Pasture Silage Research Articles

The potential benefits of ensiling the forage legume sulla compared with pasture

With high dry matter yields of high quality forage, high soluble carbohydrate levels and a suitability for harvest by cutting and removing, the forage legume sulla (Hedysarum coronarium) has the potential to be an important silage crop in New Zealand. In three experiments the ensiling potential of sulla was compared with conventional pasture using a mini-silo system which allows for rapid evaluation of forages using 3-4 kg of herbage. Experiment 1 evaluated the effect of increasing the proportion of sulla in pasture silage (0/100, 25/75, 50/50, 75/25 and 100/0 sulla/pasture). The principal findings were that increasing sulla content of the silage decreased (P

Production and composition of milk by dairy cows fed common vetch or lupin grain as protein supplements to a silage and pasture-based diet in early lactation

Milk production and composition were measured for 49 days in early lactation in 40 Holstein-Friesian cows fed 8 kg/day (fresh weight) of 1:1 mixtures of either rolled barley-lupin grain (Lupinus angustifolius L. cv. Gungurru) or barley-common vetch grain (Vicia sativa L. cv. Blanche Fleur). All cows were fed 1 kg/day of a pelleted concentrate containing minerals and vitamins, and wilted perennial ryegrass-subterranean clover pasture silage was available ad libitum with restricted grazing of perennial ryegrass-subterranean clover pasture. Cows ate all of the barley-lupin grain and barley-vetch grain mixtures. Mean daily dry matter intakes of silage (kg/cow.day) were 9.9 and 9.8 for cows fed the barley-lupin grain and barley-vetch grain mixtures respectively. Estimated pasture DM intake was 3.0 kg/cow.day. Mean daily yields of milk (L), fat (kg) and protein (kg) were significantly (P<0.001) greater for cows fed the barley-lupin grain mixture (30.3, 1.30 and 0.92 respectively) than for those fed the barley-vetch grain mixture (27.7, 1.23 and 0.87 respectively). Cows fed the barley-vetch grain mixture gained 0.2 kg/day more liveweight than those fed the barley-lupin grain mixture. Although both common vetch grain and lupin grain were readily eaten by dairy cows, when fed as protein supplements to a high quality silage and pasture-based diet in early lactation, cows fed the vetch grain produced less milk and milk components. This may be related to the greater partitioning of nutrients to liveweight gain rather than to toxicity problems in the cows fed vetch grain.

Production and composition of milk by dairy cows fed lupin grain or blood meal as protein supplements to hay- or silage-based diets in early lactation

In 2 concurrent experiments, milk production and composition were measured for 56 days in Holstein-Friesian cows fed concentrate rations based on a mixture of either lupin and barley grains or lupin grain, barley grain and blood meal. In experiment 1, 26 cows were fed 9 kg/day of isonitrogenous concentrate mixtures comprising either 50% barley grain and 50% lupin grain or 70% barley grain, 24% lupin grain and 6% blood meal, together with pasture silage ad libitum. In experiment 2, 32 cows were fed 9 kg/day of isonitrogenous concentrate mixtures comprising either 34% barley grain and 66% lupin grain or 54% barley grain, 40% lupin grain and 6% blood meal, together with pasture hay ad libitum. In both experiments, there were no significant differences between the treatments in the production and composition of milk, or in liveweight and liveweight change. In experiment 1, mean milk yield (L/day), protein content (g/kg), fat content (g/kg), liveweight (kg) and liveweight change (kg/day) were 28.2, 28.5, 40.8, 530 and 0.3, respectively. The corresponding means in experiment 2 were 30.8, 28.6, 39.5, 553 and -0.1. The rate and extent of degradation of nitrogen in the protein supplements incubated in dacron bags in the rumen of steers were lower for blood meal than for lupin grain. It was concluded that, under the conditions in these experiments, when cows were offered a high level of grain concentrate based on barley and lupin grains, as supplements to high quality conserved fodders, there were no benefits to production by replacement of part of the lupin grain by isonitrogenous amounts of blood meal, as a source of undegraded dietary protein.

