Canopy characteristics and tillering dynamics of Marandu palisade grass pastures in the rainy–dry transition season

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of pasture management during the rainy–dry transition season in Jaboticabal, Brazil, on the structural and tillering characteristics of Marandu palisade grass. The treatments were as follows: 15 cm sward height in the rainy season and ungrazed in the rainy–dry transition season (15/0); 25 cm sward height during the rainy season and fixed stocking rate of 2·5 AU ha^?1 during the rainy–dry transition season (25/2·5); and 35 cm sward height in the rainy season and fixed stocking rate of 2·5 AU ha^?1 in the rainy–dry transition season (35/2·5). There were more herbage mass, stem and dead herbage mass in treatments 25/2·5 and 35/2·5 than 15/0. Tiller appearance rate was greater in treatment 15/0 and tiller mortality rate was higher in treatment 35/2·5 compared to treatment 15/0. Tiller population stability index was 1 in treatment 15/0 and lower in treatment 35/2·5. Although treatment 15/0 showed favourable structural and tillering characteristics, it also has the lowest herbage mass. Treatment 25/2·5 can be regarded as an adequate management strategy for Marandu palisade grass, since it has similar herbage mass and better tillering characteristics than treatment 35/2·5.     

Effect of grazing management on herbage protein concentration,milk production and nitrogen excretion of dairy cows in mid‐lactation

The objective of this experiment was to use diurnal and temporal changes in herbage composition to create two pasture diets with contrasting ratios of water‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and crude protein (CP) and compare milk production and nitrogen‐use efficiency (NUE) of dairy cows. A grazing experiment using thirty‐six mid‐lactation Friesian x Jersey cows was conducted in late spring in Canterbury, New Zealand. Cows were offered mixed perennial ryegrass and white clover pastures either in the morning after a short 19‐day regrowth interval (SR AM) or in the afternoon after a long 35‐day regrowth interval (LR PM). Pasture treatments resulted in lower pasture mass and greater herbage CP concentration (187 vs. 171 g kg^?1 DM) in the SR AM compared with the LR PM but did not affect WSC (169 g kg^?1 DM) or the ratio of WSC/CP (1·0 g g^?1). Cows had similar apparent DM (17·5 kg DM cow^?1 d^?1) and N (501 g N cow^?1 d^?1) intake for both treatments. Compared with SR AM cows, LR PM cows had lower milk (18·5 vs. 21·2 kg cow^?1 d^?1), milk protein (0·69 vs. 0·81 kg cow^?1 d^?1) and milk solids (1·72 and 1·89 kg cow^?1 d^?1) yield. Urinary N concentration was increased in SR AM, but estimated N excretion and NUE for milk were similar for both treatments. Further studies are required to determine the effect of feeding times on diurnal variation in urine volume and N concentration under grazing to predict urination events with highest leaching risk.     

Pasture residue amount and sowing method effects on establishment of overseeded cool‐season grasses and on total annual production of herbage

Warm‐season pasture residue may create problems for no‐till overseeding with cool‐season grasses in the USA Southern Plains. Removal of residue to facilitate overseeding, however, represents additional cost and labour that may not be available on small livestock farms. Field experiments were undertaken to assess the effects of above‐surface residues of warm‐season pasture averaging 1·62, 2·48 or 3·36 t DM ha^?1 on establishment and herbage production of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) or tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) overseeded by broadcasting or by no‐till drilling into dormant warm‐season pasture. On average, no‐till drilling was more effective than broadcasting in establishing both grass species, but it was no more effective than broadcasting when used with the greatest amount of residue. Cool‐season grass production was increased by 0·16 when no‐till drilled, but combined yearly total herbage production of cool‐ and warm‐season grasses was increased by 0·07 when cool‐season grasses were established by broadcasting. Amount of residue at sowing did not significantly affect herbage yield of cool‐season grass, but increased residue in autumn resulted in a 0·16 increase in total herbage production in the year following sowing. Residue amount did not affect over‐winter survival of grass seedlings, and productivity benefits of increased residue are small compared with reduced harvest arising from underutilization of warm‐season pasture residue in autumn.     

