Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-k7p5g Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-16T03:11:05.790Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Managing variations in dairy cow nutrient supply under grazing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 December 2011

J. L. Peyraud  and
R. Delagarde
J. L. Peyraud*
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR1080, Production du Lait, F-35590 Saint-Gilles, France Agrocampus Ouest, UMR1080, Production du Lait, F-35000 Rennes, France
R. Delagarde
Affiliation:
INRA, UMR1080, Production du Lait, F-35590 Saint-Gilles, France Agrocampus Ouest, UMR1080, Production du Lait, F-35000 Rennes, France
*
†E-mail: jean-louis.peyraud@rennes.inra.frh
Get access

Abstract

Grazed pasture, which is the cheapest source of nutrients for dairy cows, should form the basis of profitable and low-input animal production systems. Management of high-producing dairy cows at pasture is thus a major challenge in most countries. The objective of the present paper is to review the factors that can affect nutrient supply for grazing dairy cows in order to point out areas with scope for improvement on managing variations in nutrient supply to achieve high animal performance while maintaining efficient pasture utilisation per hectare (ha). Reviewing the range in animal requirements, intake capacity and pasture nutritive values shows that high-producing cows cannot satisfy their energy requirements from grazing alone and favourable to unfavourable situations for grazing dairy cows may be classified according to pasture quality and availability. Predictive models also enable calculation of supplementation levels required to meet energy requirements in all situations. Solutions to maintain acceptable level of production per cow and high output per ha are discussed. Strategies of concentrate supplementation and increasing use of legumes in mixed swards are the most promising. It is concluded that although high-producing cow cannot express their potential milk production at grazing, there is scope to improve animal performance at grazing given recent developments in our understanding of factors influencing forage intake and digestion of grazed forages.

Keywords

fresh foragesgrazingintakedigestiondairy cows
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 7 , Issue s1: The 8th International Symposium on the Nutrition of Herbivores (ISNH8) 6 – 9th September 2011, Aberystwyth (UK) , March 2013 , pp. 57 - 67
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2011

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

Alder, FE, Minson, DJ 1963. The herbage intake of cattle grazing lucerne and cocksfoot pasture. Journal of Agricultural Science Cambridge 60, 359–369.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Apper-Bossard, E, Peyraud, JL, Faverdin, P, Meschy, F 2010. Changing dietary cation-anion difference for dairy cows fed with two contrasting levels of concentrate in diets. Journal of Dairy Science 93, 4196–4210.Google Scholar
Aroeira, LJM, Lopes, FCF, Deresz, F, Verneque, RS, Dayrell, MS, de Matos, LL, Maldonado-Vasquez, H, Vittori, A 1999. Pasture availability and dry matter intake of lactating crossbred cows grazing elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum.). Animal Feed Science and Technology 78, 313–324.Google Scholar
Baudracco, J, Lopez-Villalobos, N, Holmes, CW, McDonald, KA 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
Buckley, F, Dillon, P, Rath, M, Veerkamp, RF 2000. The relationship between genetic merit for yield and live weight condition score, and energy balance of spring calving Holstein–Friesian dairy cows on grass based systems on milk production. Journal of Dairy Science 83, 1878–1886.Google Scholar
