Effects of grazing system on production and parasitism of dairy breed heifers and steers grazing wet marginal grasslands

2006 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Kristensen ◽  
S. M. Thamsborg ◽  
H. R. Andersen ◽  
K. Søegaard ◽  
A. L. Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Grazing Season ◽  
Pasture Quality ◽  
Marginal Areas ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Parasite Infections ◽  
Daily Gain

AbstractProduction and endoparasitism of first grazing season Holstein heifers and steers were investigated over two grazing seasons. Studies were conducted on low-lying peaty soil. In year 2000, 40 animals were included in a 2×2 factorial, replicated experiment with two sexes (steers v. heifers) and two stocking rates (SR): normal v. low (840 v. 420 kg live weight per ha at turn-out) in a set stocking grazing system. Mean grass heights over the entire season were 6·3±4·8 cm (mean±s.d.) at normal SR and 9·8±6·1 cm at low SR. Mean daily live-weight gain during grazing was significantly (P<0·001) lower at normal SR (256±147 g) compared with low (468±142 g) but sex did not significantly affect the daily gain. Serum pepsinogen levels, indicating uptake of gastric nematodes, were higher at normal SR and consistently higher in steers compared with heifers, although not significantly. In 2001 the experiment included 80 animals in a 2×2 factorial experiment with two sexes (steers v. heifers), two grazing systems (set stocking and two-paddock rotation) and four replicates. Pasture quality was low, 570 g digestible organic matter per kg organic matter and 139 g crude protein per kg dry matter on average, independent of grazing system. Mean daily live-weight gain was not significantly affected by grazing system. A tendency (P=0·07) to lower daily gain for the heifers than for steers was observed (427±161 g v. 474±138 g). Lower levels of pasture contamination with parasites were observed in the paddocks without grazing up to mid July but otherwise rotation did not prevent parasite infections. It is concluded that first grazing season steers and heifers have the same potential for growth when grazing marginal areas with low pasture quality. Set stocking or the two-paddock rotation scheme did not affect productivity or level of parasite infection at the end of season. Parasite infections became a problem at high SR. SR is an important factor for both daily live-weight gain per animal and total production per ha. However, due to the very heterogeneous structure of marginal areas there is a need for other indicators than kg live weight per ha at turn-out in order to define a clear relationship between stocking rate and production.

Intake and live-weight gain by British Friesian calves offered different ratios of dried grass and concentrates

1975 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Marsh
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Protein Concentrate ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
The Third ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Matter Digestibility ◽  
Daily Gain

SUMMARYFour experiments were carried out with calves offered pellets containing different ratios of cereal/protein concentrate and dried grass together with 10% chopped hay. Organic matter digestibility of total ration declined by 5·2 percentage units for each 25% increment of dried grass.Dry matter (DM) intake of the total ration increased as dried grass content increased from 0 to 50% which led to similar intakes of digestible organic matter (DOM) and daily gain. When pellets contained 75% dried grass, total DM intakes were reduced in two experiments, leading to DOM intakes and daily gains similar to that of calves offered pellets of dried grass only. In the third experiment, DM intake of pellets containing 75 % dried grass was greater than the intake of pellets containing 50 to 100 % dried grass. When equal quantities of DM were offered, DOM intakes and daily gains tended to decline linearly as dried grass content in the pellet increased. The replacement value of the dried grass for concentrate at equal levels of live-weight gain was 1·36: 1.

scholarly journals Animal performance, production, and quality of Tanzania grass fertilized with nitrogen

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 3861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulysses Cecato ◽  
Josmar Almeida Junior ◽  
Fabíola Cristine de Almeida Rego ◽  
Sandra Galbeiro ◽  
Wagner Paris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Daily Gain

This study aimed to assess forage production, animal performance, and the chemical composition of Tanzania grass pasture fertilized with 50, 100, 200, and 400 kg ha-1 of nitrogen. The variables analyzed were: leaf mass, daily accumulation rate, leaf/stem ratio, average daily gain, stocking rate, live weight gain per unit of area crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and in vitro dry matter digestibility of leaves. The pasture management maintained the pasture height at 50 cm by using a continuous grazing method with the adjustment of stocking rate. The experimental design was a randomized block with three replicates. The leaf mass increased linearly in response to nitrogen, with an increase of 1003 kg (34%) observed between a nitrogen content of 50 and 400 kg ha-1. Nitrogen did not affect the average daily gain, but increased the stocking rate and live weight gain ha-1. The value of crude protein and neutral detergent fiber were higher with increased nitrogen levels, whereas the leaf digestibility did not affect nitrogen use. The comparison of 50 and 400 kg ha-1 levels indicated that there was an average increase of 19.2% in the leaf crude protein. The increased application of nitrogen fertilizer in Tanzania grass improved the chemical composition and animal performance; with regard to studied variables, the dose of 200 kg ha-1 resulted in the greatest improvement.