Manipulation of herbage production by altering the pattern of applying nitrogen fertilizer

The redistribution of herbage production during the growing season to synchronize herbage supply with feed demand by livestock by altering the application pattern of a range of nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates was studied. Application rates of N were 50, 150 and 250 kg N ha^?1 per annum and patterns were with 0·60 of N fertilizer applied before June (treatment RN) and with only 0·20 of N fertilizer before June (treatment IN). Treatments were imposed in a cutting (simulated grazing) experiment (Experiment 1), which was conducted for 2 years and a grazing experiment (Experiment 2) which was conducted for 3 years. In both experiments, herbage production was reduced in April and May and increased in the June–October period on treatment IN relative to RN, but annual herbage production was not significantly affected except in the third year of Experiment 2, when treatment RN had significantly (P < 0·05) higher herbage production than treatment IN. Crude protein (CP) concentration of herbage was lower in April and May on treatment IN than treatment RN. However, CP concentration of herbage was rarely below 150 g kg^?1 DM and so it is unlikely that livestock productivity would be compromised. On treatment IN, concentrations of CP in herbage were higher in the late summer than on treatment RN, which may increase livestock productivity during July and August when livestock productivity is often lower. Altering the strategy of application of N fertilizer did not affect in vitro dry matter digestibility of herbage.     

Seeding cool-season grasses into unimproved warm-season pasture in the southern Great Plains of the United States

Limited availability of herbage during the cool season creates a problem of a supply of nutrients for livestock producers throughout the southern Great Plains of the USA and, particularly, on small farms where resource constraints limit possible mitigating strategies. Six cool‐season grasses were individually sown into clean‐tilled ground, no‐till drilled into stubble of Korean lespedeza [Kummerowia stipulacea (Maxim) Makino] or no‐till over‐sown into dormant unimproved warm‐season pastures. The dry matter (DM) yields of mixtures of cool and warm‐season herbage species were measured to test their potential for increasing cool‐season herbage production in a low‐input pasture environment. Only mixtures containing Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) produced greater year‐round DM yields than undisturbed warm‐season pasture with all establishment methods. When cool‐season grass was no‐till seeded into existing warm‐season pasture, there was on average a 0·61 kg DM increase in year‐round herbage production for each 1·0 kg DM of cool‐season grass herbage produced. Sowing into stubble of Korean lespedeza, or into clean‐tilled ground, required 700 or 1400 kg DM ha^?1, respectively, of cool‐season production before the year‐round DM yield of each species equalled that of undisturbed warm‐season pasture. Productive pastures of perennial cool‐season grasses were not sustained beyond two growing seasons with tall wheatgrass [Elytrigia elongata (Host) Nevski], intermediate wheatgrass [Elytrigia intermedia (Host) Nevski] and a creeping wheatgrass (Elytrigia repens L.) × bluebunch wheatgrass [Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh)] hybrid. Lack of persistence and low productivity limit the usefulness of cool‐season perennial grasses for over‐seeding unimproved warm‐season pasture in the southern Great Plains.     

The effects of treading by dairy cows during wet soil conditions on white clover productivity, growth and morphology in a white clover–perennial ryegrass pasture

Single pugging events, which involve remoulding of the soil around the hooves of livestock during treading, of moderate or severe pugging intensity were imposed in plots in a long‐term white clover‐ryegrass pasture during spring, by using dairy cows at varying stocking rates (4·5 cows 100 m^?2 for 1·5 or 2·5 h respectively). Changes in the growth and morphology of white clover were investigated over the following 12 months. Defoliation at approximately 3‐week intervals was carried out by mowing. Annual herbage production was reduced following moderate and severe pugging proportionately by 0·16 and 0·34 compared with the non‐pugged control treatment. The corresponding decreases in white clover production were 0·09 and 0·52 respectively. Annual perennial ryegrass production was reduced by 0·37 under severe pugging. Pugging had an immediate adverse effect on growth of white clover which persisted for up to 156 d, and coincided with a large decrease in the proportion of white clover in herbage over the same period (e.g. 0·40 vs. 0·12, in control and severely pugged treatments, respectively, on day 112). In comparison, recovery in ryegrass growth was apparent after 50 d in severely pugged treatments, indicating that white clover is more vulnerable to severe pugging than perennial ryegrass. Analysis of individual white clover plants extracted from turves (300 mm × 300 mm) showed that direct hoof damage, fragmentation and burial of stolons were the major factors which reduced white clover production, rather than the changes in soil physical properties measured. Morphological characteristics associated with plant size (e.g. stolon length, growing points, and leaf numbers) all decreased under pugging. The situation had reversed by late summer, with larger plants dominating pugged plots, and coincided with the recovery of the proportion of white clover in herbage. Strategic pasture management practices, such as restricted grazing and the use of stand‐off pads when soils are overly wet, are suggested as means of minimizing treading damage to pasture and reducing negative impacts on the growth and productivity of white clover.     

