Description
An experiment was carried out in spring over 42 days, with 48 multiparous Holstein Friesian cows, to examine the interrelationship of milk yield level, sward height and concentrate level. Two initial milk yield groups of 21.3 and 35.5 kg/day, two range of compressed sward heights of 3 to 5 cm, and 7 to 9 cm , and three concentrate levels of 0 and 6 kg/day and ad libitum were evaluated in a factorial design. Multiple regression analyses were carried out relating intake and behavioural dependent variables to the independent variables initial milk yield (IMY), sward height (SH) and concentrate intake (CI).Total DM intake was highest for the high yielding group (P<0.001) (16.4 and 19.6 s.e.d 0.65), and rate of intake (g DM/min) was higher (P<0.001) (21.8 and 27.9 s.e.d. 1.91). Concentrates reduced rate of intake ( 31.4, 25.8, and 20.7 g DM/min s.e.d. 2.34). The multiple regression coefficients indicated that the herbage intake increased by 0.61 kg/day per 1 cm increase in sward height, reduced by 0.69 kg/day per kg increase in concentrate, and increased by 0.21 kg/day per kg increase in initial milk yield.
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Effect of Milk Yield, Sward Height and Concentrate Supplementation Level on Herbage Intake and Grazing Behaviour of Set-Stocked Dairy Cattle in Spring
An experiment was carried out in spring over 42 days, with 48 multiparous Holstein Friesian cows, to examine the interrelationship of milk yield level, sward height and concentrate level. Two initial milk yield groups of 21.3 and 35.5 kg/day, two range of compressed sward heights of 3 to 5 cm, and 7 to 9 cm , and three concentrate levels of 0 and 6 kg/day and ad libitum were evaluated in a factorial design. Multiple regression analyses were carried out relating intake and behavioural dependent variables to the independent variables initial milk yield (IMY), sward height (SH) and concentrate intake (CI).Total DM intake was highest for the high yielding group (P<0.001) (16.4 and 19.6 s.e.d 0.65), and rate of intake (g DM/min) was higher (P<0.001) (21.8 and 27.9 s.e.d. 1.91). Concentrates reduced rate of intake ( 31.4, 25.8, and 20.7 g DM/min s.e.d. 2.34). The multiple regression coefficients indicated that the herbage intake increased by 0.61 kg/day per 1 cm increase in sward height, reduced by 0.69 kg/day per kg increase in concentrate, and increased by 0.21 kg/day per kg increase in initial milk yield.
