) were used for diet sampling while cograzing with the noncannulated animals on 12 pastures (n = 3 per treatment). Stocking rates were set to target 65%, 50%, 35%, and 20% of an average annual above-ground biomass remaining at the end of the grazing season (May–September). Five 10-d collection periods were conducted for May 13–22, June 10–19, July 8–17, August 5–14, and September 2–11. There was no difference in steer BWs or average daily gain during any of the collection periods or between stocking rate (P ≥ 0.10). Organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber of forage masticate samples were not affected (P ≥ 0.25) by stocking rate. Crude protein, and all N fractions of forage masticates also did not differ between stocking rate treatments (P ≥ 0.18). Forage OM intake (grams per kilogram of BW) increased cubically across the entire grazing season (P = 0.05). Organic matter digestibility decreased quadratically (P &lt; 0.01) from May to September. Neutral detergent fiber digestibility showed a cubic effect (P &lt; 0.01) across the grazing season, increasing from May to June, then decreasing till September. Crude protein digestibility decreased linearly (P &lt; 0.01) as the season advanced. Ruminal ammonia and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations were affected by stocking rate × period interactions (P ≤ 0.02). Ruminal pH, ammonia, and VFA concentrations were not affected by the stocking rate (P &gt; 0.13) but were impacted by the advancing season (P &lt; 0.01). Ruminal pH increased quadratically (P ≤ 0.01) with advancing season (6.3 to 6.6 ± 0.05 from May to September, respectively). The results of this study demonstrate that intake, fermentation, and digestibility of northern Great Plains forages were influenced more by seasonal factors associated with forage maturity than stocking rate under the conditions of this study.

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