scholarly journals Effect of time of initial grazing date and subsequent stocking rate on pasture production and dairy cow performance

2004 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 489-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael O’Donovan ◽  
Luc Delaby ◽  
Jean Louis Peyraud
1966 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.G. Campbell

1. Net pasture dry matter production and available pasture dry matter were measured over 3 years in a small-scale replica of the study of the effects of dairy cow grazing management and stocking rate reported by McMeekan & Walshe (1963).2. The four treatments were(i) Controlled rotational grazing, light stocking rate (0.95 cows/acre).(ii) Controlled rotational grazing, heavy stocking rate (1.19 cows/acre).(iii) Uncontrolled, set stocked grazing, light stocking rate (0.95 cows/acre).(iv) Uncontrolled, set stocked grazing, heavy stocking rate (1.19 cows/acre).3. The pasture measurement technique employed measured net pasture production (gains through new growth minus losses from all sources). It is argued that this parameter, rather than absolute pasture production, governs the changes in the dry matter feed supply to the grazing animal.


2003 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 1268-1281 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.H. Fike ◽  
C.R. Staples ◽  
L.E. Sollenberger ◽  
B. Macoon ◽  
J.E. Moore

Author(s):  
W.N. Reynolds

Following the 2007/08 drought, we experienced poor pasture production and persistence on our dairy farm in north Waikato, leading to decreased milksolids production and a greater reliance on bought-in feed. It is estimated that the cost of this to our farming operation was about $1300 per hectare per year in lost operating profit. While climate and black beetle were factors, they did not explain everything, and other factors were also involved. In the last 3 years we have changed our management strategies to better withstand dry summers, the catalyst for which was becoming the DairyNZ Pasture Improvement Focus Farm for the north Waikato. The major changes we made were to reduce stocking rate, actively manage pastures in summer to reduce over-grazing, and pay more attention to detail in our pasture renewal programme. To date the result has been a reduced need for pasture renewal, a lift in whole farm performance and increased profitability. Keywords: Focus farm, over-grazing, pasture management, pasture persistence, profitability


2002 ◽  
Vol 2002 ◽  
pp. 92-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Kokkonen ◽  
J. Taponen ◽  
S. Alasuutari ◽  
M. Nousiainen ◽  
T. Anttila ◽  
...  

In ruminants plasma leptin is increased with increasing body fatness. Leptin acts on hypothalamus to decrease food intake and increase energy expenditure. It is possible that leptin has a key role in transition from pregnancy to lactation of dairy cows. The objective of the present work was to investigate the pattern of plasma leptin concentration, as well as its relationship with other hormones and metabolites and dairy cow performance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 80-80
Author(s):  
Keira M Cruickshank ◽  
Bayissa Hatew ◽  
Amanda M Gehman ◽  
Karen M Koenig ◽  
Eduardo S Ribeiro ◽  
...  

Abstract The objective of this experiment was to determine how source of selenium (Se) affects dairy cow performance, antioxidant status, and apparent absorption and retention. Multiparous Holstein cows (n = 24; 597 ± 49 kg BW) were blocked by days in milk (161 ± 18) and randomly assigned to receive 0.3 mg/kg of either: 1) organic Se (selenized yeast; ORG; Sel-Plex-Alltech); or, 2) inorganic Se (sodium selenite; INO) premix, top dressed and mixed into a ration daily. After an 11-week adaptation period (blood and milk sampled monthly), cows received an intraruminal dose of Se77 (either Se77 yeast or NaSe77O3) followed by a 4-day period of blood and rumen fluid sampling, and total collection of feces, urine, and milk. Data were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX in SAS with fixed effects of treatment, time, and their interaction, and random effect of block. Daily DMI (23 ± 0.6 kg), milk yield (35 ± 1.2 kg), plasma glutathione peroxidase (64 ± 4.2 U), and serum Se (0.11 ± 0.003 µg/g) were not different between treatments during the adaptation period. Serum Se77 maximum concentration and area under the curve (AUC) were not different between treatments for 72 hours following infusion, but rumen fluid Se77 AUC was higher (P = 0.02) for ORG cows. Apparent absorption (64 ± 1.3%) and retention (44 ± 1.5%) of the Se77 dose did not differ between treatments. The ORG cows had lower urinary excretion (13 vs. 17 ± 0.6%; P < 0.01), higher milk excretion (6 vs. 2 ± 0.3%; P < 0.01), and similar fecal excretion (36 ± 1.3%; P = 0.9) of Se77 compared to INO cows. These results indicate that ORG Se increased Se content of milk and decreased Se excretion in urine, but did not alter performance, antioxidant status, and apparent absorption and retention of Se in mid-lactation cows.


Author(s):  
R.M. Monaghan ◽  
R.J. Paton ◽  
L.C. Smith ◽  
C. Binet

In response to local concerns about the expanding Southland dairy herd, a 4-year study was initiated in 1995 with the primary objective of quantifying nitrate-N losses to waterways from intensively grazed cattle pastures. Treatments were annual N fertiliser inputs of 0, 100, 200 or 400 kg N/ha. Stocking rate was set according to the pasture production on each of these four treatments, and over the 4 years of study ranged between the equivalent of 2.0 cows/ha for the 0N treatment, to 3.0 cows/ha for the treatment receiving 400 kg N/ ha/year. Mean annual losses of nitrate-N in drainage were 30, 34, 46 and 56 kg N/ha for the 0, 100, 200 and 400 kg N/ha/year treatments, respectively. Corresponding mean nitrate-N concentrations in drainage waters were 8.3, 9.2, 12.5 and 15.4 mg/ l, respectively. Very little direct leaching of fertiliser N was observed, even for drainage events in early spring, shortly after urea fertiliser application. The increased nitrate-N losses at higher rates of N fertiliser addition were instead owing to the indirect effect of increasing returns of urine and dung N to pasture. In Years 2 and 3, leaching losses of Ca, Mg, K, Na and sulphate-S averaged 61, 9, 11, 28 and 17 kg/ha/year, respectively, in the 0N fertiliser treatment. Increasing fertiliser N inputs significantly increased calcium and, to a lesser extent, potassium leaching losses but had no effect on losses of other plant nutrients. Surface runoff losses of Total-P, nitrate-N and ammonium- N were less than 0.5 kg/ha/year. For this well-drained Fleming soil, surface runoff was a relatively minor contributor of N to surface water, even for plots receiving high rates of fertiliser N and at a stocking rate of 3.0 cows/ha. Extrapolating these results to a 'typical' dairy pasture in Eastern Southland would suggest that the safe upper limit for annual fertiliser N additions to this site to achieve nitrate in drainage water below the drinking water standard is approximately 170 kg N/ha. Although losses of Ca in drainage were large, returns of this nutrient in maintenance applications of superphosphate-based products and lime should ensure Ca deficiencies are avoided in Southland dairy pastures. Keywords: cation-anion balances, dairy, N fertiliser, nitrate leaching, surface runoff, Southland


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