Herbage intake and milk production by grazing dairy cows 2. The effects of level of winter feeding and daily herbage allowance

Two experiments are described in which two levels of winter feeding and three levels of herbage allowance during the grazing season were imposed upon March/April calving British Friesian dairy cows. The winter treatments resulted in differences in live weight and milk yield at turnout of 35 and 53 kg and 3·4 and 3·2 kg d^-1 for the two trials. Subsequently, when grazed at generous herbage allowances, the cows were able to compensate for much of this difference but when herbage was restricted the milk yield differences were accentuated. Groups of cows from each winter treatment were offered 25, 50 or 75 (Experiment 1) and 30, 50 or 70 (Experiment 2) g herbage DM per kg LW daily during the grazing season. Daily herbage intakes on the three allowances in each trial were 14·1, 13·3, 10·7 and 12·5, 12·1, 11·5 kg OM and milk yields were 16·0, 15·3, 12·5 and 15·2, 14·3, 11·8 kg SCM respectively. Both intake and milk production were depressed once the cows were forced to consume more than 50% of herbage on offer or to graze the sward down to a mean height of less than 8–10 cm. Grazing behaviour observations indicated that under rotational managements the cows did not compensate for restrictions in available herbage by grazing longer. Highest levels of milk production per unit area were observed in both trials when production per cow was depressed by 20–25%.     

The effect of forage type and level of concentrate supplementation on the performance of spring-calving dairy cows in early lactation

Abstract In 1993 and 1994, 40 cows in early lactation in early spring were assigned randomly to four feeding treatments. One group of cows was kept indoors with access to grass silage ad libitum, plus 6 kg of concentrate daily. The other three groups had access to grass pasture (5–6 h per day in 1993 and 11–12 h per day in 1994) plus grass silage similar to that fed to the previous group while indoors plus 6, 4 or 2 kg of concentrate daily. The average daily allocations of herbage (> 3·5 cm) were 8·5 and 14·0 kg DM cow^?1 day^?1 in 1993 and 1994 respectively. The treatments were applied for 8 weeks (26 February to 23 April) in 1993, and 7 weeks (11 March to 29 April) in 1994. Cows with access to pasture had lower (P < 0·001) silage dry‐matter (DM) intakes and higher (P < 0·001) total forage DM intakes in both years than those kept indoors. This resulted in significantly higher yields of milk, fat, protein and lactose. Similarly, milk protein concentration was higher (P < 0·05 in 1993; P < 0·001 in 1994). There was a significant linear increase in total DM intake in both years with increased concentrate supplementation. In 1993, there was a linear increase in milk (P < 0·01), fat (P < 0·01), protein (P < 0·001) and lactose (P < 0·01) yields with increased concentrate supplementation. In 1994, only milk protein yield (P < 0·05) was increased. Concentrate supplementation had no effect on milk composition or liveweight change. Cows with access to grazed grass had higher liveweight gains (P < 0·05) than those kept indoors in both years. In 1993, increasing the energy intake increased the processing qualities of the milk produced. The results showed that access to grass pasture resulted in higher milk production, in reduced silage requirement and in reduced level of concentrate supplementation required for a given level of milk production with spring‐calving cows in early lactation compared with those kept indoors.     

