scholarly journals Methane emissions by dairy cows fed increasing proportions of white clover (Trifolium repens) in pasture

2004 ◽  
pp. 151-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. Lee ◽  
S.L. Woodward ◽  
G.C. Waghorn ◽  
D.A. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Trifolium Repens ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Ch4 Production ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Cow Performance

Methane (CH4) production from ruminant digestion has a significant impact on the New Zealand greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and represents a loss of about 10% of metabolisable energy (ME) intake. Previous trials with sheep and cattle have demonstrated significantly lower methane losses per unit feed intake from legumes compared to grass dominant pasture. Most trials have compared forages fed as sole diets but white clover (Trifolium repens) is usually fed with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) as a mixed pasture, as it complements ryegrass for animal production. An indoor feeding trial was conducted in December 2003 with thirty-two Holstein-Friesian dairy cows in mid-lactation to determine effects of increasing proportions of white clover on methane emissions and cow performance. Cows were housed indoors and fed perennial ryegrass with 0, 15, 30 or 60% white clover ad libitum on a dry matter (DM) basis. Increasing proportions of white clover resulted in linear increases in dry matter intakes (DMI) and reductions in methane per kg DM eaten, although the extent to which CH4 production/kg DMI was lowered was less than anticipated from previous measurements from sheep fed white clover as a sole diet. DMI of cows fed 60% white clover was 20.5 vs. 15.6 kg DM/cow/day for 100% perennial ryegrass (P

Nutrients in ryegrass (Lolium spp.), white clover (Trifolium repens) and kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) pastures in relation to season and stage of regrowth in a subtropical environment

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 227 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Fulkerson ◽  
K. Slack ◽  
D. W. Hennessy ◽  
G. M. Hough
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Trifolium Repens ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Pennisetum Clandestinum ◽  
Tiller Stage ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Kikuyu Grass

Summary. On the subtropical north coast of New South Wales, Australia, kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum), biennial ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and mixed perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)–white clover (Trifolium repens) pastures grazed by dairy cows were plucked pregrazing to simulated grazing height, every 2 weeks for 2 years to determine seasonal changes in various nutrients and in sacco organic matter and nitrogen (N) degradability. Changes in nutrients during regrowth were determined in the ryegrass component of a mixed perennial ryegrass–white clover pasture by sequentially cutting pasture at 3- or 4-day intervals to 5 cm stubble height and non-structural carbohydrates in kikuyu by cutting at 4-day intervals in February–March. There was a significant effect of season on water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and crude protein (CP) content of perennial ryegrass with regrowth time, resulting in an 8-fold fall in the CP : WSC ratio from the 1 to 3 leaves/tiller stage of regrowth in mid winter, a 2-fold difference in mid spring but with no discernible difference in late spring. The metabolisable energy (ME) values for biennial ryegrass exceeded 11.9 MJ/kg dry matter (DM) from July to September and then fell markedly to <10 MJ/kg DM in November, coinciding with reproductive development. In perennial ryegrass–white clover pastures, mean ME was above 11 MJ/kg DM from May to September, but fell to < 9 MJ/kg DM in December while in kikuyu, the mean ME, over the recognised growing season, was 8.5 MJ/kg DM but in winter it was 9.5 MJ/kg DM. Fibre content in all pasture types showed a significant seasonal trend with the content of acid detergent fibre (ADF) in biennial ryegrass at 17% from May to August while the mean neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content was 37%. In perennial ryegrass–white clover, the mean ADF was <21% from May to August. The NDF content of kikuyu grass was about 60% during the growing season but 40% in winter. The calcium (Ca) : phosphorus (P) ratio in perennial ryegrass rose from <1 : 1 at the 1 leaf/tiller stage to 2.2 : 1 at the 3 leaves/tiller stage of regrowth due to a simultaneous fall in P and a rise in Ca. A fall in potassium (K) and a rise in magnesium (Mg) and Ca content in perennial ryegrass gave a very significant linear fall in K/(Mg + Ca), on a percentage basis, from 8 at the 1 leaf/tiller stage of regrowth, to 2.5 at the 3 leaves/tiller stage of regrowth. In kikuyu, the level of P changed significantly with season falling as the species became dormant. A fall in P and a rise in Ca content resulted in a high Ca : P ratio (2.5 : 1) in spring. The findings of this study give some insight into the reason why the content of various nutrients change in pasture and the implication of this for providing a balanced diet to dairy cows. A knowledge of these changes should provide the opportunity to balance nutrients in pasture by adjusting time of grazing and/or providing supplements of appropriate quality.

