Do Walking Distance and Time Away from the Paddock Influence Daily Behaviour Patterns and Milk Yield of Grazing Dairy Cows?

In pasture-based systems, cows may spend several hours away from the paddock and may also walk several kilometres to meet daily milking requirements; this could lead cows to experience time constraints for grazing, ruminating and lying time in the paddock. This study investigated how walking distance and time spent away from the paddock affected daily behavioural patterns (i.e., grazing, ruminating and lying time) and milk yield. Dairy cows were managed in three rotationally grazed groups (n = 29 cows each) on the same farm and milked twice daily. A triaxial ear tag accelerometer on each cow recorded daily duration of grazing and ruminating, and a leg-based accelerometer recorded the daily lying time, for 13 days. GPS collars on four cows per group recorded the daily walking distance and total time away from the paddock for the group. A mixed repeated measures model tested how time off-paddock and walking distance affected the daily behavioural patterns; age, breed, milk yield and maximum ambient temperature were used as covariates with group as the observational unit. A second similar model tested how these factors affected milk yield. Walking distance and time spent away from the paddock were not correlated. When daily walking distance increased (to a maximum of 4 km/d), cows spent more time grazing and less time ruminating, but lying time was not affected. This result may, in part, be related to the greater energy expenditure demands for walking longer distances and milk production. When time away from the paddock increased (to a maximum of 4 h/d), cows spent less time lying, but grazing and ruminating times were not affected. Milk yield was not affected by walking distance, but one of the groups experienced a lower milk yield when time away from the paddock was increased. This result suggests that, for some cows, lying times may be shorter when experiencing a longer time away from the paddock, which may also affect milk yield. Overall, this study indicates that paddock behaviours are associated with walking distance to the milking parlour and time spent away from the paddock. Efforts to reduce walking distance and time spent away from the paddock are likely to provide cows with greater opportunity to engage in daily behaviours in the paddock that meet their needs and maintain their milk yield.

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The effects on milk yield and composition of incorporating lactose into the diet of dairy cows given protected fat

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1357729800014247 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 62 (1) ◽

pp. 1-3 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

P. C. Garnsworthy

Keyword(s):

Sugar Beet ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Protein Concentration ◽

Milk Protein ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Fat Supplementation ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Group A

AbstractTwenty-eight Holstein/Friesian dairy cows were divided into four groups of seven. From weeks 4 to 15 of lactation they were given a basal diet consisting of 8 kg hay, 2 kg sugar-beet feed and 2 kg grass nuts, together with a concentrate allowance of 8 kg/day. Concentrates for group A were based on cereals and soya (control). Concentrate B contained 60 g protected fat supplement per kg; concentrate C contained 100 g lactose per kg; concentrate D contained 60 g fat supplement and 100 g lactose per kg. Milk yields were 24·6, 27·7, 25·6 and 26·5 kg/day and milk protein concentrations were 32·3, 30·7, 32·7 and 31·9 g/kg for groups A, B, C and D respectively. The effect of fat supplementation on milk yield and protein concentration was significant (P < 0·05) but the effect of lactose was not significant. Milk fat concentration was not significantly affected by treatment. It is concluded that lactose can partially alleviate the depression in milk protein concentration often observed when cows are given protected fat.

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Betaine Improves Milk Yield in Grazing Dairy Cows Supplemented with Concentrates at High Temperatures

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9020057 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 57 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Frank Dunshea ◽

