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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2016

A. J. Rook ,
C. A. Huckle  and
R. J. Wilkins
A. J. Rook
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, Devon EX20 2SB
C. A. Huckle
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, Devon EX20 2SB
R. J. Wilkins
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, Devon EX20 2SB
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Abstract

Forty-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.

Keywords

concentratesdairy cowsgrazingsward heightTrifolium repens.
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 58 , Issue 2 , April 1994 , pp. 167 - 172
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1994

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