scholarly journals 40 Alternative forages for dairy heifers

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 21-22
Author(s):  
Matthew Akins ◽  
Elizabeth Remick ◽  
Huawei Su ◽  
Lingyan Li ◽  
Abbey Grisham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Corn Stover ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Dairy Heifers ◽  
Cereal Grain ◽  
Moderate Energy

Abstract Dairy heifers have moderate energy needs with diets containing high proportions of corn silage, often exceeding needs of pregnant heifers. Use of moderate energy forages to decrease energy and increase NDF content has been successful to control intake and growth of pregnant heifers. Several forages could be used, including cereal grain forages/straws, warm season perennial grasses, sorghum forages, and corn stover. Higher NDF content diets control intake through rumen fill as heifers eat approximately 1% of bodyweight in NDF daily. Research at the University of Wisconsin found reduced intakes and more desirable gains for pregnant heifers fed diets that included either corn stover, wheat straw, or eastern gamagrass (0.8–1.0 kg gain/day) compared with heifers fed an alfalfa/corn silage diet (1.2 kg gain/day). A study feeding alfalfa stemlage also found that heifers had more desirable gains (0.9–1.0 kg/day) when fed diets with stemlage or straw than heifers fed an alfalfa/corn silage diet. Sorghum forages may also work to partially replace corn silage in the forage program, with an opportunity to double-crop with cereal grain forages. Wisconsin studies show that sorghum forages can have similar or greater yields than corn silage when planted in early to mid-June and harvested once in the fall, with sorghums being more responsive to irrigation and nitrogen than corn. Most sorghums had similar or greater yields than corn silage when fertilized at 22–45 kg N/acre or irrigated at 50–75% of levels recommended for corn. A recent study found heifers fed sorghum-sudangrass silage based diets had lower intakes due to higher NDF content leading to more optimal daily gains (0.9 kg/d) than heifers fed a corn silage/alfalfa silage/grass hay diet that had similar protein and energy content, but was lower in NDF content. Use of alternative forages can help control nutrient intake and thus growth, and can also help control costs and improve nutrient/manure management by lowering intakes and forage production costs.

scholarly journals Yield, Yield Distribution, and Forage Quality of Warm-Season Perennial Grasses Grown for Pasture or Biofuel in the Southern Great Plains

ISRN Agronomy ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
James K. Rogers ◽  
Frank J. Motal ◽  
Jagadeesh Mosali
Keyword(s):  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Yield Distribution ◽  
South Central

Fifteen introduced and native warm-season perennial grasses were evaluated for yield, yield distribution, and quality in south-central Oklahoma. These grasses have production potential for forage and/or biofuel. Each was harvested one to four times per year. “Alamo” switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) had a two-year average dry matter yield of 17690 kg . Over 1/3 of this production occurred in May with a crude protein (CP) range of 97–115 g . Alamo’s high yield potential and early spring growth make it attractive for spring forage production and fall biomass production. Other grasses with two-year average dry matter yields over 11200 kg  and 1/3 of yearly production occurring early in the growing season that have potential dual purpose use include “Selection 75” kleingrass (Panicum coloratum), “Midland 99” bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense), “Carostan” flaccidgrass (Pennisetum flaccidum), and “Ermelo” weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula).

scholarly journals 2020 Cool-Season Forage Variety Recommendations for Florida

EDIS ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (5) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
A. R. Blount ◽  
M. Wallau ◽  
E. Rios ◽  
J. M. B. Vendramini ◽  
J. C. B. Dubeux ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crude Protein ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Forage Crops ◽  
Previous Version ◽  
Pasture Grasses ◽  
Potential Use ◽  
Short Days

Perennial warm-season pasture grasses used in Florida become dormant in late fall and winter because of short days, cooler temperatures, and frosts. Many livestock producers may choose to establish cool-season annual pasture species to supplement their forage production. These plants are usually higher in total digestible nutrients (TDN) and crude protein (CP) than summer perennial grasses, translating into greater animal performance (Dubeux et al., 2016). Planting and growing these forage crops can involve considerable expense and is somewhat risky because rainfall is often unpredictable during the fall establishment period. The species and varieties for potential use vary in the distribution of production during the cooler months and in the type of soils where they are best adapted. This publication provides the most up-to-date information on current adapted cool-season forage varieties. The recommendation of varieties is based on multi-location, multi-year cultivar evaluation experiments that may include trials in Georgia and other states. Previous version: Wallau, Marcelo, Ann Blount, Esteban Rios, Joao Vendramini, Jose Dubeux, Md Babar, and Kevin Kenworthy. 2019. “2019 Cool-Season Forage Variety Recommendations for Florida”. EDIS2019 (August). https://journals.flvc.org/edis/article/view/115513.

