A comparison of four patterns of allocating maize during lactation to Friesian cows grazing tropical pastures

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 241 ◽  
Author(s):  
TM Davison ◽  
WD Jarrett ◽  
P Martin
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Tropical Pastures ◽  
Fixed Amount ◽  
Flat Rate ◽  
Reverse Pattern ◽  
Tropical Grass ◽  
Friesian Cows

Milk yields were compared over a 280-day lactation using four patterns of allocation of a fixed amount of grain. Four groups of four Friesian cows grazed a mixed tropical grass (Panicum maximum) and legume (Neonotonia wightii cv. Tinaroo) pasture at 1.1 cows/ha from January to December 1980. The lactation was split into four feeding periods: days 1 - 10,11- 100,10 1 - 190, 191-280. All cows were fed a total of 610 kg hammermilled maize, with 10 kg grain fed during the initial covariate period. The four feeding patterns were: (i) flat rate (FR), where cows received 2.22 kg grain/day; (ii) all early (AE), where cows received 600 kg grain between days 11 and 100; (iii) high early, low late (HELL), where cows were fed 3.5, 2.17 and 1.0 kg/day for periods 11-100,101-190and 191- 280 days of lactation; and (iv) low early, high late (LEHL), where cows were fed in the reverse pattern to HELL. Milk yields per cow over 280 days were 4145, 3942, 3794 and 3630 kg [l.s.d. (P=0.05)= 436 kg] for HELL, FR, LEHL and AE respectively. There was very poor utilization of grain by cows fed AE. The relation between milk yield and grain intake in days 1 1-100 of lactation was described by the equation: Y= 13.9+ 1.77X-0.18X2 (P<0.01, s.e.b1= 0.48, s.e.b2 = 0.06), where Y = milk yield (kg/cow.day) and X = grain intake (kg/cow.day). Apportioning more grain to late lactation, when pasture on offer was low, did not compensate for the loss of milk production in early lactation by cows fed LEHL. Cows fed LEHL lost more liveweight in early lactation than all other treatments, but regained this weight in late lactation. Cows in all treatments had similar liveweights (mean 518 kg) at 280 days. Milk butterfat and solids-not-fat yields over 280 days were not significantly different (P>0.05) for any of the four treatments.

Effect of level of meat-and-bone meal and pasture type on milk yield and composition of cows grazing tropical pastures

1990 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 451
Author(s):  
TM Davison ◽  
WD Jarrett ◽  
R Clark
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Confidence Level ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Meat And Bone Meal ◽  
Bone Meal ◽  
Tropical Pastures ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Tropical Grass ◽  
Friesian Cows

An experiment was conducted with Holstein-Friesian cows to determine the effect on milk yield and composition of feeding different amounts of meat-and-bone meal (MBM). Thirty-two cows grazed either tropical grass pastures fertilised with nitrogen (GN) or tropical grass-legume pasture (GL). Cows were offered 2.5 kg DM/day of a molasses supplement incorporating 1 of 4 levels of MBM: 0, 250, 500 or 750 g DM/day. The experiment was conducted over the first 160 days of lactation. With GN pastures, fat-corrected milk (FCM) yield (kg/cow.day) for days 1-160 of lactation was linearly related to the intake of MBM (kg DM/cow.day) and was described by the equation FCM = 14.0 + 1.84 MBM (P<0.01, R2 = 0.95). Most of this response occurred in the first 100 days of lactation, when significant I (P<0.05) relationships between milk yield, FCM yield and intake of MBM were found. Milk yield and FCM yield of cows grazing grass-legume pastures were increased by feeding MBM, but the FCM response was a mean of 32% less than with the nitrogen-fertilised pasture and non-significant at the 5% confidence level. The following mean values over 160 days were recorded for cows on GN and GL pastures, respectively: milk yield, 15.8 and 17.4 kg/day; FCM yield, 14.6 and 16.7 kg/day; butterfat, 3.54 and 3.69%; solids-not-fat, 8.40 and 8.59%; lactose, 4.91 and 4.95%. It was concluded that a MBM supplement will increase the milk yield for cows grazing nitrogen-fertilised pastures, but only during early lactation.