The effects of sward height and concentrate supplementation on the performance of spring calving dairy cows grazing perennial ryegrass-white clover swards

1994 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Rook ◽  
C. A. Huckle ◽  
R. J. Wilkins
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Individual Animal ◽  
Concentrate Supplementation ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Friesian Cows

AbstractForty-eight spring-calving, Holstein-Friesian cows were continuously stocked on perennial ryegrass-white clover swards maintained at compressed sward heights of 4, 6 or 8 cm and offered 0 (U) or 4 (S) kg concentrates. Milk yields and composition, live weights and intakes (estimated by the n-alkane technique) were recorded for periods 24 May to 27 June (P1) and 28 June to 8 August 1992 (P2) with 4 cm swards not used in P2. Milk and component yields were significantly lower at 4 cm than at 6 or 8 cm in P1 and significantly higher when supplements were offered in both periods with no significant interaction. Herbage intakes were reduced more by supplementation at lower sward heights. Live weight was significantly lower on the 4 cm sward. Fat concentrations were unaffected by height and supplementation in P1 but significantly increased by supplementation in P2. These results suggest that maintaining a sward height of 6 cm offers advantages in terms of individual animal output and output per ha compared with grazing at greater or lower sward heights.

scholarly journals Effect of pasture species on milk yield and milk composition

1995 ◽  
pp. 151-156
Author(s):  
Robyn J. Johnson ◽  
N.A. Thomson
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Trifolium Repens ◽  
Latin Square ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Trifolium Repens L ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata L

One 10-day experiment in autumn 1994 then four 10-day experiments throughout the 1994195 lactation in a complete Latin square investigated the effect of pasture species on yield, composition and total colour of milk from dairy cows. Treatments were Grasslands Kopu white clover (Trifolium repens L.), Yatsyn- 1 perennial ryegrass (L&urn perenne L.), Grasslands Kahu timothy (Phfeum pratense L.) and Grasslands Kara cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) offered at similar allowances of green leaf. Cows grazing white clover produced higher (P

scholarly journals Prior Forage Type Influences Ruminal Responses to a Wheat Grain Challenge in Lactating Dairy Cows

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3188
Author(s):  
Victoria M. Russo ◽  
Brian J. Leury ◽  
Emer Kennedy ◽  
Murray C. Hannah ◽  
Martin J. Auldist ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Adaptation Period ◽  
Wheat Grain ◽  
Ruminal Fluid ◽  
Ruminal Acidosis ◽  
Metabolisable Energy

To increase the dry matter and metabolisable energy intake of cows, dairy farmers often supplement pasture with concentrates and conserved fodder. Feeding large amounts of highly fermentable concentrates to cows can result in metabolic issues, such as ruminal acidosis, and thus safer but more efficient introduction strategies are desirable. We assessed the role that forages play in ruminal, behavioural and production responses to a wheat grain challenge in dairy cows with no previous wheat adaptation. Multiparous lactating Holstein dairy cows (n = 16) were fed a forage-only diet of either lucerne (Medicago sativa) hay, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) hay or one of two cultivars of zero-grazing fresh perennial ryegrass herbage (Bealey or Base), for 3 weeks. The forage diet was then supplemented with crushed wheat grain at 8 kg dry matter/cow day−1, with no adaptation period. Wheat comprised between 32 and 43% of total dry matter intake. Cows fed hay maintained a higher mean ruminal fluid pH than those fed herbage, on both the forage-only diet (6.43 vs. 6.17) and the forage plus wheat diet (6.03 vs. 5.58). Following supplementation of wheat, cows fed herbage exhibited minimum ruminal fluid pH levels indicative of acute ruminal acidosis, at 5.15 and 5.06 for cultivars Bealey and Base, respectively. Furthermore, for both herbage cultivars, adding wheat resulted in a ruminal fluid pH under 6 for >20 h/day. The ruminal environment of cows fed lucerne hay remained most stable throughout the grain challenge, spending the least amount of time below pH 6.0 (9.0 h/day). Hay created a ruminal environment that was better able to cope with the accumulation of acid as wheat was digested. A combination of increased ruminating time and a slower rate of fermentation, due to higher neutral detergent fiber and lower metabolisable energy concentrations in the hays, is likely responsible for the higher ruminal fluid pH values. Forage plays a critical role in wheat introduction strategies; aggressive adaptation strategies could be implemented when a hay such as lucerne is used as the base forage.