Kehinde Oluboyede ◽

Kristy DiGiacomo ◽

Brian Leury ◽

Jeremy Cottrell

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Milk Protein ◽

The Mean ◽

Fat Yield ◽

Grazing Dairy Cows ◽

Daily Milk Yield ◽

Betaine Supplementation ◽

Daily Milk

Betaine is an organic osmolyte sourced from sugar beet that accumulates in plant cells undergoing osmotic stress. Since the accumulation of betaine lowers the energy requirements of animals and, therefore, metabolic heat production, the aim of this experiment was to investigate if betaine supplementation improved milk yield in grazing dairy cows in summer. One hundred and eighteen Friesian × Holstein cows were paired on days in milk and, within each pair, randomly allocated to a containing treatment of either 0 or 2 g/kg natural betaine in their concentrate ration for approximately 3 weeks during February/March 2015 (summer in Australia). The mean maximum February temperature was 30 °C. Cows were allocated approximately 14 kg dry matter pasture and 7.5 kg of concentrate pellets (fed in the milking shed) per cow per day and were milked through an automatic milking system three times per day. Betaine supplementation increased average daily milk yield by over 6% (22.0 vs. 23.4 kg/day, p < 0.001) with the response increasing as the study progressed as indicated by the interaction (p < 0.001) between betaine and day. Milk fat % (p = 0.87), milk protein % (p = 0.90), and milk somatic cell count (p = 0.81) were unchanged by dietary betaine. However, betaine supplementation increased milk protein yield (677 vs. 719 g/day, p < 0.001) and fat yield (874 vs. 922 g/day, p < 0.001) with responses again being more pronounced as the study progressed. In conclusion, dietary betaine supplementation increased milk and component yield during summer in grazing dairy cows.

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Replacing grazing with a maize silage-based indoor diet for lactating dairy cows in autumn

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200005779 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 2001 ◽

pp. 195-195

Author(s):

O. Hernandez-Mendo ◽

J. D. Leaver

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Maize Silage ◽

Behavioural Responses ◽

Lactating Dairy Cows ◽

Soyabean Meal ◽

Grazing Dairy Cows

Reducing the time available for grazing from 20h to 5h daily, and replacing this with access to a maize silage/soyabean meal diet indoors had no significant effect on milk yield in spring (Hernandez-Mendo and Leaver, 1999). Grazing conditions in autumn present additional problems of shorter daylength and accumulated herbage contamination. The objectives were to examine the production and behavioural responses of grazing dairy cows to reducing access to grazing and increasing access to a maize silage/soyabean meal diet offered indoors.

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An investigation of the effect of initial milk yield level on the response to sward height and concentrate supplementation in grazing dairy cows

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0308229600029226 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 1995 ◽

pp. 156-156

Author(s):

R. Pulido ◽

J.D. Leaver

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Yield Potential ◽

Concentrate Supplementation ◽

Yield Level ◽

Sward Height ◽

Herbage Intake ◽

Holstein Friesian ◽

Cow Performance ◽

Grazing Dairy Cows

The increase of milk yield potential of dairy cows raises a number of questions relating to their management at pasture where the intake potential might be limiting. The interaction of initial milk yield (IMY), sward availability (SH) and level of concentrate supplementation (CI) is largely unknown.Two experiments of 42 and 24 days in spring and midsummer were carried out with 45 and 27 Holstein Friesian cows respectively. In spring, five IMY groups (range 16.9 to 35.5 kg/day) and in midsummer three IMY groups (range 22.2 to 31.8 kg/day) were used. In both periods, three compressed sward height(3 to 5, 5 to 7 and 7 to 9 cm) and three CI (0, 3 and 6 kg/day, with 160 g CP/kg DM, 12.8 MJ ME/kg DM) were used. The grazing area consisted of 7.9 ha of perennial ryegrass which was set stocked. The herbage intake (HDMI) was estimated indirectly from individual cow performance. Grazing time (GT) was recorded for each cow on 24 hour observations. Multiple regression analyses were carried out relating the dependent variables herbage intake, grazing behaviour and milk production to the independent variables (IMY, SH, CI).

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Effect of dietary supplementation with fish oil during the transition period on milk production, plasma metabolites and postpartum anoestrus interval in grazing dairy cows

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an10178 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 51 (5) ◽

pp. 481 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

A. Mendoza ◽

D. Crespi ◽

A. Hernández ◽

N. Roura ◽

H. Valentín ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fish Oil ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Postpartum Period ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Dietary Supplementation ◽

