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- Title
Interaction between herbage mass and time of herbage allocation modifies milk production, grazing behaviour and nitrogen partitioning of dairy cows.
- Authors
Beltrán, Ignacio E.; Gregorini, Pablo; Morales, Alvaro; Balocchi, Oscar A.; Pulido, Rubén G.
- Abstract
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the interaction effects between herbage mass and time of herbage allocation on milk production, grazing behaviour and nitrogen partitioning in lactating dairy cows. Forty-four Holstein Friesian cows were grouped according to milk production (24.7 ± 2.8 kg), bodyweight (580.6 ± 51.7 kg), days in milk (74 ± 17.1) and body condition score (3.1 ± 0.3), and then assigned randomly to one of four treatments: (1) L-AM: access to new herbage allocation after morning milking with herbage mass of 2000 kg DM/ha, (2) L-PM: access to new herbage allocation after afternoon milking with herbage mass of 2000 kg DM/ha, (3) M-AM: access to new herbage allocation after morning milking with herbage mass of 3000 kg DM/ha, and (4) M-PM: access to new herbage allocation after afternoon milking with herbage mass of 3000 kg DM/ha. All cows received a daily low herbage allowance of 21 kg DM measured above ground level, 3.0 kg DM of grass silage and 3.5 kg DM of concentrate. Herbage intake was similar between treatments, averaging 8.3 kg DM/day (P > 0.05). Total grazing time was lower for M-PM compared with other treatments (P < 0.01). Milk production was greater for M-AM and M-PM compared with L-PM (P < 0.05). Urea in milk and plasma were greater for L-AM than L-PM and M-PM (P < 0.01). Similarly, rumen ammonia was greater for L-AM compared with M-PM and M-AM (P < 0.05). Nitrogen intake was 13.6% greater for L-AM than L-PM, and 17.5% greater for L-AM than M-PM (P < 0.05). Nitrogen use efficiency was 22.1% greater for M-PM than L-AM, and 11.8% greater for M-PM than L-PM (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the best management combination was observed when a medium herbage mass was delivered in the afternoon, maintaining a low nitrogen intake, low urinary nitrogen excretion and high milk production. Grazing dairy cows excrete >70% of nitrogen intake through urine and faeces, with urine nitrogen being the main pollutant of water and the atmosphere (greenhouse gases). Therefore, the dairy industry aim is to increase milk production and reduce urine nitrogen excretion, which can be achieved through changes in management of herbage mass and time of pasture allocation. Our results indicate that high milk production and low urine nitrogen excretion can be achieved giving a medium herbage mass in the afternoon.
- Subjects
LACTATION in cattle; MILK yield; TIME management; GRASSES; DAIRY industry; NITROGEN excretion
- Publication
Animal Production Science, 2019, Vol 59, Issue 10, p1837
- ISSN
1836-0939
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1071/AN18183