The influence of formaldehyde application at ensiling and of supplementation with urea or maize starch on the utilization by calves of ryegrass and red clover silages

1983 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 371-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G. Kaiser ◽  
D. F. Osbourn ◽  
P. England
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Formic Acid ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nitrogen Retention ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Carcass Weight ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Formaldehyde Treatment

ABSTRACTPrimary growths of perennial ryegrass and red clover were ensiled with formic acid (2 1/t fresh crop), o an equal quantity of formic acid together with formaldehyde (46 or 49 g/kg crude protein in the ryegrass or red clover respectively). The four silages were offered ad libitum to 12 groups, each of five British Friesian steer calves, either alone or with urea or maize starch supplements at 18·4 or 185·2 g/kg total dry-matter intake respectively.Digestible organic matter and digestible energy intake, live-weight gain, carcass weight, nitrogen retention and all digestibility measurements were higher on the ryegrass silages than on the red clover silages. However, dry-matter intake was higher on the red clover silages.Formaldehyde treatment reduced lactic and total acid content, and protein degradation in the silages. It also increased intake, live-weight gain and nitrogen retention on ryegrass but not on red clover, the effect being greater when the urea supplement was given. Digestibility measurements were depressed by formaldehyde treatment, although cellulose digestibility was only depressed in the ryegrass silage.Supplementation with starch depressed silage intake and nitrogen and cellulose digestibility, but increased dry matter, organic matter and energy digestibilities, digestible organic matter and digestible energy intakes, live-weight gain and carcass weight. The positive intake, live-weight gain and carcass weight responses were greater on the silages treated with formic acid, while the digestibility and the live-weight gain responses were greater on the red clover silages. Starch supplementation did not improve nitrogen retention.The different animal production responses to formaldehyde treatment on the ryegrass and red clover silages are discussed.

The utilization of maize silage for intensive beef production: II. The effect of urea on silage fermentation and on the voluntary intake and performance of young cattle fed maize silage-based diets

1975 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 365-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Thomas ◽  
R. F. Wilson ◽  
R. J. Wilkins ◽  
J. M. Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Butyl Rubber ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Total Acid ◽  
Live Weight Gain

SUMMARYMaize was cut at 22·6, 27·0 and 41·6% dry matter and ensiled in 4 kg quantities in polythene bags without additive or after the addition of urea at 0·5, 1·0, 1·5 and 2·0% of the crop dry-matter content. Silos were opened at intervals up to 96 days. Maize of 23·4% dry-matter content was ensiled in 10 t butyl rubber silos without additive or after the addition of urea at 1·0% or fishmeal at 4·0% of the crop dry-matter content.Silages from the polythene bag silos were all well preserved. pH values increased and total acid content fell with increasing maturity of the crop. Addition of urea had little effect on these values. Only with the most mature crop did ammonia content increase markedly with increasing level of urea addition. All silages from the butyl rubber silos were well preserved with low pH values and similar total acid contents.Silages from the butyl rubber silos were used to measure voluntary, intake live-weight gain and efficiency of utilization of young beef cattle. The diets fed were silage without nitrogen supplement or supplemented with urea or fishmeal, added at ensiling, at feeding or included in a concentrate feed. One third of the total dry-matter intake of all cattle was provided by a pelleted concentrate feed consisting of equal quantities of dried grass and rolled barley.The increase in nitrogen content brought about by the addition of urea or fishmeal did not affect total dry-matter or organic-matter intake but was associated with 25% increase in nitrogen consumed. Live-weight gain on all treatments with added nitrogen was 20% higher than for the unsupplemented silage. This improvement in growth rate was accompanied by significant increases in efficiency of utilization of dietary dry matter and organic matter but efficiency of nitrogen utilization was reduced. The results indicate that neither the source nor site of addition of supplementary nitrogen significantly affect live-weight gain, dry-matter intake, organic-matter intake or utilization of dry matter or organic matter. They also demonstrate that urea can be used effectively to provide supplementary nitrogen to young cattle fed a maize silage-based ration.

