The Effect of Frequency of Fresh Pasture Allocation on the Feeding Behaviour of High Production Dairy Cows

Associations of Grazing and Rumination Behaviours with Performance Parameters in Spring-Calving Dairy Cows in a Pasture-Based Grazing System

This study investigated the relationship of the length of time spent grazing and ruminating with the performance parameters of spring-calved grazing dairy cows (n = 162) over the lactation period for three lactation seasons (n = 54 per season). The cows were Holstein Friesian (HFR), Jersey (JE), and a crossbreed of Holstein Friesian/Jersey (KiwiCross), with 18 cows from each breed. The cows were either in their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th lactation year, and had different breeding worth (BW) index values (103 < BW > 151). The cows were managed through a rotational grazing scheme with once-a-day milking in the morning at 05:00 h. The cows were mainly fed on grazed pastures consisting of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), red clover (Trifolium pretense), and white clover (Trifolium repens), and received additional feeds on various days in the summer and autumn seasons. This study used an automated AfiCollar device to continuously record the grazing time and rumination time (min/h) of the individual cows throughout the lactation period (~270 days) for three consecutive years (Year-1, Year-2, and Year-3). The milk yield, milk fat, milk protein, milk solids, liveweight, and body condition score data of the individual animals for the study years were provided by the farm. PROC CORR was used in SAS to determine the correlation coefficients (r) between the behaviour and production parameters. A general linear model fitted with breed × lactation year, individual cows, seasons, feed within the season, grazing time, rumination time, as well as their interactions, was assessed to test the differences in milk yield, milk fat, milk protein, milk solids, liveweight, and body condition score. The type I sum of squares values were used to quantify the magnitude of variance explained by each of the study factors and their interactions in the study variables. Grazing time exhibited positive associations with MY (r = 0.34), MF (r = 0.43), MP (r = 0.22), MS (r = 0.39), LW (r = -0.47), and BCS (r = -0.24) throughout the study years. Rumination time was associated with MY (r = 0.64), MF (r = 0.57), MP (r = 0.52), and MS (r = 0.57) in all study years, while there were no effects of rumination time on LW (r = 0.26) and BCS (r = -0.26). Grazing time explained up to 0.32%, 0.49%, 0.17%, 0.31%, 0.2%, and 0.02%, and rumination time explained up to 0.39%, 6.73%, 4.63%, 6.53%, 0.44%, and 0.17% of the variance in MY, MF, MP, MS, LW, and BCS, respectively.

Evaluation of rations containing bioconverted cacao pod as fiber source for small ruminant

This study aimed to evaluate the potential use of bioconverted cacao pod (BCP) as a substitute for forage in the total mixed ration (TMR) for a small ruminant. In the in vitro experiment, the control TMR (30% forage and 70% concentrate) was substituted with two different levels of BCP (15% and 30%) and two different types of BCP ( BCP-pc and BCP-tv). Based on the in vitro evaluation, the best ration was then chosen for the in vivo experiment, in which male goats were fed a control TMR, the TMR containing 15% BCP-pc (RC), and TMR containing 15% bioconverted palm kernel meal (RP). The results showed that TMRs with 15% BCP-pc and BCP-tv substitution had significantly lower gas production and digestibility than the control ration. However, the TMR with 15% or 30% BCP substitution showed no significant difference in rumen fermentation characteristics, methane production, and total protozoa. In the in vivo experiment, the RC showed no significant difference in all nutrient intakes, the average daily gain of animals, feed conversion ratio value, and crude fiber digestibility but reduced dry and organic matter digestibility. In comparison, the RP resulted in reduced parameters. Therefore, the study concluded that BCP-pc at a level of 15% could be used as a substitute for forage in TMR for male goats without compromising the fermentability of rumen, nutrient intakes, and their average daily gain and feed conversion ratio. Overall, this study suggests the potential of BCP-pc as an alternative feed ingredient.

Assessment of the current performance of grazing infrastructure across Irish dairy farms

The increased average Irish dairy herd size in a post-quota environment has put heightened pressure on grazing infrastructure. In a rotational grazing system, grazing infrastructure consists of the paddock system, which delineates the grazing areas into appropriately sized grazing parcels, and the roadway network, which connects these paddocks to the milking parlor. Where herd size has increased without corresponding adaptations to the infrastructure, farm management and roadway network performance has been affected. The links between suboptimal grazing infrastructure and roadway network efficiency are poorly understood and not widely documented. The aims of this study were to (1) analyze the effect of herd expansion and paddock size on pasture allocations per paddock, (2) identify the factors that affect the total distance walked per year, and (3) create a metric to compare the efficiency of roadway networks across farms of varying grazing platforms. A sample population of 135 Irish dairy farms with a median herd size of 150 cows was used for this analysis. Herds were split into the following 5 categories: <100 cows, 100 to 149 cows, 150 to 199 cows, 200 to 249 cows, and ≥250 cows. Herds with ≥250 cows had a greater number of paddocks per farm and rotated around the grazing paddocks more frequently, with 46% of paddocks only suitable for 12 h allocations relative to herd size, compared with just 10% to 27% of paddocks for herds with <100 cows to herds with 200-249 cows. When predicting the total distance walked per year on each study farm, the mean distance from a paddock to the milking parlor was the strongest indicator (R² = 0.8247). Other metrics, such as herd size, have failed to account for the location of the milking parlor relative to the grazing platform. The creation of the relative mean distance from a paddock to milking parlor (RMDMP) metric allowed the calculation of a farm's roadway network efficiency for moving the herd between paddocks and the milking parlor. The analyzed farms increased their efficiency in terms of RMDMP (0.34-40.74%) as they increased herd size post quota. However, the position of new additional paddocks relative to the milking parlor substantially affected their RMDMP.