Influence of level of concentrate feeding on milk production and pasture utilization by Friesian cows grazing tropical grass-legume pasture

1977 ◽  
Vol 17 (86) ◽  
pp. 373 ◽  
Author(s):  
RT Cowan ◽  
TM Davison ◽  
P O'Grady
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Soybean Meal ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Tropical Pastures ◽  
Lactation Length ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Pasture Yield ◽  
Tropical Grass ◽  
Friesian Cows

Four groups of four Friesian cows grazed green panic (Panicum maximum var. trichog1ume)- glycine (Glycine wightii cv. Tinaroo) pastures at 4 cows ha-1 for 36 weeks from January to October 1975. Cows were individually fed 0, 2, 4 and 6 kg cow-1 day-1 respectively of a maize-soybean meal concentrate. Fat corrected milk (FCM) response to concentrate was linear and was related to the total concentrate intake (X) by the equation, FCM = 1992 + 1.03 X (R.S.D. � 23; P < 0.001) Persistency of lactation decreased with decreasing levels of concentrate feeding (P < 0.01) and lactation length was reduced for cows receiving low levels of concentrates (P < 0.05). Milk fat content was reduced (P < 0.05) and solids-not-fat and casein contents increased by concentrate feeding (P < 0.05). Cows fed 6 kg concentrate cow-1 day-1 were 50 kg cow-1 heavier at drying off than cows fed no concentrate (P < 0.05). Pasture yield on offer to cows was increased linearly with increased concentrate feeding (P < 0.05) and pasture intake by cows was estimated to decrease by 0.9 kg for each kg of concentrate fed (P < 0.05). FCM response to concentrate appeared to increase markedly when pasture on offer fell below 2500 kg DM ha-1. We conclude that FCM response to concentrate will usually be linear for cows grazing tropical pastures, and the size of this response will be strongly influenced by the period of feeding and the yield of pasture on offer to cows.

Milk production from cows grazing on tropical grass pastures. 2. Effects of stocking rate and level of nitrogen fertilizer on milk yield and pasture-milk yield relationships

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 515 ◽  
Author(s):  
TM Davison ◽  
RT Cowan ◽  
RK Shepherd
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Tropical Grass ◽  
Friesian Cows

The effects of stocking rate and rate of nitrogen fertilizer application on milk yield from a Gatton panic (Panicum maximum cv. Gatton) pasture were studied over 3 years at Kairi Research Station on the Atherton Tablelands. Thirty-two Friesian cows were used in a 4x2 factorial experiment with treatments 2.0,2.5,3.0 and 3.5 cows/ha, each at 200 and 400 kg N/ha.year. Fat-corrected milk (FCM) yield per cow decreased (P<0.05) with increasing stocking rate according to the equation (� s.e.): Y=3476-276 ( � 111) X (P<0.05), where Y is FCM yield per cow (kg), and X is the stocking rate (cows/ha). FCM yield per hectare increased linearly (Pt0.01) with increasing stocking rate in each year and was represented by the following equations ( � s.e.) for nitrogen applications of 200 and 400 kg/ha.year, respectively: Y = 1584 + 1967 (� 289) X Y = 2366 + 1967 (�289) X (P<0.01), and where Y is FCM yield per hectare (kg) and X is the stocking rate (cows/ha). Milk yield per cow and per hectare were significantly increased by the higher rate of fertilizer application (P<0.01) in year 3, but not in years 1 and 2. Mean FCM yields per cow across years were 2574 and 2858 kg from 200 kg N and 400 kg N pastures respectively (P<0.05). The pasture parameters which were most closely correlated with milk yield were green dry matter (GDM) on offer or its components, namely green leaf and green stem. The relations between FCM yield per cow and green dry matter on offer per cow and per hectare were represented by the equations ( � s.e.): Y = 2211 +0.43 (� 0.12) X1 (P<0.01), And Y= 1656 + 0.35 (�0.08) X2 (P<0.01), where Y is FCM yield per cow (kg/lactation), X1 is GDM per cow (kg) and X2 is GDM per hectare (kg). For this environment, it is concluded that a stocking rate of 2.5 cows/ha with 400 kg N/ ha.year can be safely employed to maintain cows on a pure grass pasture from the opening rains in summer until the end of winter.

