Effect of water-soluble carbohydrate content in orchardgrass pasture on grazing time and rumen fermentation in dairy cows

Recent studies have shown increased silage intake and improved milk fat concentration in dairy cows offered restricted compared to extensively fermented silages (Chamberlain et al., 1990; Mayne 1992). Changes in milk composition may be related to increased intake per se and/or alterations in rumen fermentation parameters. A study was therefore undertaken to examine the effects of silage fermentation type, dry matter intake and the addition of water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) or lactic acid on rumen fermentation parameters in dairy cows.Two direct cut grass silages were prepared using either an inoculant (Ecosyl, 3 1/t, ICI. pic) or Maxgrass (BP Chemicals, 6 1/t). Five silage only treatments were offered to four ruminally fistulated dairy cows in a five period, partially balanced, changeover design experiment. Each period was of 4 weeks duration. Treatment 1: Inoculant treated silage (I), 2: Maxgrass silage (M), 3: Maxgrass ad-libitum (MAL), 4: Inoculant + sucrose (500 g/day) (IS), 5: Maxgrass + lactic acid (200 ml/day) (ML).

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Matching grass supply to grazing patterns for dairy cows under strip-grazing management

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200597014 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 1998 ◽

pp. 49-49

Author(s):

R.J. Orr ◽

S.M. Rutter ◽

P.D. Penning ◽

N.H. Yarrow ◽

L.D. Atkinson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Grazing Management ◽

Soluble Carbohydrate ◽

Production Potential ◽

Grazed Pasture ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Water Soluble Carbohydrate ◽

Strip Grazing ◽

Friesian Cows

Grazed herbage is the cheapest feed available for dairy cows but total intake of nutrients from grazed pasture alone is generally insufficient to allow high yielding dairy cows to reach their production potential. Cows have their main daily meal following afternoon milking in the period up to sunset (e.g. Rook et al., 1994 ). In addition, both the DM content and water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentration of grass increase over the day (e.g. Orr et al., 1997) due to the loss of moisture and the accumulation of the products of photosynthesis. Based on this evidence, this study tested the hypothesis that dairy cows receiving strip-grazing allocations following the afternoon rather than the morning milking would show higher intake rates and consequently higher milk yields.Twenty Holstein-Friesian cows (median calving date 10 February 1997) were each supplemented with 4 kg concentrates day-1 and strip-grazed a perennial ryegrass pasture in four groups of 5 cows.

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Prediction of forage dry matter and soluble carbohydrate content from analysis of expressed juice

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0308229600031974 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 1996 ◽

pp. 234-234

Author(s):

D.I.H. Jones ◽

C.P. Freeman ◽

J.R. Newbold ◽

A.R. Fychan ◽

Elspeth Jones ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dry Matter ◽

Carbohydrate Content ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Soluble Carbohydrate ◽

Silage Fermentation ◽

Ultimate Objective ◽

Water Soluble Carbohydrate ◽

On Farm ◽

The Relationship

The dry matter (DM) and water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentrations of forage are the main characteristics influencing the course of silage fermentation. Knowledge of these parameters would enable decisions to be made both on the need for additive and the type of additive likely to be most effective. Moreover, the degree of wilt could also be followed in wilted crops. The present study was directed to assessing the relationship between the composition of the crop and the volume and composition of the expressed juice. The ultimate objective was the development of on-farm methodology for predicting the ensiling characteristics of crops.

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Matching grass supply to grazing patterns for dairy cows under strip-grazing management

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0308229600032621 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 1998 ◽

pp. 49-49 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

R.J. Orr ◽

S.M. Rutter ◽

P.D. Penning ◽

N.H. Yarrow ◽

L.D. Atkinson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Grazing Management ◽

Soluble Carbohydrate ◽

Production Potential ◽

Grazed Pasture ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Water Soluble Carbohydrate ◽

Strip Grazing ◽

Friesian Cows

Grazed herbage is the cheapest feed available for dairy cows but total intake of nutrients from grazed pasture alone is generally insufficient to allow high yielding dairy cows to reach their production potential. Cows have their main daily meal following afternoon milking in the period up to sunset (e.g. Rook et al., 1994 ). In addition, both the DM content and water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentration of grass increase over the day (e.g. Orr et al., 1997) due to the loss of moisture and the accumulation of the products of photosynthesis. Based on this evidence, this study tested the hypothesis that dairy cows receiving strip-grazing allocations following the afternoon rather than the morning milking would show higher intake rates and consequently higher milk yields.Twenty Holstein-Friesian cows (median calving date 10 February 1997) were each supplemented with 4 kg concentrates day-1 and strip-grazed a perennial ryegrass pasture in four groups of 5 cows.

Download Full-text