The effects of quantity and distribution of milk substitute on the performance of artificially reared lambs to forty-eight days of age

1973 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. D. Penning ◽  
K. M. Cottrell ◽  
T. T. Treacher
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Environmental Temperature ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Total Milk ◽  
Milk Substitute ◽  
Daily Allowance ◽  
Daily Gain

SUMMARYTwenty-seven groups of Finnish Landrace × Dorset Horn lambs, each of two males and two females, were offered daily quantities of 180, 248 or 343 g milk substitute dry matter (DM) for 21, 29 or 40 days. The environmental temperature was 18°C during the first 21 days of rearing, and concentrate pellets and clean water were always available. From 22 to 48 days of age the lambs were offered 150 g of hay per week.For lambs offered 180 g milk substitute DM, increasing the number of days before weaning increased the daily live-weight gain over the 47-day experimental period. For daily allowances of 248 and 343 g of milk substitute, greater gains were effected only by delaying weaning from 21 to 29 days.Increasing the daily allowance of milk substitute DM had little effect on the daily gain of lambs weaned after 21 days but increased gain by lambs weaned at 29 days. For lambs weaned after 40 days growth rate was increased only by the first increment of milk substitute DM. Intake of solid food began when the lambs were 3 weeks old and total intake of concentrates was inversely related to total quantity of milk substitute DM consumed and in general was less when weaning was later.The overall efficiency of conversion of total DM consumed to live weight was positively related to total milk substitute DM consumed and tended to be greatest when weaning was later. A daily allowance of 180 g milk substitute DM for 21 days gave the lowest food cost per unit of live-weight gain.The incidence of navel sucking is discussed.

The effect of oestradiol-17 β implantation on the response in voluntary intake, live-weight gain and body composition, to fishmeal supplementation of silage offered to growing calves

1987 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Gill ◽  
D. E. Beever ◽  
P. J. Buttery ◽  
P. England ◽  
M. J. Gibb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Gross Efficiency ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Voluntary Intake

SummaryThe effect of oestradiol-17β on the response to fishmeal supplementation of grass silage was studied in young growing cattle. Voluntary intake and live-weight gain were recorded over 63 days with 36 British Friesian male castrates (initial live weight (LW) 119 kg) offered silage alone (C) or with 50 (FM1), 100 (FM2), or 150 (FM3) g fishmeal/kg silage dry matter. Twelve calves were allocated to each of treatments C and FM3 and six to treatments FM1 and FM2. Half of the calves on each treatment were ear-implanted with oestradiol-17β (Compudose 365) at the start of the experiment. The calves on treatments C and FM3 were slaughtered after 75 days and chemical analysis conducted on half of each carcass. The silage had an organic-matter digestibility in vivo of 0·794 and was well-fermented, with a pH of 3·7. Intake averaged 24·2±0·42 g D.M./kg LW over all the treatments and live-weight gain was 0·77 kg/day on the silage alone. There was a significant (P < 0·05) interaction between fishmeal and oestradiol-17β, such that response to the hormone was observed only in the presence of fishmeal at 100 or 150 g/kg silage D.M. A similar interaction was apparent between fishmeal at 150 g/kg silage D.M. and oestradiol-17β in the final weights of empty body and carcass. This level of fishmeal also increased protein gain from 96 to 147 g/day and this was further increased to 179 g/day in the implanted animals receiving fishmeal. However, the overall effect of oestradiol-17β on protein gain was not significant. Gross efficiency of energy utilization was significantly (P < 0·01) increased by fishmeal supplementation suggesting an improved balance of nutrients compared with the silage alone diet.

The effects of dietary energy content and level of feeding on the growth of Israeli-Friesian intact male cattle

1974 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Levy ◽  
Z. Holzer ◽  
H. Neumark ◽  
S. Amir
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Dietary Energy ◽  
Intact Male ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Second Period ◽  
Daily Gain

