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The influence of winter nutrition, grazing system and stocking rate on the performance of spring-calving Hereford × Friesian cows and their calves 2. Grazing system and stocking rate

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

R. D. Baker ,
J. M. Barker  and
Y. L. P. Le Du
R. D. Baker
Affiliation:
Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 SLR
J. M. Barker
Affiliation:
Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 SLR
Y. L. P. Le Du
Affiliation:
Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 SLR
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Abstract

Forty-eight Hereford × Friesian cows and their South Devon calves were paddock grazed at high or low stocking rates of 412 or 206 cows and calves per ha in experiment 1, and either paddock grazed or set stocked at high or low stocking rates of 4·12 or 2·74 cows and calves per ha in experiments 2 to 4.

There was no significant effect of grazing system on milk yield, milk composition or calf growth but in experiment 2 paddock-grazed cows gained more weight than those set stocked. Cows at low stocking rates gained more weight than those at high stocking rates and, in general, gave more milk. Calf growth rates were also higher at low stocking rates in experiments 1, 3 and 4 but not in experiment 2. Milk composition was not significantly affected by stocking rate. There were substantial increases in calf live-weight gain per ha at the high stocking rate but, because of a lower gain by cows, the differences in total live-weight gains per ha for cows and calves were much smaller.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 34 , Issue 2 , April 1982 , pp. 225 - 237
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1982

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