Chilibroste, P, Soca, P, Mattiauda, DA, Bentancur, O, Robinson, PH 2007. Short term fasting as a tool to design effective grazing strategies for lactating dairy cattle: a review. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47, 1075–1084.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Deak, A, Hall, MH, Sanderson, MA, Rotz, A, Corson, M 2010. Whole-farm evaluation of forages mixtures and grazing strategies. Agronomy Journal 102, 1201–1209.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Delaby, L, Peyraud, JL 1994. Influence de la nature du concentré énergétique sur les performances des vaches laitières au pâturage. Rencontres Recherches Ruminants 1, 113–116.Google Scholar
Delaby, L, Peccatte, JR 2003. Valeur alimentaire des prairies d'association ray grass anglais/trèfle blanc utilisées entre 6 et 12 semaines de repousse. Rencontres Recherches Ruminants 10, 389.Google Scholar
Delaby, L, Delagarde, R, Peyraud, JL 2009. Which level of supplementation for limited access time grazing dairy cows? Rencontres Recherches Ruminants 16, 50.Google Scholar
Delaby, L, Peyraud, JL, Pérez-Ramírez, E, Delagarde, R 2008. Effect and carryover effect of spring grazing access time on dairy cow performance. In Biodiversity and animal feed. Future challenges for grassland production (ed. A Hopkins, T Gustafsson, J Bertilsson, G Dalin, N Nilsdotter-Linde and E Spörndly), pp. 759–761. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.Google Scholar
Delagarde, R, Peyraud, JL 2000. Cinétique journalière des fermentations ruminales et du comportement alimentaire chez la vache laitière en pâturage rationné. Rencontres Recherches Ruminants 7, 196.Google Scholar
Delagarde, R, O'Donovan, M 2005. Les modèles de prévision de l'ingestion journalière d'herbe et de la production laitière des vaches au pâturage. INRA Productions Animales 18, 241–253.Google Scholar
Delagarde, R, Peyraud, JL, Delaby, L 1997. The effect of nitrogen fertilisation level and protein supplementation on herbage intake, feeding behaviour and digestion in grazing dairy cows. Animal Feed Science and Technology 66, 165–180.Google Scholar
Delagarde, R, Peyraud, JL, Delaby, L 1999. Influence of carbohydrate or protein supplementation on intake, behaviour and digestion in dairy cows strip grazing low nitrogen fertilized perennial ryegrass. Annales de Zootechnie 48, 81–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Delagarde, R, Prache, S, D'Hour, P, Petit, M 2001a. Ingestion de l'herbe par les ruminants au pâturage. Fourrages 166, 189–212.Google Scholar
Delagarde, R, Peyraud, JL, Parga, J, Ribeiro Filho, HMN 2001b. Caractéristiques de la prairie avant et après un pâturage: quels indicateurs de l'ingestion chez la vache laitière? Rencontres Recherches Ruminants 8, 209–212.Google Scholar
Delagarde, R, Faverdin, P, Baratte, C, Peyraud, JL 2011a. GrazeIn: a model of herbage intake and milk production for grazing dairy cows. 2. Prediction of intake under rotational and continuously stocked grazing management. Grass and Forage Science 66, 45–60.Google Scholar
Delagarde, R, Valk, H, Mayne, CS, Rook, AJ, González-Rodríguez, A, Baratte, C, Faverdin, P, Peyraud, JL 2011b. GrazeIn: a model of herbage intake and milk production for grazing dairy cows. 3. Simulations and external validation of the model. Grass and Forage Science 66, 61–77.Google Scholar
Demarquilly, C 1963. Influence de la nature du pâturage sur la production laitière et la composition du lait. Annales de Zootechnie 12, 69–104.Google Scholar
Dillon, P, Hennessy, T, Shalloo, L, Thorne, F, Horan, B 2008. Future outlook for the Irish dairy industry: a study of international competitiveness, influence of international trade reform and requirement for change. International Journal of Dairy Technology 61, 16–29.Google Scholar
Faverdin, P, Delagarde, R, Delaby, L, Meschy, F 2007. Alimentation des vaches laitières. In Alimentation des bovins, ovins et caprins. Besoins des animaux – Valeurs des aliments, Tables INRA 2007 (ed. J Agabriel), pp. 23–55. QUAE Editions, Versailles, France.Google Scholar
Faverdin, P, Baratte, C, Delagarde, R, Peyraud, JL 2011. GrazeIn: a model of herbage intake and milk production for grazing dairy cows. 1. Prediction of intake capacity, voluntary intake and milk production during lactation. Grass and Forage Science 66, 29–44.Google Scholar
