Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T05:05:23.520Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

T. Kristensen ,
S. M. Thamsborg ,
H. R. Andersen ,
K. Søegaard  and
A. L. Nielsen
T. Kristensen*
Affiliation:
Department of Agroecology, Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 50, DK-8830, Tjele, Denmark
S. M. Thamsborg
Affiliation:
The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Bülowsvej 17, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
H. R. Andersen
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Health, Welfare and Nutrition, Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 50, DK-8830, Tjele, Denmark
K. Søegaard
Affiliation:
Department of Agroecology, Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 50, DK-8830, Tjele, Denmark
A. L. Nielsen
Affiliation:
Natlan, Agro Business Park, Niels Pedersens Allé 2, DK-8830, Tjele, Denmark
*
†E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Production 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.

Keywords

cattlegrowthnatural grasslandsparasitespastures
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 82 , Issue 2 , April 2006 , pp. 201 - 211
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ackerman, J., Purvis, H. T. II, Horn, G. W., Paisley, S. I., Reuter, R. R. and Bodine, T. N. 2001. Performance of light vs heavy steers grazing Plains Old World bluestem at three stocking rates. Journal of Animal Science 79: 493–499.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Andersen, R. H., Kristensen, T., Bligaard, H. B. and Thamsborg, S. M. 2002. Studeproduktion ved afgræsning af ferske enge. DJF Rapport – Husdyr., vol.40.Google Scholar
Andersen, H.R., Kristensen, T., Bligaard, H. B., Madsen, N. T. and Nielsen, B. 2003. Produktionssystemer for kontinuert produktion af efterårsfødte stude. DJF rapport–Husdyrbrug, vol.48.Google Scholar
Anonymous. 1986. Manual of veterinary parasitological techniques, third edition. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Her Majesty's Stationary Office, London.Google Scholar
Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 1990. Official methods of analysis, 15th edition. AOAC, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Barger, I. 1993. Influence of sex and reproductive status on susceptibility of ruminants to nematode parasitism. International Journal for Parasitology 23: 463–469.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dougherty, C. T., Cornelius, P. L., Bradley, N. W. and Lauriault, L. M. 1989. Ingestive behavior of beef heifers within grazing sessions. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 23: 341–351.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eysker, M. and Ploeger, H. W. 2000. Value of present diagnostic methods for gastrointestinal nematode infections in ruminants. Parasitology 120: 109–119.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Eysker, M., Van der Aar, W. M., Boersema, J. H., Githiori, J. B. and Koyman, F. N. J. 1998. The effect of repeated moves to clean pasture on the build up of gastrointestinal nematode infections in calves. Veterinary Parasitology 76: 81–94.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Foldager, J., Sejrsen, K., Brolund Larsen, J., Nansen, P., Jørgensen, R. J. and Hansen, J. W. 1981. Control of infection with gastrointestinal helminths in calves and heifers on pasture. Report from National Institute of Animal Science, vol. 514.Google Scholar
Hald, A. B. 2000. Species density changes in the vegetation of low-lying grassland in response to management. Grassland Science in Europe 5: 65–67.Google Scholar
Hald, A.B., Hoffmann, C. C. and Nielsen, A. L. 2003. Ekstensiv afgræsning af ferske enge. DJF Rapport–Markbrug, vol. 91.Google Scholar
Henriksen, S. Aa. and Korsholm, H. 1983. A method for culture and recovery of gastrointestinal strongyle larvae. Nordic Veterinarian-Medicin 35: 429–430.Google ScholarPubMed
Hoogendoorn, C. J., Holmes, C. W. and Chu, C. P. 1992. Some effects of herbage composition, as influenced by previous grazing management, on milk production by cows grazing on ryegrass/white clover pastures. 2. Milk production in late spring/summer: effects of grazing intensity during the preceding spring period. Grass and Forage Science 47: 316–325.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ingvartsen, K. L., Andersen, H. R. and Foldager, J. 1992. Effect of sex and pregnancy on feed intake capacity of growing cattle. Acta Agriculturæ Scandinavica Section A 42: 40–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jørgensen, R. J. 1980. The epidemiology of bovine dictyocaulosis in Denmark. Veterinary Parasitology 7: 153–167.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jørgensen, R. J. and Madsen, K. 1982. [Examination of bovine faeces for the presence of D. viviparus larvae.] Dansk Veterinær Tidsskrift 65: 517–518.Google Scholar
Keane, M. G. and Drennan, M. J. 1990. Comparison of growth and carcass composition of heifers in three production systems and steers and effects of implantation with anabolic agents. Irish Journal of Agricultural Research 29: 1–13.Google Scholar