Effect of grazing severity on perennial ryegrass herbage production and sward structural characteristics throughout an entire grazing season

The objective of this study, which was part of a larger grazing‐systems experiment, was to investigate the cumulative impact of three levels of grazing intensity on sward production, utilization and structural characteristics. Pastures were grazed by rotational stocking with Holstein–Friesian dairy cows from 10 February to 18 November 2009. Target post‐grazing heights were 4·5 to 5 cm (high; H), 4 to 4·5 cm (intermediate; I) and 3·5 to 4 cm (low; L). Detailed sward measurement were undertaken on 0·08 of each farmlet area. There were no significant treatment differences in herbage accumulated or in herbage harvested [mean 11·3 and 11·2 t dry matter (DM) ha^?1 respectively]. Above the 3·5 cm horizon, H, I and L swards had 0·56, 0·62 and 0·67 of DM as leaf and 0·30, 0·23 and 0·21 of DM as stem respectively. As grazing severity increased, tiller density of grass species other than perennial ryegrass (PRG) decreased (from 3,350 to 2,780 and to 1771 tillers m^?2 for H, I and L paddocks respectively) and the rejected area decreased (from 0·27 to 0·20 and to 0·10 for H, I and L paddocks respectively). These results indicate the importance of grazing management practice on sward structure and quality and endorse the concept of increased grazing severity as a strategy to maintain high‐quality grass throughout the grazing season. The findings are presented in the context of the need for intensive dairy production systems to provide greater quantities of high‐quality pasture over an extended grazing season, in response to policy changes with the abolition of EU milk quotas.     

A comparison of methods to assess the likely on‐farm value for meat production systems of pasture traits and genetic gain through plant breeding using phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) as an example

The emphasis plant breeders place on improving seasonal dry‐matter (DM) yield of pasture plants may increase farm profitability through greater supply of DM for livestock in critical seasons. Economic values (EV) for traits can be used to guide plant breeders when selecting ‘top’ pasture plants. Two methods of calculating economic value (EV) for seasonal DM traits were evaluated. These were based on the cost of otherwise acquiring or replacing the unit change in DM (‘replacement cost method’) and the opportunity cost of not having the unit change in DM, based on changes in livestock production either as a change in stocking rate or a change in liveweight gains of growing livestock (‘change in livestock production method’). Using barley replacement cost, the EV of a 1‐kg increase in phalaris DM on Australian sheep and beef farms ranged between AUD0·234 in summer and AUD0·303 in winter. In contrast, the EV for seasonal DM using the change in weaner beef calf liveweight gains ranged between AUD0·256 in summer and AUD0·515 in winter. The change in livestock production method highlighted in this study offers an alternative to the replacement cost method, or more detailed farm system modelling or experimentations designed to estimate pasture EV.     

Modelling the concentrations of nitrogen and water-soluble carbohydrates in grass herbage ingested by cattle under strip-grazing management

There is scope of increasing the nitrogen (N) efficiency of grazing cattle through manipulation of the energy and N concentrations in the herbage ingested. Because of asymmetric grazing by cattle between individual plant parts, it has not yet been established how this translates into the concentrations of N and water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC) in the herbage ingested. A model is described with the objective of assessing the efficacy of individual tools in grassland management in manipulating the WSC and N concentrations of the herbage ingested by cattle under strip‐grazing management throughout the growing season. The model was calibrated and independently evaluated for early (April), mid‐ (June, regrowth phase) and late (September) parts of the growing season. There was a high correlation between predicted and observed WSC concentrations in the ingested herbage (R² = 0·78, P < 0·001). The correlation between predicted and observed neutral‐detergent fibre (NDF) concentrations in the ingested herbage was lower (R² = 0·49, P < 0·05) with a small absolute bias. Differences in the N concentration between laminae and sheaths, and between clean patches and fouled patches, were adequately simulated and it was concluded that the model could be used to assess the efficacy of grassland management tools for manipulating the WSC and N concentrations in the ingested herbage. Model application showed that reduced rates of application of N fertilizer and longer rotation lengths were effective tools for manipulating herbage quality in early and mid‐season. During the later part of the growing season, the large proportion of area affected by dung and urine reduced the effect of application rate of N fertilizer on herbage quality. In contrast, relative differences between high‐sugar and low‐sugar cultivars of perennial ryegrass were largest during this period. This suggests that high‐sugar cultivars may be an important tool in increasing N efficiency by cattle when risks of N losses to water bodies are largest. The model output showed that defoliation height affects the chemical composition of the ingested herbage of both the current and the subsequent grazing period.     

