Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-sh8wx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-24T09:22:20.171Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Rearing of dairy cattle 5. The effect of stocking rate on animal and herbage production in a grazing system for calves and heifers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

J. D. Leaver
J. D. Leaver
Affiliation:
National Institute for Research in Dairying, Shinfield, Reading, Berkshire
Get access

Summary

A rotational system of grazing, in which Friesian calves grazed the paddock immediately in front of a group consisting of pregnant and non-pregnant young female cattle (heifers), was examined at stocking rates initially of 3·0, 3·5 and 4·0 replacement units per ha (a replacement unit = one calf + one heifer). The stocking rates were reduced towards the end of the season by removing pregnant heifers. Measurements were made of live-weight gains and herbage production and utilization. Increasing the stocking rate from 3·0 to 4·0 units/ha depressed live-weight gain in calves by 18% on average and in heifers by 32%. The stocking rate of 3·5 replacement units/ha produced the greatest amount of live-weight gain per ha. There was a progressive decline in herbage production and consequently live-weight gain from early to late season. Herbage production was also depressed by the increased stocking rate. Although the average utilization of herbage at each grazing was low, ranging from 27 to 37% in calves and 35 to 48% in heifers, the total utilization of herbage over the whole season was high, ranging from 88 to 96%.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 18 , Issue 3 , June 1974 , pp. 273 - 284
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1974

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

REFERENCES

Campbell, A. G. 1966a. Grazed pasture parameters. 1. Pasture dry matter production and availability in a stocking rate and grazing management experiment with dairy cows. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 67: 199–210.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Campbell, A. G. 1966b. Grazed pasture parameters. 2. Pasture dry matter use in a stocking rate and grazing management experiment with dairy cows. J. agric. Sci. Camb. 67: 211–216.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gordon, G. H., Derbyshire, J. C., Alexander, C. W. and McCloud, D. E. 1966. Effects of grazing pressure on the performance of dairy cattle and pastures. Proc. 10th int. Grassld Congr., Helsinki, pp. 470–475.Google Scholar
Hart, R. W. 1972. Forage yield, stocking rate, and beef gains on pasture. Herb. Abstr. 42: 345–353.Google Scholar
Hodgson, J., Tayler, J. C. and Lonsdale, C. R. 1971. The relationship between intensity of grazing and the herbage consumption and growth of calves. J. Br. Grassld Soc. 26: 231–237.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jones, J. G. W. and Innes, P. 1972. The efficiency of different forage utilisation methods. In Forage on the Arable Farm, Occ. Symp. Br. Grassld Soc, pp. 57–66.Google Scholar
Leaver, J. D. 1970. A comparison of grazing systems for dairy herd replacements. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 75: 265–272.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marsh, R. and Campling, R. C. 1970. Fouling of pastures by dung. Herb. Abstr. 40: 123–130.Google Scholar
National Agricultural Advisory Service. 1968. Rearing of Friesian dairy heifers. In Profitable Farm Enterprises, Booklet 1. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, London.Google Scholar
Pigden, W. J. and Greenshields, J. E. R. 1961. Interaction of design, sward and management on yield and utilisation of herbage in Canadian grazing trials. Proc. 8th int. Grassld Congr., Reading, pp. 594–597.Google Scholar
Spedding, C. R. W. 1967. The grazing sheep in relation to its environment. Proc. 9th int. Congr. Anim. Prod., Edinburgh, pp. 174–187.Google Scholar
Tayler, J. C. 1966. Relationships between the herbage consumption or carcase energy increment of grazing beef cattle, and the quantity of herbage on offer. Proc. 10th int. Grassld Congr., Helsinki, pp. 463–470.Google Scholar