Effects of nitrogen fertilizer applied in autumn and winter on milk production from a tropical grass-legume grazed at four stocking rates

1976 ◽  
Vol 16 (83) ◽  
pp. 829 ◽  
Author(s):  
RT Cowan ◽  
TH Stobbs
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Second Year ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Friesian Cows

The effect of applying 50 kg N ha-I in autumn and winter each year on milk yield of Friesian cows and dry matter yield and botanical composition of a green panic (Panicum maximum var, trichog1ume)- glycine (Glycine wightii cv. Tinaroo) pasture was measured over two years on the Atherton Tableland, north Queensland. Pastures were grazed at 1.3, 1.6, 1.9 and 2.5 cows ha-1. Milk yield and pasture yield were increased by nitrogen fertilization, particularly at the high stocking rates (P < 0.05). Increases in milk yield from mid-autumn to spring almost totally accounted for increases in annual milk production. Nitrogen fertilizer did not decrease the yield of legume, but legume content of the pasture was reduced in the second year (P < 0.01). Response by non-leguminous species to nitrogen increased (P < 0.05) with stocking rate, a change associated with decreasing legume contents of the pastures. Average fat corrected milk (FCM) yield per cow from mid-autumn to spring was restricted by less than 1600 kg pasture D.M. on offer cow-I or 2500 kg D.M. ha-1. When compared at the same dry matter yields, FCM yield was always higher from nitrogen fertilized pastures than from pastures not recieving fertilizer nitrogen.

Milk yields of cows fed maize and molasses supplements to tropical pastures at two stocking rates

1978 ◽  
Vol 18 (90) ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
RT Cowan ◽  
TM Davison
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Tropical Pastures ◽  
Randomized Block Design ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Supplement Intake ◽  
Friesian Cows

Twenty-four Friesian cows grazing green panic (Panicum maximum var. trichoglume)-glycine (Glycine wightii cv. Tinaroo) pastures at 2 or 4 cows ha-1 were fed no supplement, 2.4 kg maize or 3.0 kg molasses cow-1 day-1. The experiment was a randomized block design and of six months duration. Milk yield and composition were similar for cows fed maize and molasses and these supplements increased average milk yield from 10.3 to 11.8 kg cow-1 day-1 (P < 0.05). Increased stocking rate reduced milk yield from 12.7 to 9.8 kg cow-1 (P < 0.01). Interactions of stocking rate with type of supplement were not significant (P > 0.05). The level of supplement intake and yield of pasture on offer accounted for 52 per cent of the variation in average milk yields (P < 0.01). Of the variation in milk yields between paddocks only 5 per cent was unaccounted for by this relationship.

Management practices for tropical grasses and their effects on pasture and milk production

1981 ◽  
Vol 21 (109) ◽  
pp. 196 ◽  
Author(s):  
TM Davison ◽  
RT Cowan ◽  
PK O'Rourke
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Cow Milk ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Pasture Yield ◽  
Friesian Cows

Two experiments examined the effect different pasture management strategies had on individual cow milk yield during the summer wet season. In control treatments pasture was continuously grazed. In managed pastures the aim was to produce swards with a high leaf and low stem content. The grasses Panicum maximum cv. Gatton and Brachiaria decumbens were used in both experiments. Experiment one consisted of three pasture treatments; the stock were 1 8 Friesian cows. The control treatment was grazed continuously with no pasture management and was compared with two subjectively applied management treatments in which pasture was either slashed or stocked at variable rates in an attempt to increase pasture quality. The experiment lasted 17 weeks. Each time pastures were slashed or extra cows were added milk yield per cow fell. The lower each grass was slashed or the greater the number of cows added to a paddock the greater the fall in milk yield. Measurements of pasture yield, height and structural composition showed that slashing and variable stocking could increase the leaf percentage in the pasture, but not without seriously decreasing total leaf yield. In experiment two, 24 Friesian cows were used to compare the following treatments over a 10-week period (a) control-continuous grazing, (b) rotational grazing using a 2-week grazing, 2-week spelling regime and (c) rotational grazing with slashing after each grazing period. Milk yields averaged 10.6, 9.8 and 9.6 kg/cow day1, respectively (P> 0.05), and 10.1 and 9.9 kg/cow day-1 for B. decumbens and P. maximum pastures (P> 0.05). As in the first experiment, leaf percentage was increased by management treatments, but not without decreasing total pasture yield to the level where it limited milk production. Leaf yields could only be increased with an associated increase in total pasture yield. It was concluded that grazing management decisions should be based on total pasture on offer rather than any percentage component of total yield.