Enhancing pasture-based dairying with supplementary feeds

New Zealand dairy farmers are increasingly using supplementary feeds in an attempt to overcome the quantitative and nutritional limitations of pasture. The use of rolled maize grain and pasture silage supplements was evaluated on a farmlet basis for two seasons. Supplementary feeding resulted in 88 and 82 g milksolids (MS)/kg dry matter (DM) at stocking rates of 3.24 and 4.48 Friesian cows/ha respectively. At the lower stocking rate the responses during spring, summer and autumn were 11, 53 and 113 g MS/kg DM respectively. Small spring responses were attributed to poor use of the spared pasture and cow condition that resulted from supplementary feeding. Large autumn responses were due to extending lactation length. Responses were less variable at the high stocking rate. If large amounts of supplements are used, the stocking rate must be sufficient to ensure high rates of pasture utilisation are maintained. A second farmlet trial compared rolled maize grain, maize silage, and a nutritionally balanced ration at 4.41 Friesian cows/ha. Offering 1.04 - l.23 t DM/cow of supplement increased annual pasture net herbage accumulation by 1.8 t DM/ha, and MS production by up to 96kg/cow (32%). Maize grain resulted in the largest response, although responses to maize grain and maize silage were similar when the differences in metabolisable energy (ME) content were accounted for. The balanced ration produced the lowest response, both to DM and ME, and was 20% less than that predicted by the CNCPS nutrition model. ME content is the key nutritional parameter which will determine the likely MS response to supplements. Keywords: balanced ration, dairying, farm systems, grain, milksolids, silage, supplementary feeding

Effect of Level and Degradability of Rapeseed Meal in Rations for Dairy Cows: 2. Diet Digestibility, Dietary Nitrogen Partition and Urinary Purine Derivatives Excretion

Abstract The effects of level and degradability of rapeseed meal on ration digestibility, N balance, urinary purine derivatives excretion, milk production and milk composition in dairy cows were studied. A total of 24 multiparous lactating diary cows were selected from a production experiment and divided into two 12-cow groups according to their lactation stage (LG1, 14th-16th week of lactation; and LG2, 26th-30th week of lactation). Within lactation groups, cows were fed four different rations (3 cows per treatment). Four concentrate mixtures with two levels of protein (19% and 14% of CP on DM basis) and two different rumen degradabilities (72% and 52%) of the dominating protein feed rapeseed meal were fed to the cows together with pasture silage and hay. Apparent total tract digestibilities were not affected by the treatments. N balance was positive and similar between diets in both lactation groups. N partition data were similar between treatments on LG1, while on LG2 a tendency for a more efficient us...

Some effects of feeding pasture silage as a supplement to pasture on reproductive performance in lactating dairy cows

Supplementation of a ryegrass/white clover pasture diet with pasture silage is a common management practice in New Zealand dairy herds. The effect of this supplementation on reproductive performance has not been investigated. Five herds of 20 cows were formed before calving commenced on 1 June 1992. From 5 August to 4 September, two of these herds were fed 5 kg/cow/day of pasture silage in addition to the ryegrass/white clover pasture offered to all herds. Pasture silage supplementation did not alter the intervals from calving to first ovulation, first oestrus, or to conception. However, it reduced the first service conception rate (37.5% v. 53.3%; difference +/- sed = 15.8 +/- 10.0%, for pasture and silage and pasture only cows, respectively). A positive effect on reproductive performance of pasture silage supplementation was not demonstrated in this trial.