Allowance-intake relations of cattle grazing vegetative tall fescue†

Herbage allowance is one of the important pasture factors in the determination of intake by grazing livestock. Ingestive behaviour of 12 adult Angus cows (Bos taurus) was measured over a range of allowances (0·25 to 0·72 kg dry matter (DM) per 100 kg live weight (LW) for a 1-h period) of vegetative tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). A balanced change-over design was used to estimate direct, residual and permanent effects of herbage allowance on rate of DM intake, rate of biting and herbage DM intake per bite. In Experiment 1, herbage DM intake per meal increased linearly from 0·68 to 1·72 kg (100 kg LW)^?1 as DM allowance increased from 0·25 to 0·72 kg (100 kg LW)^?1 h^?1. Cows grazed at ·30 kg (100 kg LW)^?1 h^?1 and stopped grazing when the sward was reduced to a height about 10 to 12 cm above the soil surface, approximately defined by the tops of pseudostems. In Experiment 2, herbage DM intake rates of 0·29, 0·47 and 0·42 kg (100 kg LW)^?1 h^?1 were recorded as cows grazed allowances of 0·43, 0·70 and 0·90 kg (100 kg LW)^?1 h^?1 for most of the 1-h grazing period. Limiting herbage DM allowances in Experiment 2 were associated with small reductions in rate of biting and herbage DM intake per bite as allowance declined. Sward DM density (>5 cm) was an important variable in the determination of herbage DM intake rates at lower herbage allowances.     

A COMPARISON BETWEEN SPRING AND AUTUMN PASTURE FOR BEEF CATTLE AT EQUAL GRAZING PRESSURES

Two comparisons between spring and autumn pasture for beef cattle were made. Animals used in all comparisons were of similar breed and weight and were subjected to the same feeding regime for 6–8 weeks before turn-out. The pastures were grazed on an equal grazing pressure basis between season comparisons. The pastures received similar rates of fertilizer N between seasons and had similar lengths of rest period for regrowth. Intakes of digestible OM were greater per unit of metabolic liveweight in spring than in autumn. Daily liveweight gains in spring were high, being 1·09 and 1·37 kg (2·4 lb and 3·0 lb), but were lower from autumn pasture at 0·98 and 0·71 kg (2·2 lb and 1·6 lb). Weather was implicated as a factor affecting daily gain from autumn pasture. Greater herbage yields in spring supported 42 and 204 more grazing days per ha which together with the greater gains per animal supported 80–120% more liveweight gain/ha.     

Effects of post‐grazing herbage height and concentrate feeding on milk production and major milk fatty acids of dairy cows in mid‐lactation

Milk fatty acids (FA) were compared in mid‐lactation dairy cows in four feeding systems combining grazing management and supplementation. The four treatments were factorial combinations of compressed herbage grazed to 3·7 or 4·6 cm post‐grazing height, with or without concentrate feeding (3·6 kg cow^?1 d^?1). Milk yield and composition were measured for four groups of eight Friesian × Jersey dairy cows over 3 weeks in mid‐lactation for cows that had grazed treatments for 64 d from early spring. Milk yield was higher in cows fed concentrate plus herbage (23·9 kg d^?1 cow^?1) than cows fed herbage only (20·3 kg d^?1 cow^?1). Milk fat percentage was higher in cows fed herbage only (5·5%) than that fed herbage plus concentrate (5·1%). Milk protein percentage was higher in cows fed herbage plus concentrate (4·0%) than that fed herbage only (3·7%). The concentrations of conjugated linoleic acids c9, t11, C18:0, C18:1 t11 and C18:2 t9, c12 FA were lower where concentrate was fed. The concentrations of C18:1 t10, C18:1 t5, t8 and C18:2 c9, c12 FA were higher where concentrate was fed. The concentrations of C18:1 c6, C18:1 c9, C18:1 t9 and C18:3 c6,9,15 were unaffected by concentrate feeding. Post‐grazing herbage height had no significant effect on milk yield or concentration of milk FA. Provided dairy cows are harvesting leafy material of similar nutrient and FA concentration, post‐grazing herbage height does not appear to alter milk FA and the supply of high energy concentrates is more influential on milk FA profiles.     