Plasma Metabolites ◽

Ovarian Activity ◽

Dominant Follicle ◽

Grazing Dairy Cows

Inclusion of fish oil (FO) in the diet of dairy cows could improve the energy status and milk yield and reduce the interval from calving to first postpartum ovulation, but the effects may differ depending on the specific period of supplementation. To test these hypotheses, 28 pregnant Holstein heifers were randomly assigned to four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design: prepartum oral drench of FO (0 or 140 g/cow.day) for 21 days before calving, and/or postpartum oral drench of FO (0 or 190 g/cow.day) for 21 days after calving. Prepartum, heifers grazed in native pastures with supplements of wheat silage and wheat bran, while postpartum, cows grazed on improved pastures with addition of concentrates and corn silage. No interaction between prepartum and postpartum FO was detected for any variable analysed. Prepartum and postpartum total DM intake, milk yield, protein yield and percentage were not different among treatments. Milk fat percentage (3.83 versus 3.34 ± 0.10%) and yield (0.88 versus 0.73 ± 0.04 kg/day) decreased with postpartum FO but were not affected by prepartum FO. Prepartum and postpartum body condition score and plasma concentration of non-esterified fatty acids and cholesterol were not different among treatments, but urea concentration was higher in cows drenched with FO during prepartum (5.91 versus 4.64 ± 0.35 mM). Proportion of cows that ovulated the dominant follicle of the first postpartum wave and days to first postpartum ovulation, as determined by ovarian ultrasonography, were not affected by drenching with FO, but size of the dominant follicle in the first wave was decreased when FO was drenched only during the pre- or postpartum period compared with drenching in both periods. Dietary supplementation with FO during the postpartum period affected milk fat synthesis but more research is needed to establish its effects on resumption of ovarian activity in grazing dairy cows.

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Effects of Perennial Ryegrass Cultivars on Milk Yield and Nitrogen Utilization in Grazing Dairy Cows

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(06)72388-8 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 89 (9) ◽

pp. 3494-3500 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

B.M. Tas ◽

H.Z. Taweel ◽

H.J. Smit ◽

A. Elgersma ◽

J. Dijkstra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Perennial Ryegrass ◽

Nitrogen Utilization ◽

Grazing Dairy Cows

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Adaptation and evaluation of the GrazeIn model of grass dry matter intake and milk yield prediction for grazing dairy cows

animal ◽

10.1017/s1751731113002486 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 596-609 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

B.F. O’Neill ◽

E. Ruelle ◽

M. O’Donovan ◽

L. Shalloo ◽

F.J. Mulligan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Dry Matter Intake ◽

Yield Prediction ◽

Grazing Dairy Cows

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Responses to grain feeding by grazing dairy cows

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea97087 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 38 (6) ◽

pp. 541 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

A. C. Robaina ◽

C. Grainger ◽

P. Moate ◽

J. Taylor ◽

J. Stewart

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Production ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Difference Method ◽

Protein Concentration ◽

Milk Composition ◽

Supplementary Feeding ◽

Sampling Techniques ◽

Grazing Dairy Cows ◽

Yield Responses

Summary. Two experiments were conducted on feeding grain supplements to dairy cows during summer. In experiment 1, dairy cows in mid–late lactation were offered one of 2 pasture allowances (about 20 and 40 kg DM/cow.day) with and without a supplement of a grain mix (5 kg of a 70 : 30 mixture of barley and lupins). This experiment was conducted twice over 2 consecutive summer–autumn periods (years 1 and 2). Milk yields were higher at the high pasture allowance and with grain feeding. The marginal response to grain feeding (kg milk/kg grain DM consumed) was 0.7 at both pasture allowances in year 1, and 1.1 and 0.8 at the low and high pasture allowance, respectively, in year 2. Diet had no significant effect on milk composition. Pasture intake was reduced by supplementary feeding and the level of substitution depended on pasture allowance. The alkane-based and sward sampling techniques were used to estimate pasture intake and diet digestibility. Estimates of pasture substitution, based on measurements made with the alkane technique, were 0.3 and 0.6 kg DM reduction in pasture/kg DM grain consumed at the low and high pasture allowance, respectively, in both years. In year 1, the pasture substitution measured with the pasture difference method was 1 kg pasture DM/kg grain DM at both pasture allowances. In year 2, estimates of substitution calculated using the pasture difference method were 0.2 and 0.5 kg pasture DM/kg grain DM at the low and high pasture allowance respectively. In the second experiment (year 3), the effects of level of feeding barley on pasture intake, diet digestibility and milk production were measured during summer. The 4 levels of grain consumed were 0, 1.8, 3.4 and 6.7 kg barley DM/cow. day. Higher grain intake resulted in higher milk yield, higher protein concentration and yields of fat, protein and lactose. Milk yield responses per kilogram of barley diminished from 1.6 at the low barley intake to 0.8 kg milk/kg barley DM at the highest barley intake. It is suggested that higher levels of substitution and a potentially less efficient use of grain contributed to the poorer production responses at higher levels of grain feeding.

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