Kristensen, E. S. 1988. Influence of defoliation regime on herbage production and characteristics of intake by dairy cows as affected by grazing intensity. Grass and Forage Science 43: 239–251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lowman, B. G., Hinks, C. E., Hunter, E. A. and Scott, N. A. 1996. Effect of breed type, sex, method of rearing and winter nutrition on lifetime performance and carcass composition in a 20-month beef system: grazing performance. Animal Science 63: 215–222.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McGilloway, D. A. and Mayne, C. S. 1996. The importance of grass availability for high genetic merit dairy cows. In Recent advances in animal nutrition (ed. Carnsworthy, P. C. and Wiseman, J.), pp. 135–169. University of Nottingham Press.Google Scholar
Nansen, P., Foldager, J., Hansen, J. W., Henriksen, Sv. Aa. and Jørgensen, R. J. 1988. Grazing pressure and acquisition of O. ostertagi in calves. Veterinary Parasitology 27: 325–335.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nansen, P., Grønvold, J., Jørgensen, R. J., Henriksen, S. A., Foldager, J. and Sejrsen, K. 1989. Outbreaks of early-season trichostrongylosis in calves in Denmark. Veterinary Parasitology 32: 199–211.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nielsen, A. L., Kristensen, T. and Badsberg, J. H. 2002. Animal production from dairy breed steers at extensively managed grasslands in riverside areas. Grassland Science in Europe 7: 938–939.Google Scholar
Nielsen, A. L. and Søegaard, K. 2000. Forage quality of cultivated and natural species in semi-natural grasslands. Grassland Science in Europe 5: 213–215.Google Scholar
Nielsen, B. and Thamsborg, S. M. 2002. Dairy bull calves as a ressource for organic beef production: a farm survey in Denmark. Livestock Production Science 75: 245–255.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peyraud, J. P. and González-Rodrigez, A. 2000. Relations between grass production, supplementation and intake in grazing dairy cows. Proceedings of the 18th general meeting of the European Grassland Federation, Denmark, 22–25 May 2000, pp. 269–282.Google Scholar
Pulido, R. 1997. Interaction of pasture conditions, concentrate supplementation and milk yield level in relation to dairy cow performance and behaviour. Ph.D. thesis, Wye College, University of London.Google Scholar
Pulido, R. G. and Leaver, J. D. 2003. Continuous and rotational grazing of dairy cows–the interactions of grazing system with level of milk yield, sward height and concentrate level. Grass and Forage Science 58: 265–275.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Realini, C. E., Hodgson, J., Morris, S. T. and Purchas, R. W. 1999. Effect of sward surface height on herbage intake and performance of finishing beef cattle. Journal of Agricultural Research 42: 155–164.Google Scholar
Roepstorff, A. and Nansen, P. 1998. Epidemiology, diagnosis and control of helminth parasites of swine. Animal health manual, vol. 3. FAO, Rome, Italy.Google Scholar
Ross, J. G., Purcell, D. A., Dow, C. and Todd, J. R. 1967. Experimental infection of calves with Trichostrongylus axei. The course of development of infection and lesions in low level infections. Research in Veterinary Science 8: 201–206.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Statistical Analysis Systems Institute. 1999. SAS version eight, SAS OnlineDoc. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC.Google Scholar
Steen, R. W. J. 1994. A comparison of pasture grazing and storage feeding, and the effects of sward surface height and concentrate supplementation from 5 to 10 month of age on lifetime performance and carcass composition of bulls. Animal Production 58: 209–219.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stromberg, B. E. and Averbeck, G. A. 1999. The role of parasite epidemiology in the management of grazing cattle. International Journal for Parasitology 29: 33–39.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thamsborg, S. M., Jørgensen, R. J. and Nansen, P. 1998a. Internal parasitism of steers grazing at different stocking rates. Acta Agriculturæ Scandinavica 39: 311–323.Google ScholarPubMed
Thamsborg, S. M., Jørgensen, R. J., Ranvig, H., Bartlett, P., Waller, P. J. and Nansen, P. 1998b. The performance of grazing sheep in relation to stocking rate and exposure to nematode infections. Livestock Production Science 53: 265–277.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tilley, J. M. A. and Terry, A. 1963. A two-stage technique for the digestion of forage crops. Journal of the British Grassland Society 18c: 104–111.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Soest, P. J. 1963. Use of detergents in the analysis of fibrous feeds. Journal of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists 46: 825–835.Google Scholar
Wright, I. A., Russel, A. J. F. and Hunter, E. A. 1986. The effect of winter food level on compensatory growth of weaned, suckled calves grazed at two sward heights. Animal Production 43: 221–223.Google Scholar