Effect of maize grain and herbage allowance on estimated metabolizable energy intake and animal performance in beef cattle finishing systems

This study investigated the effects of levels of supplementation with maize grain and herbage allowance (HA) on grass herbage and maize intake, animal performance and grazing behaviour in two replicated grazing experiments with Angus beef cattle in Argentina. In Experiment 1, the response to increasing HA (2·5, 5·0 and 7·5 kg DM herbage 100 kg^?1 live weight (LW) d^?1 with and without 0·5 kg DM maize grain 100 kg^?1 LW d^?1) was investigated. In Experiment 2, the responses to level of maize grain offered (0, 0·5 and 1·0 kg DM maize grain 100 kg^?1 LW d^?1) at an HA of 2·5 kg DM herbage 100 kg^?1 LW d^?1 and an HA of 5·0 kg 100 kg^?1 LW d^?1 without maize grain were assessed. In Experiment 2, soyabean meal was added to control the crude protein concentration in the diet. Two methods were used for intake estimations: pre‐ and post‐feeding herbage mass difference, and the use of the n‐alkane and ¹³C technique. The latter predicted most accurately the metabolizable energy requirements calculated from live weights and liveweight gain of beef cattle attained in each treatment in both experiments. Increasing HA significantly increased herbage intake and liveweight gain (P < 0·01), and general quadratic relationships between these variables could be fitted across experiments despite differences in animal and pasture characteristics. Increasing the amount of maize grain offered significantly reduced herbage intake and grazing time, but increased liveweight gain and digestibility of the diet. Substitution rate increased with increasing HA in Experiment 1 but was not affected by level of maize supplementation in Experiment 2. These relationships will aid the development of grazing management models for Argentinean conditions.     

Effect of structure of a tropical pasture on ingestive behaviour, digestibility of diet and daily intake by grazing cattle

The effect of the structure of a tropical pasture, based on Dichanthium spp., on the ingestive behaviour, in vivo digestibility of the diet and herbage intake by eight Creole tethered heifers was studied. Two levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0 and 50 kg ha^?1) were applied to plots after each grazing cycle and there were 28 d between each of the three grazing cycles. Four heifers grazed individual subplots daily on each plot for 14 d in each of the successive grazing cycles. Simultaneous measurements of bite depth, bite mass, biting rate, short‐term intake rate and daily grazing time were made in two 4‐d periods at the end of each 14‐d period. The in vivo organic matter digestibility (OMD) and daily herbage organic matter intake (OMI, expressed on a kg LW^0·75 basis) were also measured at the same times. Relationships among pasture characteristics and ingestive behaviour were similar to those reported in other short‐term studies: pasture height was highly correlated with bite depth, bite mass and biting rate (r = 0·91, r =0·79 and r = ?0·68, respectively, P < 0·001). Pasture variables had lower correlations with grazing time and short‐term intake rate than with bite depth, bite mass and biting rate. Pasture structure was more highly correlated with OMD than OMI: leaf mass and length and also the extended tiller length were highly correlated with OMD (r = 0·77, r = 0·76 and r = 0·72, respectively, P < 0·001) whereas the crude protein concentration of the herbage was correlated with OMI and digestible OMI (r = 0·50 and r = 0·69, respectively, P < 0·001). Ingestive behaviour variables, as well as OMD, were correlated more with pasture characteristics than was OMI.     

Herbage production,nutritive value and animal productivity within hardwood silvopasture,open and mixed pasture systems in Appalachia,United States