Pasture silage in New Zealand - targets and current practice

Pasture silage is harvested from surplus spring pasture on many New Zealand dairy farms, for use as a supplementary feed in times of feed shortage. Targets for the quality of silage suitable for feeding to lactating dairy cows are presented, as recommended by a silage workshop held in Hamilton in 1994. National information from the Lincoln University Analytical Laboratory are presented that show that pasture silage made in the 1994J95 season was well preserved. However, most of that silage had a feed quality below the target set for lactating dairy cows. Averages for DM digestibility were 65.5-67.9%, estimated M/D was 9.3-9.6 MJ ME/kg DM, and crude protein was 14.6 15.1%. Silage-making practices were analysed, based on silage samples entered in the 1994195 Livestock Improvement Advisory silage competition. The key to making high quality pasture silage in the 1994/95 season was to harvest pasture by the first week in November. Nitrogen fertiliser may be used to produce early surplus pasture without restricting the feed supply to grazing cows. Further survey work is planned to confirm observations made, and expand on practical recommendations for making high quality pasture silage. Keywords: dairying, feed analysis, nitrogen fertiliser, pasture, silage, silage additives

The effect of protein supplements on the production and composition of milk from dairy cows fed high levels of grain with pasture silage in early lactation

Milk production and composition were measured for 42 days in 76 Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle in early lactation fed a 3 : 1 barley-lupin grain mixture with protein supplements of lupins, meat meal, blood meal, or cottonseed meal. The crude protein content of all grain-protein supplement mixtures was 21%. The cows were fed 9 kglday of the grain-protein supplement mixtures, and perennial ryegrass-subterranean clover pasture silage was available ad libitum. When data from all cows were analysed, no significant differences were recorded in the production and composition of milk from cows fed the different protein supplements. However, analysing only data from those cows producing >25 L/day, there was a significant (P<0.05) difference in the production per day by cows fed blood meal (29.6 L milk, 0.81 kg protein) compared with those fed lupins (27.0, 0.76), meat meal (26.9, 0.75), or cottonseed meal (27.6, 0.75). The rate and extent of degradation of nitrogen in the protein supplements incubated in dacron bags in the rumen of steers was significantly (P<0.05) less for blood meal than for the other protein supplements. Under the conditions of this experiment, blood meal was a more suitable protein supplement than lupins for the production of milk and milk protein in dairy cows in early lactation producing >25 L milk/day.

Maize silage as a supplement for pasture-fed dairy cows in early and late lactation

Eight experiments were conducted over 2 years with 92 lactating dairy cows individually fed various combinations of irrigated perennial pasture and maize silage in an indoor feeding facility. Responses to different amounts of maize silage and pasture in early and late lactation were measured. Daily pasture intake ranged from 6.2 to 12.4 kg dry matter (DM)/cow, while maize silage intake ranged from 0 to 12.4 kg DM/cow. The marginal return to feeding maize silage at up to 5 kg DM/cow.day to cows in early lactation eating about 7 kg DM/day of pasture as their basal ration was 0.89 kg extra milk for each kg DM maize silage eaten. In late lactation, this was reduced to 0.63 kg milk/kg DM. Milk yield responses to maize silage at both stages of lactation were lower at higher levels of pasture feeding. Although milk fat content was maintained over a wide range of maize silage, feeding large quantities of maize silage in early lactation was detrimental to milk production. The likely explanation for poor animal performance at the high levels of maize silage was dietary protein insufficiency.

Natural permanent pasture silage evaluation from one or two cuts in the season

Natural permanent pasture silage evaluation from one or two cuts in the season

Natural permanent pasture silage evaluation from one or two cuts in the season

Natural permanent pasture silage evaluation from one or two cuts in the season

Evaluation of Dietary Nitrogen Utilization in Dairy Cows Based on Urea Concentrations in Blood, Urine and Milk, and on Urinary Concentration of Purine Derivatives

Abstract The effects of level and degradability of dietary protein on urea in blood, urine and milk, and on the urinary purine derivatives and creatinine in dairy cows, were studied. Diurnal variation in urinary concentration of urea, allantoin and creatinine was also studied. A total of 24 multiparous lactating dairy cows were selected from a production experiment and divided into two 12-cow groups according to their lactation stage (LG1, 14th-16th week of lactation; and LG2, 26th-30th week of lactation). Within groups, cows were fed four different rations (three cows per treatment). Four concentrate mixtures with two levels of protein [19 and 14% of crude protein on dry matter (DM) basis] and two different rumen degradabilities (72 and 52%) of the dominating protein feed rapeseed meal, were fed to the cows together with pasture silage and hay. In both groups of cows the urea concentration in plasma, urine and milk increased (p<0.05) with increasing protein intake. Based on the pooled data from both lact...