The effects of monensin on milk production and levels of metabolites in blood and rumen fluid of Holstein-Friesian cows in early lactation

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 933 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. C. Granzin ◽  
G. McL. Dryden
Keyword(s):  
Mammary Gland ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Plasma Glucose ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Genetic Merit ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Friesian Cows

Summary. Monensin was fed to Holstein–Friesian cows in early lactation to study its effects on concentrations of blood metabolites, feed intake, body condition and milk production. In the first experiment, 18 Holstein–Friesian cows were randomly stratified into 6 similar groups of cows based on parity and previous milk yield. Cows within these groups were assigned randomly to be fed either 0, 150 or 300 mg of monensin per day. Monensin was fed as a component of a 1 kg grain supplement at 0600 h daily from 14 days prepartum to 84 days postpartum. Mean milk yields (kg/day) of cows supplemented with monensin at 150 mg/day (23.0) and 300 mg/day (23.7) were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of unsupplemented cows (21.1). Milk fat and protein contents were not affected by monensin feeding but daily yields of milk fat and protein differed significantly (P<0.05) between treatments. Monensin supplemented at 300 mg per day significantly (P<0.05) reduced the molar proportion of rumen acetate and increased the molar proportion of rumen propionate. Monensin fed at either 150 or 300 mg/day significantly (P<0.05) increased the ratio of plasma glucose: β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), but had no effect on concentrations of blood acetoacetate, serum nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), plasma glucose or BHB. Monensin had no effect on liveweight change or condition score. In the second experiment, 12 Holstein–Friesian cows in early lactation were blocked on parity into 3 groups of 4 cows, and 2 cows within each block were of either high, or low genetic merit. Monensin (none or 320 mg per day) and genetic merit were assigned as a 2 by 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Monensin supplementation commenced 28 days prepartum and ended 56 days postpartum. Monensin caused a significant (P<0.05) increase in feed intake (21.6 v. 23.2 kg/day) and significantly reduced plasma BHB concentration (64.0 v. 6.7 mg/dL). Cows with a higher genetic merit had a significantly (P<0.05) higher milk yield (27.2 kg/day) compared to cows of low genetic merit (26.3 kg/day). Low genetic merit cows fed monensin had significantly (P<0.05) lower daily milk fat yield, lower serum NEFA concentration and higher plasma glucose concentration compared to low genetic merit cows not fed monensin, or high genetic merit cows. Serum insulin and bovine somatotrophin concentrations were unaffected by the treatments. The results of these experiments suggest that with Holstein–Friesian cows in early lactation, the increase in hepatic propionate supply caused by monensin supplementation increases glucose synthesis and subsequent milk production when the requirements of the mammary gland for glucose are not otherwise being met. If the glucose requirements of the mammary gland are being satisfied, monensin decreases ketogenesis and the mobilisation of adipose tissue. Monensin had a positive effect on intake in this study.

Effects of stocking rate and energy supplementation on milk production from tropical grass-legume pasture

1975 ◽  
Vol 15 (77) ◽  
pp. 740 ◽  
Author(s):  
RT Cowan ◽  
IJR Byford ◽  
TH Stobbs
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Temperate Pastures ◽  
Energy Supplementation ◽  
Milk Solids ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Tropical Grass

Forty Friesian cows were grazed continuously on a green panic (Panicum maximum var. trichoglume)/glycine (Glycine wightii cv. Tinaroo) pasture at stocking rates of 1.3, 1.6, 1.9 and 2.5 cows ha-1 for two years on the Atherton Tableland, Queensland. A supplement of 3.6 kg crushed maize cow-1 day-1 was fed for 50 days post-partum to half the cows in each group in both years. Milk yield per cow was reduced from 3811 kg lactation-1 at 1.3 cows ha-l to 3289 kg lactation-1 at 2.5 cows ha-1. With increasing stocking rate milk yield per hectare increased linearly to 8309 kg ha-1 at 2.5 cows ha-1. At 1.9 and 2.5 cows ha-1 cows lost weight over the two years and in late lactation levels of milk solids were often low. Also at these stocking rates cows had to be supplemented for up to 60 days during the main dry season. Legume content of the pasture declined linearly (P < 0.05) with increasing stocking rates. Maize feeding in early lactation increased milk yield over the total lactation by approximately 12 per cent, the response being 2.3 kg milk per kg maize fed, Response was greater at lighter stocking rates as cows in the heavier stocking rate treatments dried off prematurely. It was concluded that per hectare milk production from tropical grass/legume pastures can approach that from temperate pastures and that energy supplementation early in lactation would substantially increase per cow production.