scholarly journals Seasonal dry matter production of Lotus corniculatus in a dryland commercial sheep pastoral system

2003 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 185-188
Author(s):  
C.A. Ramirez-Restrepo ◽  
P.D. Kemp ◽  
T.N. Barry ◽  
N. Lopezvillalobos
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Trifolium Repens ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Lotus Corniculatus ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
Pastoral System ◽  
The North

Lotus corniculatus (Birdsfoot trefoil, 'Grassland Goldie') may have a role in dryland pastoral systems in New Zealand, but there is little information available on its production under sheep grazing in these conditions. Dry matter (DM) production of L. corniculatus was measured monthly for 2 consecutive years in a systems approach experiment comparing it with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)/white clover (Trifolium repens) pasture in the Wairarapa on the east coast of the North Island. The total DM produced for 2 years was 8.5 and 10.5 t /ha for L. corniculatus compared with 7.3 and 9.9 t /ha for pasture. Also, the moderate concentration of CT (18- 29 g/kg DM) in L. corniculatus has been shown to increase sheep productivity (Wang et al. 1996ab; Min et al. 1999, 2001). This production advantage, combined with improved sheep performance, supports the potential use of L. corniculatus as a specialist forage in dryland areas. Key words: condensed tannins, perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne, white clover, Trifolium repens, pasture.

Production and composition of milk by dairy cows fed common vetch or lupin grain as protein supplements to a silage and pasture-based diet in early lactation

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 633 ◽  
Author(s):  
SC Valentine ◽  
BD Bartsch
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Common Vetch ◽  
Protein Supplements ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Clover Pasture ◽  
Friesian Cows

Milk production and composition were measured for 49 days in early lactation in 40 Holstein-Friesian cows fed 8 kg/day (fresh weight) of 1:1 mixtures of either rolled barley-lupin grain (Lupinus angustifolius L. cv. Gungurru) or barley-common vetch grain (Vicia sativa L. cv. Blanche Fleur). All cows were fed 1 kg/day of a pelleted concentrate containing minerals and vitamins, and wilted perennial ryegrass-subterranean clover pasture silage was available ad libitum with restricted grazing of perennial ryegrass-subterranean clover pasture. Cows ate all of the barley-lupin grain and barley-vetch grain mixtures. Mean daily dry matter intakes of silage (kg/cow.day) were 9.9 and 9.8 for cows fed the barley-lupin grain and barley-vetch grain mixtures respectively. Estimated pasture DM intake was 3.0 kg/cow.day. Mean daily yields of milk (L), fat (kg) and protein (kg) were significantly (P<0.001) greater for cows fed the barley-lupin grain mixture (30.3, 1.30 and 0.92 respectively) than for those fed the barley-vetch grain mixture (27.7, 1.23 and 0.87 respectively). Cows fed the barley-vetch grain mixture gained 0.2 kg/day more liveweight than those fed the barley-lupin grain mixture. Although both common vetch grain and lupin grain were readily eaten by dairy cows, when fed as protein supplements to a high quality silage and pasture-based diet in early lactation, cows fed the vetch grain produced less milk and milk components. This may be related to the greater partitioning of nutrients to liveweight gain rather than to toxicity problems in the cows fed vetch grain.

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