Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T20:28:10.255Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The feed intake of grazing cattle III. The influence of level of milk yield

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

J. G. W. Jones ,
R. M. Drake-Brockman  and
W. Holmes
J. G. W. Jones
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), Ashford, Kent
R. M. Drake-Brockman
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), Ashford, Kent
W. Holmes
Affiliation:
Wye College (University of London), Ashford, Kent
Get access

Summary

1. The feed intakes of 18 Ayrshire cows continuously grazing a timothy-meadow fescue-white clover sward were estimated by the chromic oxide-faecal nitrogen method for two 6-weekly periods, one in 1960 and one in 1961. The cows consisted of (1) 6 lactating cows, 6–7 months post partum (Low yield), (2) 6 lactating cows, 2 months post partum (High yield) and (3) 6 dry cows; their live-weights, milk yields and milk composition were recorded.

2. The mean organic matter digestibility of the herbage consumed in the two experiments was 78·2 and 76·2%. The mean digestible organic matter intakes (DOMI) were 23·3, 24·7 and 17·6 Ib./day for low yield, high yield and dry cows respectively.

3. The mean daily fat-corrected milk (FCM) yields of the low and high yield cows were 29·1 and 34·3 lb. in the first experiment, and 26·8 and 42·8 lb. in the second. The mean live-weights of the lactating groups were 1036 lb. and 1106 lb. in the two experiments and did not differ between yield levels.

4. DOMI was partitioned between maintenance, live-weight gain and FCM yield by regression analysis. Significant partial regression coefficients of DOMI on FCM varying between 0·221 and 0·272 were obtained. It was concluded that milk production accounted for about 0·24 lb. DOMI per lb. FCM.

5. The results are discussed with particular regard to other estimates of the effect of milk production on the DOMI of the grazing cow and to the estimation of the maintenance requirement for DOM by the grazing animal.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 7 , Issue 2 , June 1965 , pp. 141 - 151
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1965

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

REFERENCES

Christian, K. R., & Coup, M. R., 1954. Measurement of feed intake by grazing cattle and sheep. VI. The determination of chromium oxide in faeces. N.Z. J. Sci. Tech., A36: 328.Google Scholar
Corbett, J. L., Langlands, J. P., & Boyne, A. W., 1961. An estimate of the energy expended for maintenance by strip-grazed dairy cows. Proc. Viii int. Congr. Anim. Prod., Hamburg, 1961. Schlussbericht, 245.Google Scholar
Gaines, W. L., 1928. The energy basis of measuring milk yield in dairy cows. Res. Bull. Iii. agric. Exp. Sta., no. 308.Google Scholar
Gaines, W. L., 1937. Working maintenance as a function of live weight in dairy cows, and its bearing on an energy—size index of lactation. J. Dairy Sci., 20: 583.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grassland Research Institute, 1961. Research techniques in use at the Grassland Research Institute, Hurley. Bull. Commonw. Bur. Past. Fid Crops, no. 45.Google Scholar
Holmes, W., Jones, J. G. W., & Drake-Brockman, R. M. 1961. The feed intake of grazing cattle. II. The influence of size of animal on feed intake. Anim. Prod., 3: 251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holmes, W., & Osman, H. el S., 1960. The feed intake of grazing cattle. I. Feed intake of dairy cows on strip and free grazing. Anim. Prod., 2: 131.Google Scholar
Hutton, J. B., 1962. The maintenance requirements of New Zealand dairy cattle. Proc. N.Z. Soc. Anim. Prod., 22: 12.Google Scholar
Langlands, J. P., Corbett, J. L., & McDonald, I., 1963. The indirect estimation of the digestibility of pasture herbage. III. Regressions of digestibility on faecal nitrogen concentration: effects of species and individuality of animal and of the method of determining digestibility upon the relationships. J. agric. Sci., 61: 221.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Minson, D. J., Tayler, J. C., Alder, F. E., Raymond, W. F., Rudman, J. E., Line, C., & Head, M. J., 1960. A method for identifying the faeces produced by individual cattle or groups of cattle grazing together. J. Brit. Grassl. Soc., 15: 86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raymond, W. F., & Minson, D. J., 1955. The use of chromic oxide for estimating the faecal production of grazing animals. J. Brit. Grassl. Soc., 10: 282.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stevenson, Audrey E., 1962. Measurement of feed intake by grazing cattle and sheep. VIII. Some observations on the accuracy of the chromic oxide technique for the estimation of faeces output of dairy cattle. N.Z. J. agric. Res., 5: 339.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wallace, L. R., 1956. The intake and utilisation of pasture by grazing dairy cattle. Proc. VII int. Grassl. Congr. 1956, p. 134.Google Scholar