A comparison of starchy and fibrous concentrates for milk production, energy utilization and hay intake by Friesian cows

1987 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 375-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Sutton ◽  
J. A. Bines ◽  
S. V. Morant ◽  
D. J. Napper ◽  
D. J. Givens
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Energy Yield ◽  
Carbohydrate Source ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Concentrate Inclusion ◽  
Friesian Cows

SummaryTwenty-four Friesian cows were allocated to one of four diets for weeks 3–14 of lactation following 2 weeks on a common diet. The diets (kg air-dry feed/day) were 7–2 kg hay and 10·8 kg either starchy or fibrous concentrates (60S and 60F) or 3·5 kg hay and 14·0 kg either starchy or fibrous concentrates (80S and 80F). Rumen samples were taken by stomach tube in weeks 10 and 12 of lactation and the digestibility of the diets was measured with four cows per treatment during weeks 13 and 14. The digestibility of the same feeds was also measured in sheep at maintenance.The principal carbohydrate constituents of the concentrates were barley, wheat and cassava in the starchy concentrates and citrus pulp, sugar-beet pulp and wheat feed in the fibrous concentrates. The concentrates were designed to have similar concentrations of metabolizable energy (ME) and the diets were planned to provide similar intakes of digestible energy and crude protein.Milk yield and composition were very similar for treatments 60S and 60F. With the higher proportion of starchy concentrates (80S), milk yield was about 20% greater than on 60S, fat concentration fell severely but protein and lactose concentrations were unaffected. With the higher proportion of fibrous concentrates (80F), milk yield and the protein and lactose concentration were similar to values on 60F but fat concentration was lower, though not nearly so low as on 80S. Milk energy yield was reduced by the higher proportion of concentrates but was unaffected by type of carbohydrates. Live-weight changes were small.In both the sheep, consuming at maintenance, and the lactating cows consuming at about 3 times maintenance, digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and energy was higher with the higher concentrate diets but was unaffected by type of concentrate. The digestibility of fibre was greater with the fibrous concentrates but the effect of level of concentrate inclusion was inconsistent. Digestibility coefficients were consistently lower for the lactating cows than for the sheep.The proportion of acetic acid in the rumen volatile fatty acids in the cows was higher and the proportion of propionic acid was lower with the fibrous concentrates. The differences were much greater with the higher proportion of concentrates.During weeks 15–22 of lactation the cows were reallocated to concentrate treatments and given hay ad libitum. Hay intake was about 1 kg/day higher with the fibrous concentrates but the difference was not significant. Hay intake fell by about 0·6 kg/kg concentrate intake for both concentrate types. No significant differences in milk yield or composition were established, probably because of incomplete adaptation even after 8 weeks.It is concluded that at concentrate intakes of about 10 kg/day, the source of carbohydrate in the concentrates has little effect on milk production when the concentrates are of similar ME concentration. However, at higher levels of concentrate inclusion, although the diets may have similar ME concentrations, important differences in the yields of fat, protein and lactose occur due to carbohydrate source and these can be related to differences in rumen fermentation.

The effect of space allowance and milk yield level on the performance and behaviour of dairy cattle housed in straw yards

1998 ◽  
Vol 1998 ◽  
pp. 108-108
Author(s):  
J. A. Fregonesi ◽  
J.D. Leaver
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Ways Of Coping ◽  
Yield Level ◽  
Face Width ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Friesian Cows

Space allowance could be an important variable affecting production, health, reproductive performance and behaviour of dairy cattle. Also, high and low yielding cows may have different ways of coping with insufficient space allowance. The aim of this experiment was to study the influence of space allowance and milk yield level on the performance and behaviour of strawyard housed dairy cows.The experiment was carried out using 24 Holstein Friesian cows with two groups in early lactation of high (over 30 kg/day milk yield) and two groups in late lactation of low yield (under 25 kg/day milk yield). The groups were allocated to strawyard systems with low stocking density (bed area/cow = 9 m2; pen area/cow = 13.5 m2; feed face width/cow = 1.5 m) or high stocking density (bed area/cow = 4.5 m2; pen area/cow = 6.75 m2; feed face width/cow = 0.75m) conforming to a changeover design with two periods, each of four weeks. The cows were fed a total mixed ration ad libitum and 2kg/cow/day of concentrate in the milking parlour. All animals were milked twice daily.

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