Faverdin, P, Dulphy, JP, Coulon, JB, Vérité, R, Garel, JP, Rouel, J, Marquis, B 1991. Substitution of roughage by concentrates for dairy cows. Livestock Production Science 27, 137–156.Google Scholar
Greenhalgh, JFD, Reid, GW 1969. The herbage consumption and milk production of cows grazing ST24 ryegrass and ST37 cocksfoot. Journal of the British Grassland Society 24, 98–103.Google Scholar
Greenhalgh, JFD, Reid, GW, Aitken, JN, Florence, E 1966. The effects of grazing intensity on herbage consumption and animal production. I. Short term effects in strip-grazed dairy cows. Journal of Agricultural Science 67, 13–23.Google Scholar
Hageman, IW, Lantinga, EA, Schlepers, H, Neuteboom, JH 1993. Herbage intake, digestibility characteristics and milk production of a diploid and two tetraploid cultivars of perennial ryegrassProceedings of the XVII International Grassland Congress, Palmerston North, New Zealand, pp. 459–460. SIR Publishing, Wellington, New Zealand.Google Scholar
Harris, SL, Auldist, MJ, Clark, DA, Jansen, EB 1998. Effects of white clover content in the diet on herbage intake, milk production and milk composition of New Zealand dairy cows housed indoors. Journal of Dairy Research 65, 389–400.Google Scholar
Hoogendoorn, CJ, Holmes, CW, Chu, ACP 1992. Some effects of herbage composition as influenced by previous grazing management, on milk production by cows grazing on ryegrass/white clover pastures. 2. Milk production in late spring/summer: effect of grazing intensity during the preceding spring period. Grass and Forage Science 47, 316–325.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoste, H, Jackson, F, Athanasiadou, S, Thamsbord, SM, Hoskin, S 2006. The effect of tannin-rich plants on parasitic nematodes in ruminants. Trends in Parasitology 22, 253–261.Google Scholar
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) 2007. Alimentation des bovins, ovins et caprins. Besoins de animaux, valeurs des aliments, Tables INRA 2007. Editions QUAE, Versailles, France.Google Scholar
Kennedy, E, McEvoy, M, Murphy, JP, O'Donovan, M 2009. Effect of restricted access time to pasture on dairy cow milk production, grazing behavior, and dry matter intake. Journal of Dairy Science 92, 168–176.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kennedy, J, Dillon, P, Delaby, L, Faverdin, P, Stakelum, G, Rath, M 2002. Effect of genetic merit and concentrate supplementation on grass intake and milk production with Holstein–Friesian dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 86, 610–621.Google Scholar
Kolver, ES, Muller, LD 1998. Performance and nutrient intake of high producing Holstein cows consuming pasture or a total mixed ration. Journal of Dairy Science 81, 1403–1411.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kristensen, T, Oudshoorn, F, Munksgaard, L, Soegaard, K 2007. Effect of time at pasture combined with restricted indoor feeding on production and behaviour in dairy cows. Animal 1, 439–448.Google Scholar
Ledgard, S, Schils, R, Eriksen, J, Luo, J 2009. Environmental impacts of grazed clover/grass pastures. Irish Journal of Agricultural Research 91, 91–107.Google Scholar
Le Gall, A, Béguin, E, Dollé, JB, Manneville, V, Pflimlin, A 2009. Nouveaux compromis techniques pour concilier efficacité économique et environnementale en élevage herbivore. Fourrages 198, 131–151.Google Scholar
Lüscher, A, Finn, JA, Connolly, J, Sebastià, MT, Collins, R, Fothergill, M, Porqueddu, C, Brophy, C, Huguenin-Elie, O, Kirwan, L, Nyfeler, D, Helgadottir, A 2008. Benefits of sward diversity for agricultural grasslands. Biodiversity 9, 29–32.Google Scholar
McCarthy, B, Delaby, L, Pierce, KM, Journot, F, Horan, B 2011. Meta-analysis of the impact of stocking rate on the productivity of pasture-based milk production systems. Animal 5, 784–794.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McEvoy, M, Delaby, L, Murphy, P, Boland, TM, O'Donovan, M 2010. Effect of herbage mass and allowance on sward characterisitics, milk production, intake and rumen volatile fatty acid concentration. Grass and Forage Science 65, 335–347.Google Scholar