SUMMARYIn an experiment with group-fed cattle from 6 months of age to slaughter at 480 kg live weight two levels of feed intake: 1, ad libitum, 2, 85% of ad libitum amount, were combined with two ratios of concentrate to hay: a, 70: 30; b, 30: 70. In two further treatments, 3a and 3b, the cattle were fed diets a or b at 70% of ad libitum from 6 to 10 months and ad libitum thereafter.Daily gain during the first 124 days of the experiment was (in grams) 1293, 983, 1097, 846, 992 and 756, and from the 125th day to slaughter 735, 600, 796, 579, 830 and 714, for treatments la, lb, 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b, respectively. The decline in rate of gain from the first period to the second was inversely related to the level of feed intake and to the percentage of concentrates in the ration in the first period.Daily carcass gain was 582, 393, 532, 350, 531 and 368 g for treatments la, lb, 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b, respectively.The treatments that were switched over from 70% of ad libitum feed intake in the first period to 100% in the second (3a and 3b), exhibited considerable compensatory growth in the second period, but this was not sufficient to be of economic advantage.The overall ME requirement per kg of live-weight gain was inversely related to rate of gain. Of the six treatments, 2a (85% of ad libitum, 70% concentrate) was the most efficient (19·8 Mcal/kg live-weight gain).Animals on the 100% level of feed intake throughout the experiment (treatments la, lb) were significantly fatter than those on the other treatments.

The effects of method of processing on the intake and digestibility by lambs of dried perennial rye-grass and tall fescue

1974 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Tetlow ◽  
R. J. Wilkins
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Live Weight Gain

SUMMARYCobs and pellets which differed in particle size (modulus of fineness, MF) were prepared from dried perennial ryegrass and tall fescue and given to sheep. The MF values of the feeds were 2·45,1·09,0·81 and 0·74 for perennial ryegrass and 2·28,0·84,0·67 and 0·57 for tall fescue. Organic matter digestibility was similar for the two grass species when measured in vivo, but when measured in vitro values for perennial ryegrass were about 3 units higher than those for tall fescue. Voluntary intake and live-weight gain were higher for sheep given tall fescue, the difference in live-weight gain being just significant at P < 0·05. The response to change in particle size was similar for the two grass species. Intake was lowest and digestibility highest for the feeds with the highest MF, but differences between the three finely-ground forms of each species were not significant. There was a tendency for the intake of digestible organic matter to be lower for the feeds with lowest MF than for those with intermediate values for MF. The rate of passage of undigested particles was slower for cobs with the highest MF than for the other feeds, which did not differ significantly one from another.

Impact of grazing intensity on herbage quality, feed intake and live weight gain of sheep grazing on the steppe of Inner Mongolia

2013 ◽  
Vol 152 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. MÜLLER ◽  
U. DICKHOEFER ◽  
L. LIN ◽  
T. GLINDEMANN ◽  
C. WANG ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Inner Mongolia ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Live Weight Gain

SUMMARYThe grassland steppe of Inner Mongolia is traditionally used for sheep grazing. However, overgrazing reduced vegetation cover in winter, thereby increasing soil erosion and consequently, degradation of the steppe vegetation. Grazing intensity (GI) is still the most important factor in pasture management. Hence, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of GI on grassland and sheep performance. A grazing experiment was conducted from July until September in 2005, 2006 and 2007 in which six different GI ranging from very light (GI 1), light (GI 2), light-moderate (GI 3), moderate (GI 4) and heavy (GI 5) to very heavy (GI 6) were tested. Each GI treatment comprised two adjacent plots that were alternately used for grazing or hay-making each year. Variables measured included herbage mass (HM) and chemical composition, digestibility of ingested organic matter (dOM), organic matter intake (OMI) and live weight gain (LWG) of sheep. The HM decreased significantly with increasing GI from 1·01 t (GI 1) to 0·45 t dry matter (DM)/ha (GI 6). There were only minor effects of GI on chemical composition and digestibility of standing herbage. Moreover, dOM, OMI and hence, digestible OMI did not differ between GI. Across all study years, LWG of sheep was not influenced by GI so that LWG per hectare increased with increasing GI, reaching a maximum of 730 g/d at GI 6 compared with 181 g/d at GI 1. However, a strong decrease in LWG per sheep with increasing stocking rate was found in 2005 when annual rainfall was less than half of the long-term average, resulting in a similar LWG per hectare across the range of tested stocking rates. The results therefore show that intensive grazing does not reduce growth of individual animals in most years, but increases LWG per unit of land area and thus, income of farmers. The alternating use of pastures for grazing or hay-making might have mitigated the negative effects of heavy grazing on herbage and animal performance. Nevertheless, high GI may negatively affect grassland productivity in the long term and the lack of HM on offer on heavy grazed pastures in dry years will require supplement feeding at the end of the vegetation period or the untimely sale of animals.

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