Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-07T06:26:42.409Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Predicting grass dry matter intake, milk yield and milk fat and protein yield of spring calving grazing dairy cows during the grazing season

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2013

B. F. O'Neill ,
E. Lewis ,
M. O'Donovan ,
L. Shalloo ,
N. Galvin ,
F. J. Mulligan ,
T. M. Boland  and
R. Delagarde
B. F. O'Neill
Affiliation:
Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
E. Lewis*
Affiliation:
Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
M. O'Donovan
Affiliation:
Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
L. Shalloo
Affiliation:
Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
N. Galvin
Affiliation:
Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
F. J. Mulligan
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
T. M. Boland
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
R. Delagarde
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR1348, INRA-Agrocampus Ouest, PEGASE, F-35590 Saint-Gilles, France
*
†E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Predicting the grass dry matter intake (GDMI), milk yield (MY) or milk fat and protein yield (milk solids yield (MSY)) of the grazing dairy herd is difficult. Decisions with regard to grazing management are based on guesstimates of the GDMI of the herd, yet GDMI is a critical factor influencing MY and MSY. A data set containing animal, sward, grazing management and concentrate supplementation variables recorded during weeks of GDMI measurement was used to develop multiple regression equations to predict GDMI, MY and MSY. The data set contained data from 245 grazing herds from 10 published studies conducted at Teagasc, Moorepark. A forward stepwise multiple regression technique was used to develop the multiple regression equations for each of the dependent variables (GDMI, MY, MSY) for three periods during the grazing season: spring (SP; 5 March to 30 April), summer (SU; 1 May to 31 July) and autumn (AU; 1 August to 31 October). The equations generated highlighted the importance of different variables associated with GDMI, MY and MSY during the grazing season. Peak MY was associated with an increase in GDMI, MY and MSY during the grazing season with the exception of GDMI in SU when BW accounted for more of the variation. A higher body condition score (BCS) at calving was associated with a lower GDMI in SP and SU and a lower MY and MSY in all periods. A higher BCS was associated with a higher GDMI in SP and SU, a higher MY in SU and AU and a higher MSY in all periods. The pre-grazing herbage mass of the sward (PGHM) above 4 cm was associated with a quadratic effect on GDMI in SP, on MY in SP and SU and on MSY in SU. An increase in daily herbage allowance (DHA) above 4 cm was associated with an increase in GDMI in AU, an increase in MY in SU and AU and MSY in AU. Supplementing grazing dairy cows with concentrate reduced GDMI and increased MY and MSY in all periods. The equations generated can be used by the Irish dairy industry during the grazing season to predict the GDMI, MY and MSY of grazing dairy herds.

Keywords

dairy cowmultiple regression equationgrass dry matter intakemilk yieldmilk solids yield
Type
Farming systems and environment
Information
animal , Volume 7 , Issue 8 , August 2013 , pp. 1379 - 1389
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2013 