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005. Ecosystems and human well-being Current State and Trends 1, 948pp. Island Press, Washington, DC, USA.Google Scholar
Miller, LA, Moorby, JM, Davies, DR, Humphreys, MO, Scollan, ND, McRae, JC, Theodorou, MK 2001. Increased concentration of water-soluble carbohydrate in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.): milk production from late-lactation dairy cows. Grass and Forage Science 56, 383–394.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Min, BR, Barry, TN, Attwood, GT, McNabb, WC 2003. The effect of condensed tannins on the nutrition and health of ruminants fed gresh temperate forages: a review. Animal Feed Science and Technology 106, 3–19.Google Scholar
Moorby, JM, Evans, RT, Scollan, ND, Macraet, JC, Theodorou, MK 2006. Increased concentration of water-soluble carbohydrate in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Evaluation in dairy cows in early lactation. Grass and Forage Science 61, 52–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moran, JB, Croke, DE 1993. Maize silage for the pasture-fed dairy cows 5. A comparison with wheat while grazing low quality perennial pastures in the summer. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 33, 541–549.Google Scholar
O'Donovan, M, Delaby, L, Peyraud, JL 2004. Effect of time of initial grazing date and subsequent stocking rate on pasture production and dairy cow performance. Animal Research 53, 489–502.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parga, J, Peyraud, JL, Delagarde, R 2000. Effect of sward structure and herbage allowance on herbage intake by grazing dairy cows. In Grazing management, The principles and practice of grazing for profit and environmental gain in temperate grassland system (ed. AJ Rook and PD Penning), pp. 61–66. Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Okehampton, UK.Google Scholar
Pérez-Prieto, LA, Peyraud, JL, Delagarde, R 2011. Pasture intake, milk production and grazing behaviour of dairy cows grazing low-mass pastures at three daily allowances in winter. Livestock Science 137, 151–160.Google Scholar
Pérez-Ramírez, E, Peyraud, JL, Delagarde, R 2009. Restricting daily time at pasture at low and high pasture allowance: effects on pasture intake and behavioral adaptation of lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 92, 3331–3340.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Peyraud, JL 1993. Comparaison de la digestion du trèfle blanc et des graminées prairiales chez la vache laitière. Fourrages 135, 465–473.Google Scholar
Peyraud, JL, Astigarraga, L 1998. Review of the effect of nitrogen fertilization on the chemical composition, intake, digestion and nutritive value of fresh herbage: consequences on animal nutrition and N balance. Animal Feed Science and Technology 72, 235–259.Google Scholar
Peyraud, JL, Delaby, L 2001. Ideal concentrate feeds for grazing dairy cows – response to concentrates in interaction with grazing management and grass quality. In Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition (ed. PG Garnsworthy and J Wiseman), pp. 203–220. University of Nottingham University Press, Nottingham, UK.Google Scholar
Peyraud, JL, Le Gall, A, Lüscher, A 2009. Potential food production from forage legume-based-systems in Europe: an overview. Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research 48, 115–135.Google Scholar
Peyraud, JL, Comerón, 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.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raison, C, Chambault, H, Le Gall, A, Pflimlin, A 2008. Impact du système fourrager sur la qualité des eaux. Enseignements Issus du Projet Green Dairy. Fourrages 193, 3–18.Google Scholar
Ribeiro-Filho, HMN, Delagarde, R, Peyraud, JL 2003. Inclusion of white clover in strip-grazed perennial ryegrass pastures: herbage intake and milk yield of dairy cows at different ages of pasture regrowth. Animal Science 77, 499–510.Google Scholar
