The Effect of Frequency of Fresh Pasture Allocation on Pasture Utilisation and the Performance of High Yielding Dairy Cows
Date
2020-11-21
Journal Title
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Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
Pasture allocation frequency (PAF) can influence pasture availability and grazing behaviour,
which subsequently may impact on animal performance. Limited research to-date has investigated
grazing management methods to improve the performance of high production dairy cows whilst
also achieving high grass utilisation rates. This study evaluated the e ect of three di erent PAF’s
(12, 24 and 36 h) on pasture utilisation, the performance of high yielding dairy cows and the interaction
with parity. The experiment included two 60-day periods, 90 spring calving dairy cows (27 primiparous
animals) in period one and 87 (24 primiparous animals) in period two. The average pre-grazing sward
height (11.4 cm) was similar for all treatments in both periods. In period one, pasture utilisation
rate was significantly higher (8%) in the 36 h compared to the 12 h treatment. In period two,
milk energy output was significantly greater for primiparous animals in the 36 h treatment relative to
the other treatments.
Description
Publication history: Accepted - 19 November 2020; Published - 21 November 2020.
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Article
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Keywords
dairy cows, grazing, grazing management
Citation
Pollock, J. G., Gordon, A. W., Huson, K. M. and McConnell, D. A. (2020) ‘The Effect of Frequency of Fresh Pasture Allocation on Pasture Utilisation and the Performance of High Yielding Dairy Cows’, Animals. MDPI AG, 10(11), p. 2176. doi: 10.3390/ani10112176.