Systems of forage production on livestock farms

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
А. Шпаков ◽  
В. Воловик
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Large Animal ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Forest Zone ◽  
Animal Farms ◽  
Growth Energy

Специализация и концентрация сельскохозяйственных отраслей в почвенно-климатических зонах, благоприятных для их развития, являются важными факторами повышения экономической эффективности производства. Для молочно-мясного животноводства это южная часть лесной и северная часть лесостепной зон, где можно производить дешёвые и качественные корма из многолетней травянистой растительности. В таких хозяйствах необходимо в максимальной степени использовать важнейшие биологические особенности многолетних трав: долголетие, возможность высокого насыщения ими структуры сельскохозяйственных угодий, близкое к оптимальному соотношению в сухом веществе энергии и протеина. Южная граница устойчивого производства кормов из мезофитной травянистой растительности проходит примерно по границе территорий с суммой осадков за год не менее 550 мм и гидротермическим коэффициентом более 1,0. Системы кормопроизводства в специализированных животноводческих хозяйствах, в зависимости от особенностей агроландшафтов, организационных форм и размера предприятий, уровня их оснащённости, могут быть травопольными, травянозерновыми и травянозернопропашными. Травопольная система перспективна в северных областях с характерной мелкоконтурностью сельскохозяйственных угодий, где существуют пределы территориальной концентрации животноводства, определяемые характером ландшафтов. Травянозерновая система перспективна в северных и центральных областях лесной зоны с ограниченными тепловыми ресурсами для возделывания кукурузы и других теплолюбивых культур. Травянозернопропашная система применяется на средних и крупных животноводческих предприятиях, оснащённых высокопроизводительными техническими средствами для возделывания культур, создания сенокосов и пастбищ, заготовки и хранения кормов. Она является универсальной для производства всех видов кормов и в наибольшей степени отвечает требованиям рациональной системы кормопроизводства. Distribution of specific agricultural branches among the zones of corresponding environments is crucial to improve economic efficiency of farming. South of forest area and north of forest steppe are more favorable for dairy and beef production since they provide cheap forage of high quality from perennial grasses. Consequently, a choice for a particular crop is based on such biological characteristics as longevity, intensive growth, energy, and protein content. The southern border of mesophytic vegetation has annual precipitation rate of at least 550 mm and hydrothermic coefficient of over 1.0. Systems of forage production differ in their organization according to regional ecosystems, farm size and equipment. Farms cultivate grasses or use crop rotations such as grain cropsgrasses or grain cropsgrassesrow crops. Forage from perennial grasses comes from northern areas characterized by indented borders and limited number of animal farms. The rotation of grain cropsgrasses is used in northern and central parts of the forest zone with limited warm periods for maize and other warm-season crops. The rotation of grain cropsgrassesrow crops is common on medium and large animal farms equipped with high-performance hardware used in fields, haylands, grasslands as well as for fodder preparation and storage. It is universal for all the feed types and uses forage resources more effectively.

scholarly journals EVALUATION OF WHOLE PLANT FABABEAN FORAGE IN RUMINANT RATIONS

1979 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. INGALLS ◽  
H. R. SHARMA ◽  
T. J. DEVLIN ◽  
F. B. BAREEBA ◽  
K. W. CLARK
Keyword(s):  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
The Other ◽  
Dairy Heifers ◽  
Whole Plant ◽  
Finishing Steers ◽  
Feeding Trials