Ribeiro-Filho, HMN, Delagarde, R, Peyraud, JL 2005. Herbage intake and milk yield of dairy cows grazing perennial ryegrass pastures or white-clover/perennial rye grass pastures at low and medium herbage allowance. Animal Feed Science and Technology 119, 13–27.Google Scholar
Sayers, HJ, Mayne, CS, Bartram, CG 2000. The effect of level and type of supplement and change in the chemical composition of herbage as the season progresses on herbage intake and animal performance of high yielding dairy cows. In Grazing management (ed. AJ Rook and PD Penning), pp. 85–90. Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, Okehampton, UK.Google Scholar
Schwartz, FJ, Haffner, J, Kirchgessner, M 1995. Supplementation of zero-grazed dairy cows with molassed beet pulp, maize or a cereal-rich concentrate. Animal feed Science and Technology 54, 237–248.Google Scholar
Soder, KJ, Rook, AJ, Sandeson, MA, Goslee, SC 2007. Interaction of plant species diversity on grazing behavior and performance of livestock grazing temperate regions pastures. Crop Science 47, 416–425.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stakelum, G, Dillon, P 2003. The effect of supplement type on the rumen fermentation pattern of cows fed fresh grass and in sacco disappearance of grass in the rumen. Irish Journal of Agriculture and Food Science 42, 213–228.Google Scholar
Steg, A, Van Straalen, WM, Hindle, VA, Wensink, WA, Dooper, FMH, Schils, RLM 1994. Rumen degradation and intestinal digestion of grass and clover at two maturity levels during the season in dairy cows. Grass and Forage Science 49, 378–390.Google Scholar
Stockdale, CR 2000. Levels of pasture substitution when concentrates are fed to grazing dairy cows in northern Victoria. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 40, 913–921.Google Scholar
Stockdale, CR, Cohen, DC, Doyle, PT 2001. Nutritive characteristics of irrigated perennial pastures in northern Victoria and the selection of nutrients by grazing dairy cows. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 41, 601–609.Google Scholar
Tas, BM, Taweel, HZ, Smit, HJ, Elgersma, A, Dijkstra, J, Tamminga, S 2005. Effects of perennial ryegrass cultivars on intake, digestibility, and milk yield in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 88, 3240–3248.Google Scholar
Taweel, HZ, Tas, BM, Smit, HJ, Elgersma, A, Dijkstra, J, Tamminga, S 2005. Effects of feeding perennial ryegrass with an elevated concentration of water-soluble carbohydrates on intake, rumen function and performance of dairy cows. Animal Feed Science and Technology 121, 243–256.Google Scholar
van Vuuren, AM, van der Koelen, CJ, Vroons-De Bruin, J 1986. Influence of level and composition of concentrate supplements on rumen fermentations patterns of grazing dairy cows. Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science 34, 457–467.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wade, MH, Peyraud, JL, Lemaire, G, Comerón, EA 1989. The dynamic of daily area and depth of grazing and herbage intake of cows in a five day paddock system. In Proceedings of the XVI International Grassland Congress, Nice (ed. R Jarrige), pp, 1111–1112. Association Française pour la Production Fourragère, Paris, France.Google Scholar
Wilkins, RJ, Gibb, MJ, Huckle, CA, Clements, AJ 1994. Effect of supplementation on production by spring calving dairy cows grazing pastures of differing clover content. Journal of Agricultural Science Cambridge 77, 531–537.Google Scholar
Wilson, JR, Deinum, B, Engels, FM 1991. Temperature effects on anatomy and digestibility of leaf and stem of tropical and temperate forage species. Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science 39, 31–48.Google Scholar
Woodward, SL, Waghorn, GC, Laboyrie, PG 2004. Condended tannins in birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) reduce methane emissions from dairy cows. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 64, 160–164.Google Scholar
Woodward, SL, Auldist, MJ, Laboyrie, PJ, Jansen, EBL 1999. Effect of Lotus corniculatus and condensend tannins on milk yield and milk composition of dairy cows. Proceeding of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 59, 152–155.Google Scholar