Demand for livestock food products is projected to increase dramatically through to 2050. Increased livestock production capacity on marginal lands will be critical to meeting this demand. A 5‐year research effort was undertaken to evaluate lamb and sward productivity within open and hardwood silvopasture (SP) systems in Appalachia, USA. Grazing began in mid to late April each year, with the grazing season averaging 141 d. Grazing system treatments during 2002 and 2003 grazing seasons were as follows: 100% open pasture (OP), 67% OP and 33% SP, and 67% OP and 33% SP with delayed SP grazing initiation (OSD). In 2004, a 100% SP (SP) system was added. Animals were rotationally stocked through either 6 (2002–2004) or 7 (2005–2006) paddocks. Open pasture produced greater (P < 0·001) grazing season herbage yield, while all systems generated similar animal performance. Based on summer solstice, herbage production in spring was greater (P < 0·001) than summer, except in 2003. Total non‐structural carbohydrate (TNC) content was greater (P < 0·05) in spring than in summer, except in 2004. Animal performance was superior in spring versus summer (P < 0·001). Animal plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) was lower (P < 0·05) for OP in 2003. When PUN was correlated with nutritive value indicators, the ratio of TNC to crude protein (CP) had the strongest correlation. The strong correlation indicates the need for synchronized ruminal energy and CP availability. Development of silvopasture from existing woodlots has potential to improve whole farm productivity on marginal lands.     

The effects of a flexible grazing management strategy and leader/follower grazing on the milk production of grazing dairy cows and on sward characteristics

An experiment was carried out during 1984 to examine the effects of three alternative grazing strategies for January/February calved British Friesian dairy eows on sward and animal production. Cows were rotationally grazed across 1 d paddocks without concentrate supplementation from 30 April to 1 October. A flexible grazing (EG) treatment involved manipulating residual herbage height, as assessed by a rising-plate sward stick, with cows initially grazing to 80 mm, reducing to 60 mm when milk yield declined below 20 kg d^?1 and finally to 50 mm when milk yield declined below 15 kgd^?1. Control (C) cows grazed to a constant residual herbage height of 60 mm throughout the season (a 60-inm rising-plate sward stick height is equivalent to a sward surface height of approximately 80 mm). On a further treatment a leader/follower (LF) approach was used, with cows paired for calving date and parity and within pairs allocated to either a high-(leader) or a low-yielding (follower) group, according to milk yield at turnout, with the leader group grazing 1 d ahead of the follower group. Overall stocking rates on C and LE treatments were identical but herbage allowances differed as a result of treatment effects. Animal performance data for the FG, C and LE treatments, respectively, were: milk yield (kg d^?1) 14·5, 14·7 and 16·0 (s.e. 0·59); milk fat yield (g d^?1) 577, 571 and 637 (s.e. 29); milk protein yield (g d^?1) 528, 527 and 576 (s.e. 19); and liveweight gain (kg d^?1) 0·09, 0·20 and 0·14 (s.e. 0·04). Overall, there was no benefit in animal production following lax grazing in spring even with high-yielding cows, and this approach resulted in the accumulation of stem and senescent material in the sward in mid-season. However, preferential treatment of high-yielding cows by grazing as a leader group in a leader-follower system resulted in higher milk production, particularly in late season, with an overall improvement in milk yield for the LF treatment of 9% relative to treatment C.     

How does protein supplementation affect the selectivity and performance of Charolais cows on extensively grazed pastures in late autumn?

Management of beef cows grazing extensively grazed semi-natural pastures in temperate regions in late autumn can require supplements to be offered. The effects of supplementation with soya bean meal on the diet selected by Charolais cows and on their subsequent performance were examined for an 8-week period in late autumn in 2 years. Three groups of eight cows were compared: non-supplemented dry cows (D), non-supplemented (L) and supplemented (LS) lactating cows. The amount of soya bean meal supplement offered per cow was 250 g d⁻¹ in year 1 and 800 g d⁻¹ in year 2. Dietary choices were measured by direct observations and herbage intake was estimated in year 2. Supplementation affected neither diet selection (L: 0·42 vs. LS: 0·43 for the proportion of bites on green patches in year 1; 0·24 vs. 0·22 in year 2) nor daily organic matter intake of herbage (L: 15·6 vs. LS: 15·9 kg d⁻¹), which may have resulted from an adequate crude protein concentration of herbage. The higher total dry matter intake by cows offered the supplement reduced losses in live weight (L: −1212 vs. LS: −828 g d⁻¹; P  < 0·01) rather than increased milk production (L: 5·1 vs. LS: 5·0 kg d⁻¹). This may be linked to the low milk yield potential of the Charolais cows. The use of lactating cows rather than dry cows for pasture management in late autumn would increase the utilization of herbage but a reduction in liveweight losses of cows by supplementation is unlikely to be economic.