Comparison between the Behavior of Low-Yield Holstein-Friesian and Brown Swiss Cows under Barn and Pasture Feeding Conditions

Cow pasturing poses many logistical and nutritional problems. Animals have more difficulty accessing pasture feed and require more time to consume the equivalent amount of dry matter compared to total mixed ration (TMR) feed from a feed table. The study was conducted during August 2016-October 2017 on 64 Holstein-Friesian (HF) cows and 54 Brown Swiss (BS) cows. All animals were equipped with CowManager sensor devices, and the cows' behaviors were recorded: time spent on feed intake, rumination, physical activity, and rest. In winter, cows were mainly fed hay, while in summer, they took forage from the pasture or freshly cut forage provided in the barn. The study showed that the time of day had a significant (p < 0.001) effect on the cows' feeding behaviors. The study also showed behavioral differences between HF and BS breeds. HF cows, regardless of the location and type of feed provided, spent more time on feed intake and chewed less compared to the BS breed. These differences were observable in all studied lactation groups. Animals were most willing to take forage two hours before sunrise and two hours before sunset and showed an increased willingness to take feed immediately after leaving the milking parlor.

Grass composition and distribution patterns as determinants of behavioral activities and weight accumulation of Nguni and Boran cattle post-relocation

Grass biomass composition and distribution patterns within the paddock as determinants of behavioral activities and animal performance of Nguni (NG) and Boran (BR) cattle post-relocation to a novel environment were examined. Ten steers of each breed aged 9 months were bought from two different farms and sent to Honeydale research facilities, where they were reared on rangelands for 12 weeks. Identification and classification of grass species were done every sampling week before introducing cattle to each paddock. Direct visual observations and durations of behavior and paddock occupancy patterns were recorded every fortnight between 0500 and 1900 h every week. Individual animal weights and body condition scores (BCS) were recorded two times per week. Location within paddocks hugely affected (P < 0.0001) the composition of the vegetation as most grass species were found everywhere on pastures, near the watering points and along fencelines. However, the distribution patterns of the grass species significantly differed at different locations. Aristida congesta was dominant (P = 0.0014) everywhere in the pasture and along fenceline than in areas with a high density of trees. Except in shaded areas, Cynodon dactylon (P = 0.0003) and Eragrostis chloromelas (P = 0.0008) were highly abundant near the watering points, pastures, and along the fenceline. Themeda triandra (P < 0.0001) was only prevalent everywhere on pastures except in shade areas, near the water sites, and along fenceline. In terms of palatability and ecological groups, highly palatable species (P < 0.0001) and decreasers (P = 0.0010) were more frequent everywhere in the paddocks. From Weeks 1 to 3, NG spent more time walking (P < 0.0001), while the BR showed a significant decline in grazing activities (P < 0.0001) in spite of several differences in vegetation composition. Both breeds showed a significant decline in weight gain (P < 0.0001) and body condition score (P < 0.0001) in the first 3 weeks. However, the two cattle breeds quickly compensated for their behavioral activities and weight gain, and this shows a good ability to cope with stress caused by heterogeneous environmental conditions.

The Value of ‘Cow Signs’ in the Assessment of the Quality of Nutrition on Dairy Farms

The aim of this review is to provide dairy farm advisors, consultants, nutritionists, practitioners, and their dairy farmer clients with an additional toolkit that can be used in the assessment of the quality of their dairy cattle nutrition. Cow signs are behavioral, physiological, and management parameters that can be observed and measured. They are detected by examining and observing the cattle. Other physiological parameters such as fecal scoring, rumen fill, and body condition scoring are also included in ‘cow signs’. The assessment should be both qualitative and quantitative; for example, is the cattle individual lame and what is the severity of lameness. The ‘diagnosis’ of a problem should be based on establishing a farm profile of ‘cow signs’ and other relevant information. Information gathered through assessment of cow signs should be used as an advisory tool to assist and improve decision making. Cow signs can be used as part of an investigation and or farm audit.