Feeding trials were conducted to evaluate nutritive value of whole plant fababean (FB) silages. A growth trial with dairy heifers resulted in higher consumption (P < 0.05) of FB silage than a grass-legume (GL) silage, with no difference (P > 0.05) in average daily gain (ADG). Lactating Holstein cows were fed four diets, 1-GL + high grain (HG) (control diet), 2-direct cut FB (33% DM) + HG, 3-wilted FB (37% DM) + HG and 4-wilted FB + medium grain (MG), in a Lucas design. Consumption of the direct cut FB silage was higher (P < 0.05) than that of grass silage, and reducing the level of grain feeding from 56 to 43% of the diet resulted in an increase (P < 0.05) in FB silage consumption. Wintering calves were fed five silages (1-FB, 2-GL, 3-barley-clover (BC), 4-corn or 5-barley) plus 1 kg grain supplement for 93 days. Calves receiving FB or GL silage consumed more (P < 0.05) DM than animals on the other treatments. In trial 2, beef calves were fed four silages (early FB, frosted FB, corn or GL) or two types of dehydrated cubes (FB or allalfa). Frosted FB silage have a higher (P < 0.01) ADG compared with the other treatments. Intakes of DM were similar for both FB silages and alfalfa cubes but higher than in GL or corn silage treatments. Feed efficiency ratio was smaller (P < 0.05) for frosted FB than GL silage or dehydrated cubes and similar to the early FB and corn silages. Finishing steers were fed three silages (FB, GL or corn) free choice plus a barley supplement at 1% of body weight. Total DM intake and ADG were higher (P < 0.01) for steers receiving FB silage than for those fed the GL or corn silage. Energy digestibility of FB silage as measured by sheep digestion trials over 2 crop yr and three silage samples was 69.4% ± 2.3, and digestible energy content of FB was similar to that of corn silage.

scholarly journals 115 Nitrogen fertilizer effects on above ground sward characteristics and beef heifer performance from native warm-season grass blends

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 26-27
Author(s):  
Caroline Chappell ◽  
Landon Marks ◽  
Katie Mason ◽  
Mary K Mullenix ◽  
Sandra L Dillard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Light Interception ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Beef Heifers ◽  
Fertilizer Application Rate ◽  
Canopy Light Interception

Abstract A 2-yr study was conducted at Black Belt Research and Extension Center in Marion Junction, AL, to evaluate the effect of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rate on forage production characteristics, nutritive value, and animal performance of beef heifers grazing a mixture of native warm-season grasses (NWSG) including big bluestem, little bluestem, and indiangrass. Six, two-hectare plots were randomly assigned to one of two treatments (0 or 67 kg N ha-1 applied in early April; n = 3 replications per treatment). Paddocks were continuously stocked with four weaned Angus × Simmental beef heifers (initial BW 288 ± 7 kg) from late May/early June through mid-to-late August during 2018 (73 grazing d) and 2019 (70 grazing d), respectively. Put-and-take cattle were used to manage forage to a target of 38 cm. Forage mass and canopy heights were collected every two weeks during the trial. Visual ground cover ratings, canopy light interception, and botanical composition were measured at the beginning and end of the trial in each year. Hand-plucked samples were collected every two weeks during the grazing trial to determine forage nutritional value. Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure in SAS 9.4, and differences were declared significant when P ≤ 0.05. Nitrogen fertilized NWSG had greater crude protein (P &lt; 0.0001), sward heights (P = 0.0003), and canopy light interception at the beginning of the season (P = 0.0049) compared to non-fertilized paddocks. However, there were no differences (P ≥ 0.05) among N-fertility treatments for mean forage mass, heifer ADG, or BCS across the 2-yr study. Botanical composition data indicated that indiangrass decreased from 64% to 61% (P = 0.0022) and weed pressure increased from 11% to 15% (P = 0.0064) across the summer grazing season. Canopy light interception decreased by 51% from early June to August in fertilized NWSG and 26% in unfertilized paddocks, respectively. These data illustrate that NWSG systems may provide a viable grazing system in the summer months under reduced N inputs.

