THE HERBAGE CONSUMPTION AND MILK PRODUCTION OF COWS GRAZING S24 RYEGRASS AND S37 COCKSFOOT

Abstract

Pure stands of S24 ryegrass and S37 cocksfoot were grazed by groups of 6–8 cows for 5 periods spread over 3 years. Three periods were in the spring and two in the summer. The ryegrass was 4–5 percentage units more digestible than the cocksfoot and generally contained more soluble carbohydrate. In the spring periods, the organic‐matter intakes and milk yields of the cows were much the same for the two herbage species, but in the summer they were both higher for the ryegrass. There were no important differences in milk composition due to herbage species, or in the liveweight changes of the cows.