Abstract

Simple SummaryTraditional Alpine husbandry systems require dairy cows to be grazing on mountain pasture during summer and kept indoors during the remaining part of the year. Nowadays, the pasture is not able to fully satisfy the nutritional requirements of cattle; therefore, the use of concentrates is frequently required. From their use, some issues arise: the cows tend to consume the concentrates at the expense of the grass; concentrates are competitive with human diets; concentrates decrease the environmental sustainability of farm. Therefore, in order to minimize their use, it is imperative to obtain data on the grazing behavior of cows. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of concentrate levels on the behavior of dairy cows during summer grazing in two pastures characterized by Poion alpinae and Seslerion caeruleae alliance. Cows were equipped with an electronic device to evaluate feeding behavior (grazing, rumination, and walking). In addition, the plant selection by animals was assessed. In Poion alpinae, a rich pasture, the increased supplement influenced the selectivity of the pasture species, while in Seslerion caeruleae, a poor pasture, supplementation resulted in a reduction in grazing times. The study highlights how the supplement level induced a different grazing behavior depending on pasture type.During grazing on Alpine pastures, the use of concentrates in dairy cows’ diet leads to a reduction of the environmental sustainability of farms, and influences the selective pressure on some plant species. In order to minimize the use of concentrates, it is imperative to obtain data on the grazing behavior of cows. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of concentrate levels on the behavior of dairy cows during grazing. One hundred and ten lactating Italian Simmental cows, that sequentially grazed two pastures characterized by Poion alpinae (Poion) and Seslerion caeruleae (Seslerion) alliance, were considered. For each pasture, eight cows were selected and assigned to two groups: High and Low, supplemented with 4 kg/head/d, and 1 kg/head/d of concentrate respectively. Cows were equipped with a noseband pressure sensor and a pedometer (RumiWatch system, ITIN-HOCH GmbH) to assess grazing, ruminating, and walking behavior. In addition, the plant selection of the animals was assessed. On Poion, increased supplement intake caused a more intense selection of legumes, without affecting feeding and walking times. On Seslerion, grazing time was higher in Low than High. Grazing management in alpine region must take into account the great variability of pastures that largely differ from a floristic and nutritional point of view.

Highlights

  • The traditional farming system of dairy cows in the Alps requires animals kept in valley floor stables from autumn to spring and in mountain pasture during summer [1]

  • Genetic improvement of dairy cow breeds has led to a broad increase in the nutritional requirements of animals that can no longer be satisfied by grazing alone [6,7], because of the moderate herbage yields of alpine pastures

  • The average only one day of conditions strong breezes.inThe average precipitation environmental temperature fell within the range of thermoneutral zone of dairy cows

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Summary

Introduction

The traditional farming system of dairy cows in the Alps requires animals kept in valley floor stables from autumn to spring and in mountain pasture during summer [1]. It is increasingly necessary to properly supplement the cows’ diet, even on the pastures, to produce milk yields close to the genetic potential of the breed, and/or to ensure appropriate animal body conditions are maintained. This necessity could involve nutritional and agroecological problems. In order to minimize their use, it would be very useful for the breeder to obtain data on the grazing behavior of dairy cows as a direct or indirect result of different feeding management strategies

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