Protein-energy ratio for forage production efficiency

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Н. Зезин ◽  
М. Намятов
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Milk Productivity ◽  
Agricultural Research Institute ◽  
Oil Crops ◽  
Protein Energy ◽  
Research Institute

Исследования Уральского НИИСХ и опыт передовых хозяйств Свердловской области показывают, что для повышения эффективности и стабильности кормопроизводства необходимо в структуре кормовых культур увеличивать удельный вес высокобелковых, высокоэнергетических и засухоустойчивых культур, производить подсев многолетних трав ежегодно на площади не менее 60 тыс. га, а в перспективе 7080 тыс. га. За последние 7 лет (20112018 годы) площади люцерны в области увеличились в 2 раза (до 23 тыс. га), кукурузы по зерновой технологии в 2,4 раза (до 20,9 тыс. га) и масличных культур в 3,1 раза (до 30,8 тыс. га). Опыт СПК Килачёвский Ирбитского района показывает, что освоение научно обоснованных биологизированных севооборотов, прошедших изучение в стационарных опытах Уральского НИИСХ, позволяет ежегодно получать высокие и стабильные урожаи всех сельскохозяйственных культур. В этом хозяйстве каждая кормовая культура размещается в своём севообороте. В СПК Килачёвский и ряде других хозяйств Свердловской области большое значение придаётся возделыванию люцерны, кукурузы и масличных культур. Площадь этих культур в расчёте на одну корову мы назвали белковоэнергетическим коэффициентом (БЭК). Анализ показал тесную взаимосвязь между белковоэнергетическим коэффициентом и молочной продуктивностью. Так, в СПК Килачёвский в 2016 году при удое 10196кг БЭК был равен 1,25 в 2017 году удой достиг 10798кг, БЭК 1,43 в 2018 году соответственно 11493 кг и 1,47 при количестве коров 29002977 голов. According to the investigations conducted at the Ural Agricultural Research Institute and experience of the leading farms in the Sverdlovsk region high effectiveness and stability of Forage Production requires wide cultivation of droughtresistant crops rich in protein and energy as well as seeding over 60 thousand ha (in the future 7080 thousand ha) by perennial grasses annually. For the last 7 years (20112018) areas of alfalfa increased by 2 times (up to 23 thousand ha), grain maize by 2.4 times (up to 20.9 thousand ha), oil crops by 3.1 times (up to 30.8 thousand ha). SPK Kilachevskiy (agricultural production cooperative) reported that the use of approved crop rotations tested at the Ural Agricultural Research Institute resulted in annual high and stable yields of all the crops. SPK Kilachevskiy and other farms of the region widely grow alfalfa, maize and oil crops. Land area for the cultivation of these crops per one cow is called proteinenergy coefficient (PEC). Proteinenergy coefficient was shown to have a significant correlation with milk productivity. SPK Kilachevskiy reported that in 2016 PEC and milk yield reached 1.25 and 10196 kg in 2017 1.43 and 10798 kg in 2018 1.47 and 11493 kg, respectively under 29002977 cows.

Sources of valuable traits for perennial grass breeding

2021 ◽  
pp. 78-89
Author(s):  
LZ Baistruk-Hlodan ◽  
MM Кhomiak ◽  
HZ Zhapaleu
Keyword(s):  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Trifolium Pratense ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Starting Material ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Daily Growth ◽  
Galega Orientalis

Aim. The purpose was to identify collection accessions – sources of valuable traits to use as starting material for creating varieties of perennial grasses in Western Ukraine. Results and Discussion. Perennial grasses play an essential role in improving the efficiency of forage production. They produce a fodder mass that contains major macro- and micronutrients, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and other nutrients in available forms, with a high energy protein saturation. Practice shows that due to the introduction of varietal crops into production in combination with optimal technologies of their cultivation, which allows revealing the potential of each variety, it is possible to additionally obtain 20-30% higher yields of fodder mass annually and harvest 2 to 3-fold seed yields. In 2016-2020, a search was carried out and 570 new accessions of perennial grasses were recruited, of which 201 were legumes and 369 were graminaceous grasses. The collection contains 1,319 accessions, of which 232 are Trifolium pratense L., 115 are Trifolium repens L., 49 are Trifolium hybridum L., 107 are Lotus corniculatus L., 80 belong to other legume species (Medicago, Galega orientalis L. Galega orientalis L. and Trifolium species), 131 are Phleum pratense L., 187 are Dactylis glomerata L., 146 are Lolium perenne L., 53 are Arrhenatherum elatius (L.) J. et C.Presl., 67 are Festuca rubra L., 28 are Festuca trachyphylla L., 32 are Bromopsis inermis (Leyss.) Holub, 92 belong to other species of other types of graminaceous grasses (Festuca pratensis Huds., Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Agrostis alba L. etc.). Accessions that enter the Department are registered and sown for propagation in the field. After examination, valuable accessions are transferred to the National Depository and registered in the National Catalogue; the rest of the obtained seeds are used in working collections. Conclusions. The best collection accessions were identified by a set of economically valuable traits: sources of daily growth of shoots (30), winter hardiness (28), plant height (22), yield of green mass upon haymaking (28) and pasture (19) use, forage productivity (15), seed productivity (25), foliage (21), and disease resistance (23). They can be recommended as starting material to create varieties of perennial grasses with high yields of forage mass and seeds for various applications.

Energy efficiency of multivariate cultivation techniques in pasture forage production

2021 ◽  
pp. 3-6
Author(s):  
К.Н. Привалова ◽  
Р.Р. Каримов
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Production Process ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Exchange Energy ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Energy Yield ◽  
Total Production ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Machinery Construction ◽  
Natural Factors

Исследования по определению энергетической эффективности пастбищных систем со злаковыми и бобово-злаковыми травостоями проведены в Федеральном научном центре кормопроизводства и агроэкологии им. В. Р. Вильямса. В статье приведены результаты агроэнергетической оценки многовариантных пастбищных систем со злаковыми травостоями, созданными в 1946 году. Даны количественные показатели по сбору обменной энергии, совокупным затратам на её производство, окупаемости затрат в зависимости от системы ведения пастбищ. Изучена эффективность совокупных затрат в виде овеществлённого труда (на семена, удобрения, сельскохозяйственные машины, средства огораживания загонов и прочее) и живого труда (работы трактористов, пастухов и строителей и др.). Обоснована высокая агроэнергетическая эффективность изучаемых пастбищных систем благодаря мобилизации в продукционный процесс природных факторов, долевое участие которых в структуре производства обменной энергии составило 69–84%. Природные факторы, участвующие в продукционном процессе луговых агроэкосистем, характеризуются большим разнообразием. Это не только использование солнечной энергии и азотфиксация бобовыми травами, но и долголетие травостоев, самовозобновление фитоценозов, дерновообразовательный процесс (повышение плодородия почвы), получение дешёвого корма и улучшение здоровья животных при летнем выпасе. Роль возобновляемых природных факторов выявлена на основе балансового метода, принятого в экономике (по разнице сбора обменной энергии и антропогенных затрат). Благодаря ведущей роли природных факторов в структуре произведённой продукции агроэнергетический коэффициент окупаемости совокупных затрат антропогенной энергии (АК) за счёт сбора обменной энергии достигал 3–6 раз в среднем за 45 лет. Разработанные в результате долголетних исследований многовариантные энергосберегающие пастбищные системы обосновывают возможность рекомендовать их производству с учётом применения различного уровня энергозатрат. Ключевые слова: культурные пастбища, системы ведения, долголетние травостои, сбор обменной энергии, совокупные антропогенные затраты, окупаемость затрат. The investigation was conducted at the Federal Williams Research Center of Fodder Production and Agroecology and was aimed at testing energy efficiency of gramineous and legume-gramineous swards. This article presents the results obtained on pasture ecosystems with gramineous planted in 1946. Exchange energy yield, total production costs and economic effectiveness were analyzed. Total production costs comprised costs for seeds, fertilizers, machinery, construction materials, labor, etc. Introduction of natural factors into the production process resulted in higher energy efficiency. Their share amounted to 69–84% in the final exchange energy yield. There are a lot of natural factors that affect grass productivity such as solar energy, nitrogen-fixation, sward longevity and regeneration, soil fertility, low-cost feed production, and livestock health. The value of natural factors was determined according to the balance method (by the difference between exchange energy yield and anthropogenic costs). Since environmental factors had a leading role in the production process, the return rate raised by 3–6 times for 45 years due to exchange energy increase. Therefore, pasture ecosystems developed can be recommended for a large-scale forage production.