Effect of nature of forage on spontaneous lipolysis in milk from cows in late lactation.

Levels of free fatty acids (FFA) were determined in milk from cows after 7 months of lactation and 4 months of pregnancy immediately after milking (initial FFA) and after 22 h storage at 4 degrees C (FFA-22). During the pre-experimental period, cows were at pasture. When housed indoors (experimental period) they were fed hay or grass silage for 3 weeks. Then all cows received grass silage for 3 weeks (post-experimental period). Feeding hay did not increase FFA-22 content in milk compared with pasture, but grass silage feeding enhanced FFA-22 content in milk compared with pasture (+130%) or hay (+93%). Increased lipolysis with grass silage was not due to underfeeding of the cows because grass silage and hay were both of high nutritive value. As pasture, hay and grass silage were of the same type (native mountain grassland), the high level of lipolysis occurring with grass silage probably resulted from the method of forage conservation.

Use of pasture silage as a summer supplement for ewes

This paper reviews a number of trials conducted at Ruakura, where pasture silage was supplemented to ewes on restricted summer grazing. Early trials showed that such supplementation increased total intake and gains. Further improvements were obtained by wilting or chopping the silage. Initially flushing responses were disappointing, but subsequent work showed high quality pasture silage to be ideal for such purposes (up to 50-70 extra eggs shed and 5050 extra lambs born/l 00 ewes to silage groups) and for improving wool growth. This response was related to the amount of silage fed (from 0.25 to 0.75 kg DM/day), and was obtained with as little as 10 days feeding. The practical implications are discussed. Keywords: Sheep, nutrition, silage, flushing, ovulations, lambs born

Sampling and chemical composition of silage from a farm stack: Variation in moisture content and in degree of fermentation

Abstract A freshly exposed face of a stack containing wilted pasture silage from a Manawatu dairy farm was randomly sampled to assess the variation in chemical composition and moisture content within the silage. Total and soluble nitrogen, predicted in vivo digestibility, and silage pH were uniform within the sampled profile but dry matter (DM) (% of fresh material), soluble sugars, lactic and volatile fatty acids, and ammoniacal N were much more variable. DM was significantly correlated with soluble sugars (r 2 = 0.96) and inversely correlated with total volatile fatty acids (r 2 = -0.96), ammoniacal N (r 2 = -0.74) and lactic acid (r 2 = -0.65) in the sampled sites. Changes in the extent of lactate and clostridial fermentation were related to the moisture content of the different samples taken from the profile. Minimum sample numbers required for representative sampling of this silage were estimated from the analytical data; the predicted sample numbers varied from 4 to 61 depending on the individual si...

Differences between sheep and cattle in digestibility, voluntary intake and retention time in the rumen of three tropical grasses

In the assessment of the nutritive value of feeds for animals, measurement of digestibility has been a basic index since 1860 (Schneider &amp; Flatt, 1965). In this laboratory, measurements of digestibility and voluntary feed consumption using sheep have been the basis of feed evaluation procedures for over 20 years (e.g. Milford, 1960). The plants with which our group is concerned, however, are mainly grazed by cattle, and it is important to establish the degree to which extrapolation of results from sheep to cattle is justified for tropical pasture species. Many comparisons between sheep and cattle in terms of digestibility of dry matter and other aspects of feed utilization have been made using temperate pasture species hays, silages, grains and mixed rations; this area has been thoroughly reviewed by Schneider &amp; Flatt (1965). Very few such studies have been made using tropical species, and most of those in Australia have involved the native species Heteropogon contortus (Siebert &amp; Kennedy, 1972) or mixed H. contortus and Bothriochloa decipiens (Playne, 1978), providing material of low quality, containing less than 1% nitrogen. Playne (1970) used one introduced tropical species, buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), and in that work only one of three harvests contained over 1% nitrogen. In the present work three introduced tropical species have been examined, covering a wider range of quality than has been reported previously.

