Hostname: page-component-84b7d79bbc-g78kv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-26T01:47:29.896Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Rearing of dairy cattle 6. The effect of length of grazing rotation 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 rigid system of grazing management was examined for 2 years using rotations of fixed length. Rotations of 21 and 35 days were compared at low (3 calves+ 3 heifers/ha) and high (4 calves+ 4 heifers/ha) stocking rates. The calves and heifers grazed the paddocks on a leader/follower basis.

Average growth rates for the 21- and 35-day rotations were respectively 0·75 and 0·78 for calves and 0·78 and 0·83 kg/day for heifers, but these differences were not significant. The 35-day rotation produced 6% more live-weight gain and 4% more herbage dry matter/ha than the 21-day rotation. The high stocking rate produced 14% more live-weight gain but 3% less herbage dry matter/ha than the low stocking rate. The total percentage utilization of herbage dry matter for the whole season was similar for 35- and 21-day rotations, averaging 90%. There were no significant interactions between length of rotation and stocking rate.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 21 , Issue 2 , October 1975 , pp. 157 - 164
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1975

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

Anslow, R. C. 1967. Frequency of cutting and sward production. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 68: 377–384.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bryant, A. M. and Parker, O. F. 1971. Optimum grazing interval at high stocking rate. Proc. Ruakura Farmers Conf. 1971, pp. 110–120.Google Scholar
Campbell, A. G. 1966. 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
Escuder, J. C, Andrews, R. P. and Holmes, W. 1971. The effect of nitrogen, stocking rate and frequency of grazing by beef cattle on the output of pasture. J. Br. Grassld Soc. 26: 79–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leaver, J. D. 1970. A comparison of grazing systems for dairy herd replacements. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 75: 265–272.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leaver, J. D. 1974. Rearing of dairy cattle. 5. The effect of stocking rate on animal and herbage production in a grazing system for calves and heifers. Anim. Prod. 18: 273–284.Google Scholar
MacLusky, D. S. and Morris, D. W. 1964. Grazing methods, stocking rate and grassland production. Agric. Progr. 39: 97–108.Google Scholar
McFetridge, W. A. 1970. Paddocks for beef. Agriculture N. Ire. 44: 409–412.Google Scholar
McFetrtoge, W. A. 1973. Paddocks for beef. Agriculture N. Ire. 47: 412–415.Google Scholar
McMeekan, C. P. 1956. Grazing management and animal production. Proc. 8th int. Grassld Congr., Palmerston North, pp. 146–156.Google Scholar
McMeekan, C. P. and Walshe, M. J. 1963. The inter-relationships of grazing method and stocking rate in the efficiency of pasture utilisation by dairy cattle. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 61: 147–163.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marsh, R., Campling, R. C. and Holmes, W. 1971. A further study of a rigid grazing management system for dairy cows. Anim. Prod. 13: 441–448.Google Scholar
National Agricultural Advisory Service. 1968. Rearing of Friesian dairy heifers. In Profitable Farm Enterprises, Booklet 1, Minist. Agric. Fish. Fd, Lond.Google Scholar
Reid, D. 1966. Studies on the cutting management of grass-clover swards. IV. The effects of close and lax cutting on the yield of herbage from swards cut at different frequencies. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 66: 101–106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tainton, N. M. 1974. Effects of grazing rotations on pasture production. J. Br. Grassld Soc. 29: 191–202.CrossRefGoogle Scholar