Cattle Foraging Behavior in Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula)-Infested Rangeland

1987 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 314-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodney G. Lym ◽  
Donald R. Kirby
Keyword(s):  
Warm Season ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Leafy Spurge ◽  
High Density ◽  
Euphorbia Esula ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Grazing Season ◽  
Grazing Cattle ◽  
Early Fall

Leafy spurge causes economic loss by reducing both herbage production and use. Herbage use by grazing cattle in various densities of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esulaL. #3EPHES) was evaluated over a 3-yr period in North Dakota. Forage production and disappearance were estimated in four density classes of leafy spurge. Use of cool- and warm-season graminoids, forbs, and leafy spurge was estimated during the middle and the end of each grazing season. Cattle used 20 and 2% of the herbage in the zero and low density infestations, respectively, by mid-season. Moderate and high density infestations were avoided until the milky latex in leafy spurge disappeared in early fall, and herbage availability in zero and low density infestations declined. Herbage use in moderate and high density infestations increased to an average of 46% by the end of the grazing season compared to 61% in zero and low density infestations. An annual herbage loss of at least 35% occurred in pasture infested with 50% density or more of leafy spurge.

Effects of cereal grain, lupins-cereal grain or hay supplements on the intake and performance of grazing dairy cows

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (7) ◽  
pp. 811 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. Stockdale
Keyword(s):  
Milk Fat ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
The Body ◽  
Absolute Level ◽  
Milk Protein Content ◽  
Cereal Grain ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Solids ◽  
Stocking Rates

Summary. Three experiments of 5 weeks duration, using 32 Friesian cows per experiment, were conducted in northern Victoria during 1994–95. Experiment 1 was conducted during spring (October–November), experiment 2 was carried out in summer (January–February), and experiment 3 was in autumn (April–May). In each experiment, there was a pasture only treatment and 3 treatments in which 5 kg dry matter (DM)/cow of different supplements were offered in 2 equal feeds each day. The supplements were either pelleted cereal grain (75% barley and 25% wheat), pelleted mixed grains (50% lupins, 25% barley, 25% wheat) or hay. The hay used in experiment 1 was made from lucerne (Medicago sativa), while that used in experiments 2 and 3 originated from irrigated annual and perennial pastures, respectively. Cows strip-grazed irrigated pasture at a herbage allowance of about 30 kg DM/cow.day in each experiment. There were 4 cows per treatment and treatments were replicated twice. All supplements significantly (P<0.05) increased milk production. The lupins–cereal grain supplement resulted in the greatest response and the hay the smallest response, both in terms of absolute level of production and the marginal return to additional total DM consumed (1.4, 1.7 and 0.9 kg of extra milk for each additional kg DM of total intake associated with the cereal grain, lupins–cereal grain and hay supplement treatments, respectively). However, the marginal response to each kg of a supplement varied (P<0.05) with the time of the year. There were no differences between supplements in spring whilst in summer and autumn, the cereal grain and lupins–cereal grain supplements were better (P<0.05) than hay. Milk solids yield responded in a manner similar to milk yield. This was principally due to the fact that none of the supplements affected (P>0.05) milk protein content and, although milk fat content was reduced (P<0.05) by both concentrate supplements, the effects were not biologically large (a difference of about 0.05 percentage units). The cereal grain and lupins–cereal grain supplements also improved (P<0.05) the body condition of cows relative to those that were unsupplemented or were supplemented with hay. Levels of substitution were similar across types of supplement, averaging 0.28 kg DM reduction in pasture intake for each kg DM of supplement eaten. It was concluded that, at low pasture allowances (high stocking rates) with moderate supplementation, large differences in substitution between readily fermentable concentrate supplements, such as cereal grain or lupins–cereal grain, and hay are unlikely. Hence, responses in milk will largely be based on the energy content of the supplement. At higher pasture allowances and/or higher levels of supplementary feeding, variations in substitution will probably play an important role in determining the responses observed.

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