The effects of herbage allowance on pasture characteristics and milk production of dairy cows

• Published in: New Zealand journal of agricultural research Vol. 62; no. 2; pp. 200 - 209
• Main Authors: de Moura Zanine, Anderson, Rebuffo, Gianni Paolo Motta, de Jesus Ferreira, Daniele, de Souza, Alexandre Lima, Ribeiro, Marinaldo Divino, Pinho, Ricardo Martins Araujo, Fajardo, Maite, Sprunk, Marcos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 03-04-2019; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Botanical composition; Cattle; Composition; Cow's milk; Dairy cattle; Festuca arundinacea; growth rate; Milk; Milk production; Pasture; Pasture management; stocking rate
• ISSN: 0028-8233; 1175-8775
• DOI: 10.1080/00288233.2018.1473885

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of herbage allowance on forage productivity, botanical composition and milk yield of Holstein cows. The treatments comprised three conditions of pasture allowance, high (38.4 kg DM cow
−1
 day
−1
), medium (30.3 kg DM cow
−1
 day
−1
) and low (26.8 kg DM cow
−1
 day
−1
) forage supply during autumn, and throughout the pasture allowance conditions of high (49.8 kg DM cow
−1
 day
−1
), medium (33.7 kg DM cow
−1
 day
−1
) and low (27.6 kg DM cow
−1
 day
−1
) herbage supply during spring. Significant differences (P < .05) were observed for forage accumulation, total biomass production and animal stocking rate according to the seasons. Herbage allowance affected (P < .05) the botanical composition and milk production, registering a decrease in Festuca in the summer, and a continuous reduction in legume proportion. Pasture management with a medium herbage allowance throughout the year provided a greater total annual milk production per hectare.