Productive response to two concentrate allocation strategies in dairy cows grazing with restricted pasture allowance

Authors : Gustavo BRETSCHNEIDER, Eloy SALADO, Alejandra CUATRIN, Juan MATTERA, Mariela PECE, Dario ARIAS, Maira CUFFIA, Virginia DIEGUEZ

Pages : 1-9

View : 21 | Download : 10

Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The objective of this study was to compare the effects of two concentrate allotment strategies on the performance of dairy cows grazing on restricted pasture and supplemented with conserved forage. Dairy cows fed equal amounts of concentrate insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(fixed daily rate: 5.5 kg DM/cow); were compared to cows supplemented with concentrate according to their lactation stage as follows: 10.0, 5.0, and 1.5 kg DM/cow daily during early, mid, and late lactation, respectively insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(average daily dose: 5.5 kg DM/cow);. There was a supplementation strategy × lactation stage interaction insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P < 0.05); for energy-corrected milk insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ECM);. For early lactation cows, supplementation at a variable rate increased ECM yield by 14.61% insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P < 0.05);. There was a supplementation strategy × lactation stage interaction insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P < 0.05); for body weight change. At late lactation stage, cows supplemented at a fixed rate gained weight insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(+ 0.16 kg/day);, whereas those supplemented at a variable rate lost weight insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(- 0.08 kg/day; P < 0.05);. No significant effect was found for body condition score. The prioritization of milk production rather than the attenuation of body reserve mobilization suggests that concentrate allowance based on lactation stage may be unsuitable for minimizing the negative energy balance in early lactation cows.
Keywords : Dairy cattle, grazing, energy balance, lactation stage