Milk production in Brahman and Angus cows on endophyte-infected fescue and common bermudagrass

• Published in: Journal of animal science Vol. 71; no. 5; pp. 1117 - 1122
• Main Authors: Brown, M.A. (South Centra Family Farm Research Center, ARS, USDA, Booneville, AR), Tharel, L.M, Brown, A.H. Jr, Jackson, W.G, Miesner, J.R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Am Soc Animal Sci 01-05-1993; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Animal Feed - adverse effects; Animals; BOVIN DE BOUCHERIE; Breeding; Cattle; Cattle - physiology; CYNODON DACTYLON; DIFERENCIAS BIOLOGICAS; DIFFERENCE BIOLOGIQUE; ENDOFITAS; ENDOPHYTE; Female; FESTUCA ARUNDINACEA; Food Microbiology; Fungi - growth & development; GANADO DE CARNE; GRASA DE LA LECHE; Grasses; Lactation; Lipids - analysis; MATIERE GRASSE DU LAIT; Milk; Milk - chemistry; Nutrition; PASTOREO; PATURAGE; Poaceae - microbiology; RACE; RAZAS; RENDEMENT; RENDEMENT LAITIER; RENDIMIENTO; RENDIMIENTO LECHERO; Seasons; VACA; VACHE
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163
• DOI: 10.2527/1993.7151117x

Daily milk yield and milk fat were estimated by method of milking machine in 60 Angus and 60 Brahman cows grazing common bermudagrass or endophyte-infected fescue during a 3-yr period. Averaged over monthly estimates, there was evidence (P .05) of a dam breed X forage interaction in daily milk yield. Tall fescue decreased milk yield more in the Angus (1.64 kg/d, P .01) than in the Brahman (.53 kg/d, P .15). There were significant dam breed effects on both percentage of milk fat and daily milk fat yield; Brahman exceeded Angus by.68% (P .01) and 34.3 g/d (P 0.01), respectively. There were significant forage effects for both percentage of milk fat and daily milk fat yield; common bermudagrass exceeded tall fescue by.5% (P .01) and 62.3 g/d (P .01), respectively. These data indicate that incorporation of Brahman germplasm into a grazing system that uses endophyte-infected fescue may be beneficial in daily milk yield but will probably not prevent decreases in milk fat production associated with grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue