Description
In pasture-based dairy production systems, dry matter intake (DMI) is one of the main factors curtailing milk production and production efficiency. The inclusion of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in swards of perennial ryegrass (PRG; Lolium perenne L.) can increase DMI from increased sward nutritive value over a grass-only sward. Feeding a fully balanced TMR diet can enhance milk production as a result of greater DMI and through greater control of feed quality. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the relationship between DMI, milk production, and energy efficiencies for dairy cows consuming different diets. A farm systems experiment was conducted from 2015-2021. The three treatments were: TMR (100% confinement; grass silage, maize silage, concentrate), grass-only herbage (GR), or grass-white clover herbage (CL). Dry matter intake was estimated 17 times over the duration of the study, using the n-alkane technique for the GR and CL treatments, and an electronic roughage intake control system for the TMR treatment. Simultaneously, milk production, and production efficiencies were also measured. Significant increases (P < 0.001) in milk production, DMI, and production efficiencies were observed when cows consumed the TMR diet compared with the grazing diets. Greater energy (P < 0.001) was available for milk production after maintenance for the TMR treatment. All treatments had similar energy (148.64 g Unité fourragère lait; UFL) available for milk solids (MS) production after accounting for maintenance. Cows consuming the TMR diet had significantly higher (P < 0.001) daily energy intake (+17%) compared to the pasture-fed cows. Cows grazing the CL swards consumed 1.03 kg greater (P < 0.001) total DMI compared to the GR cows. This translated into greater daily milk (+1.2 kg) and MS (0.12 kg) compared with the GR treatment. The current study highlights the benefits of a TMR and ryegrass/white clover diet for increasing milk production, and energy efficiencies above a grass-only diet.
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Dry Matter Intake, Milk Performance and Production Efficiency from Spring Calving Dairy Cows Offered Grass-Only, Grass-White Clover and Total Mixed Ration Diets
In pasture-based dairy production systems, dry matter intake (DMI) is one of the main factors curtailing milk production and production efficiency. The inclusion of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in swards of perennial ryegrass (PRG; Lolium perenne L.) can increase DMI from increased sward nutritive value over a grass-only sward. Feeding a fully balanced TMR diet can enhance milk production as a result of greater DMI and through greater control of feed quality. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the relationship between DMI, milk production, and energy efficiencies for dairy cows consuming different diets. A farm systems experiment was conducted from 2015-2021. The three treatments were: TMR (100% confinement; grass silage, maize silage, concentrate), grass-only herbage (GR), or grass-white clover herbage (CL). Dry matter intake was estimated 17 times over the duration of the study, using the n-alkane technique for the GR and CL treatments, and an electronic roughage intake control system for the TMR treatment. Simultaneously, milk production, and production efficiencies were also measured. Significant increases (P < 0.001) in milk production, DMI, and production efficiencies were observed when cows consumed the TMR diet compared with the grazing diets. Greater energy (P < 0.001) was available for milk production after maintenance for the TMR treatment. All treatments had similar energy (148.64 g Unité fourragère lait; UFL) available for milk solids (MS) production after accounting for maintenance. Cows consuming the TMR diet had significantly higher (P < 0.001) daily energy intake (+17%) compared to the pasture-fed cows. Cows grazing the CL swards consumed 1.03 kg greater (P < 0.001) total DMI compared to the GR cows. This translated into greater daily milk (+1.2 kg) and MS (0.12 kg) compared with the GR treatment. The current study highlights the benefits of a TMR and ryegrass/white clover diet for increasing milk production, and energy efficiencies above a grass-only diet.