Mineral nutrient deficiencies in field-grown forage sorghums

Abstract Crops of the forage sorghum Sudax SX6 grown near Kaitaia as summer feed for dairy cows were analysed for their sulphur, nitrogen, and sodium content. Potentially serious deficiencies of sulphur and sodium were found. Sudax fed as a sole ration would supply an effective sulphur intake of only 7g/day/cow compared to a requirement of 20 g/day/cow. Sodium intake under the same conditions would be around 2 g/day/cow compared to a requirement of 18 g/day/cow. Feeding pasture silage as half the ration improves effective sulphur intake to 14 g/day/cow and sodium intake to 12 g/day/cow. If Sudax or other forage sorghums are used as a major summer feed for dairy cows over an extended period, then supplementation with sulphur and sodium seems advisable.

Silage and dairy cow production

Jersey cross-bred cows were fed unwilted pasture silage supplemented with either pasture or maize silage contributing 50% of the DM offered, or with a mixed protein concentrate constituting 8.5 or 17% of the ration DM. Pasture or protein concentrates increased the concentration and digestibility of N in the ration, increasing digestible N intake by 25 to 40%. Maize silage reduced ration N concentration and digestibility, lowering digestible N intake by 40%. Regression analysis indicated that diet type had a significant effect on milk yield and composition. Cows offered silage rations supplemented with pasture or protein concentrates produced more milk with higher concentrations of fat and protein than cows fed exclusively on silage at similar intakes of DE. When maize silage was the supplement, there was no effect on milk yield or composition. Differences in molar proportions of rumen VFA between diets were small, indicating that type of rumen fermentation is not important in limiting milk yield ...

Silage and dairy cow production

Cows were offered constant amounts of unwilted pasture silage or pasture In 5 experiments. The milk yield and milk protein, concentration of cows offered silage were increased by abomasal infusions of casein in all experiments. Infusions of 300 g/day casein raised milk and protein by an average of 1.1 kg/day and 0,19% respectively. Methionine (12 g/day) gave a similar response to casein. Isocaloric infusion of glucose did not alter milk yield or milk protein above the controls on the silage ration. Abomasal infusions of casein increased milk yield of cows offered pasture but responses were significantly less than obtained with silage. The studies demonstrate that the amount of protein entering the duodenum of cows fed high moisture pasture silage limited milk production and that methionine was a major amino acid limiting the synthesis of milk and its constituents.

Effect of herbage DM allowance on the immediate and longer term performance of young Friesian steers at pasture

Abstract The cumulative effects of different levels of herbage DM allowance on pasture production and quality, and on immediate and longer term animal production by Friesian steers, were investigated in two experiments. In Experiment 1 allowances were 3.0, 4.5, 6.0, and 7.5 kg DM/100 kg live weight (LW) and in Experiment 2 aIlowances were 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, and 12.5 kg/lOO kg LW. Pasture production was not significantly affected by allowance in either experiment but utilisation, both per grazing and over the whole season (December to May) , declined significantly as allowance was increased. In vitro digestibility of pasture also declined as allowance increased; this was associated with a build-up of dead matter in the swards. Live-weight gain per animal was linearly related to allowance in Experiment 1 and curvilinearly related to allowance in Experiment 2 with little response above an allowance of 10.0 kg DM/100 kg LW. In both experiments carry-over effects were measured over 7-week periods during which cattle received a restricted pasture allowance together with wilted pasture silage ad libitum. Liveweight and carcass gains were high during these periods but no compensatory growth occurred.