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The effect of slurry application timing on grass silage fermentation and intake by dairy cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

R.D. Allison
Affiliation:
ADAS Bridgets Dairy Research Centre, Martyr Worthy, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 1AP, U.K.
S.J. Lane
Affiliation:
ADAS Bridgets Dairy Research Centre, Martyr Worthy, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 1AP, U.K.
K. Smith
Affiliation:
ADAS Wolverhampton, Wergs Road, Wolverhampton WV6 8TQ, U.K.
J.A. Laws
Affiliation:
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, North Wyke Okehampton EX20 2SB, U.K.
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Extract

Many farmers apply slurry to grassland as a fertiliser or a means of waste disposal. There is evidence that winter slurry application leads to higher losses of nitrogen due to leaching subsequently reducing the efficiency of slurry N utilisation when compared with spring applications (Smith et al 1995). This suggests that slurry applications should be undertaken in spring, but the effect of timing on the extent of grass contamination is unknown. When grassland is used for silage production, contamination of the sward can lead to reduced silage fermentation and acceptability (Boxem and Remmelink 1987). A study was conducted to investigate the effect of timing of slurry application on fermentation and dry matter intake of first and second cut grass silage.

Type
Poster Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2000

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References

Smith, K.A., Jackson, D.R., Unwin, R.J., Bailey, G. and Hodgson, I. 1995. Effect of winter and spring applied slurry on yield of herbage. Grass and Forage Science 50: 124131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boxem, T.J. and Remmelink, E.J. 1987. The effect of regular application of cattle slurry on grassland during the growing season on grass yield and daily milk production. In Animal Manure on Grassland and Fodder Crops [Eds Van der Meer, H.G., Unwin, R.J., Van Dijk, T.A. and Ennik, G.E.] Martinus Nijoff, Dordrecht. pp 313315.Google Scholar