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

Bargo, F, Muller, LD, Kolver, ES, Delahoy, JE 2003. Invited review: production and digestion of supplemented dairy cows on pasture. Journal of Dairy Science 86, 1–42.Google Scholar
Baudracco, J, Lopez-Villalobos, N, Holmes, C, MacDonald, K 2010. Effects of stocking rate, supplementation, genotype and their interactions on grazing dairy systems: a review. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 53, 109–133.Google Scholar
Curran, J, Delaby, L, Kennedy, E, Murphy, JP, Boland, TM, O'Donovan, M 2010. Sward characteristics, grass dry matter intake and milk production performance are affected by pre-grazing herbage mass and pasture allowance. Livestock Science 127, 144–154.Google Scholar
Delaby, L, Peyraud, JL, Delagarde, R 2001. Effect of the level of concentrate supplementation, herbage allowance and milk yield at turnout on the performance of dairy cows in mid-lactation at grazing. Animal Science 73, 171–181.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Delagarde, R, O'Donovan, M 2005. Modelling of herbage intake and milk production by grazing dairy cows. In Utilisation of grazed grass in temperate animal systems, Proceedings of a Satellite Workshop of the 20th International Grassland Congress, Cork, Ireland (ed. JJ Murphy), p. 92. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Delagarde, R, Peyraud, JL, Delaby, L, Faverdin, P 2000. Vertical distribution of biomass, chemical composition and pepsin-cellulase digestibility in a perennial ryegrass sward: interaction with month of year, regrowth age and time of day. Animal Feed Science and Technology 84, 49–68.Google Scholar
Dillon, P 2006. Achieving high dry-matter intake from pasture with grazing dairy cows. In Fresh herbage for dairy cattle (ed. A Elgersma, J Dijkstra and S Tamminga), pp. 1–26. Wageningen UR, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Dillon, P, Stakelum, G 1989. Herbage and dosed alkanes as a grass management technique for dairy cows. Irish Journal of Agricultural Research 28(1): 104 (Abstract).Google Scholar
Dillon, P, Roche, JR, Shalloo, L, Horan, B 2005. Optimising financial return from grazing in temperate pastures. In Utilisation of grazed grass in temperate animal systems. Proceedings of a Satellite Workshop of the 20th International Grassland Congress, Cork, Ireland (ed. JJ Murphy), pp. 89–104. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen, The Netherlands.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Finneran, E, Crosson, P, Wallace, M, O'Kiely, P, Forristal, PD, Shalloo, L 2010. Simulation modelling of the cost of production and utilizing feeds for ruminants on Irish farms. Journal of Farm Management 14, 95–116.Google Scholar
Holmes, CW, Matthews, PNP 2001. Feeding of conserved forage implications to grassland management and production. In Proceedings of the XV International Grassland Congress, Sao Pedro, Sao Paulo, Brazil (ed. GA Gomide, WRS Mattos and SC Da Silva), pp. 671–679. FEALQ, Piracicaba, Brazil.Google Scholar
Ingvartsen, KL, Andersen, JB 2000. Integration of metabolism and intake regulation: a review focusing on periparturient animals. Journal of Dairy Science 83, 1573–1597.Google Scholar
Kellaway, R, Porta, S 1993. Feed concentrate supplements for dairy cows. Dairy Research and Development Corp., Victoria, Australia.Google Scholar
Lowman, BG, Scott, N, Somerville, S 1976. Condition scoring of cattle, revised edition. East of Scotland College of Agriculture, Edinburgh, UK.Google Scholar
Maher, J, Stakelum, G, Rath, M 2003. Effect of daily herbage allowance on the performance of spring-calving dairy cows. Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research 42, 229–241.Google Scholar
Maher, J, Stakelum, G, Buckley, F, Dillon, P 1999. The effect of level of daily grass allowance on the performance of spring-calving dairy cows. Irish Grassland and Animal Production Association Journal 33, 36–47.Google Scholar
Morgan, DJ, Stakelum, G, Dwyer, J 1989. Modified neutral detergent cellulase digestibility procedure for use with the ‘Fibertec’ system. Irish Journal of Agricultural Research 28, 91–92.Google Scholar
Oba, M, Allen, MS 1999. Evaluation of the importance of the digestibility of neutral detergent fiber from forage: effects on dry matter intake and milk yield of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 82, 589–596.Google Scholar
O'Donovan, M, Delaby, L 2008. Sward characteristics, grass dry matter intake and milk production performance as affected by timing of spring grazing and subsequent stocking rate. Livestock Science 115, 158–168.Google Scholar
O'Neill, BF, Lewis, E, O'Donovan, M, Shalloo, L, Mulligan, FJ, Boland, TM, Delagarde, R 2013. Evaluation of the Grazeln model of grass dry matter intake and milk yield for temperate grass-based production systems. 1. Sward characteristics and grazing management factors. Grass and Forage Science. doi:10.1111/gfs.12023.Google Scholar
Penno, JW, MacDonald, KA, Holmes, CW, Davis, SR, Wilson, GF, Brookes, IM, Thom, ER 2006. Responses to supplementation by dairy cows given low pasture allowances in different seasons 2. Milk production. Journal of Animal Science 82, 671–681.Google Scholar
Peyraud, JL, Comeron, EA, Wade, MH, Lemaire, G 1996. The effect of daily herbage allowance, herbage mass and animal factors upon herbage intake by grazing dairy cows. Annales de Zootechnie 45, 201–217.Google Scholar
Robaina, AC, Grainger, C, Moate, P, Taylor, J, Stewart, J 1998. Responses to grain feeding by grazing dairy cows. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 38, 541–549.Google Scholar
Roche, JR, Berry, DP, Kolver, ES 2006. Holstein-Friesian strain and feed effects on milk production, body weight, and body condition score profiles in grazing dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 89, 3532–3543.Google Scholar
Roche, JR, Friggens, NC, Kay, JK, Fisher, MW, Stafford, KJ, Berry, DP 2009. Invited review: body condition score and its association with dairy cow productivity, health, and welfare. Journal of Dairy Science 92, 5769–5801.Google Scholar
SAS institute 2005. SAS users guide: statistics. SAS institute Inc., Cary, NC.Google Scholar
Stakelum, G 1986. Herbage intake of grazing dairy cows: 1. Effect of autumn supplementation with concentrates and herbage allowance on herbage intake. Irish Journal of Agricultural Research 25, 31–40.Google Scholar
Stakelum, G, Dillon, P 1990. Influence of sward structure and digestibility on the intake and performance of lactating and growing cattle. In Management issues for dairying in the 1990s (ed. CS Mayne), Occasional Publication No. 25, pp. 30–42. British Grassland Society, Hurley, UK.Google Scholar
Stockdale, CR 1999. The nutritive characteristics of herbage consumed by grazing dairy cows affect milk yield responses obtained from concentrate supplementation. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 39, 379–387.Google Scholar
Van Aarendonk, JAM, Nieuwhof, GJ, Vos, H, Korver, S 1991. Genetic aspects of feed intake and efficiency in lactating dairy heifers. Livestock Production Science 29, 263–275.Google Scholar
Van Soest, PJ 1994. Nutritional ecology of the ruminant, 2nd edition. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY.Google Scholar
Van Soest, PJ, Robertson, JB, Lewis, BA 1991. Methods of fiber, neutral detergent fiber and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. Journal of Dairy Science 74, 3583–3597.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: PDF

O'Neill Supplementary Material

O'Neill Supplementary Material

Download O'Neill Supplementary Material(PDF)
PDF 88.3 KB