Partial replacement of a total mixed ration with annual ryegrass herbage: effects on dairy cow dry matter intake and milk production
2023
Maurício Civiero | C. Ferris | Henrique M. N. Ribeiro-Filho
Studies with dairy cows receiving mixed ration and grazing annual pastures, which have low tiller density, are scarce. This study examined the effect of partial replacement of a total mixed ration (TMR) with annual temperate pasture. Treatments were ad libitum TMR (TMR100), 75% ad libitum TMR + ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum ‘Maximus’) (pTMR75), and 50% ad libitum TMR + ryegrass (pTMR50). Twelve multiparous Holstein and F1 Jersey × Holstein cows were divided into six groups (experimental units), taking account of milk production (26.6 ± 4.55 kg/day), days-in-milk (129 ± 50.8) and body weight (546 ± 30.6 kg). Treatments were compared using two 3 × 3 Latin square arangements, comprising three 21-day periods (measurements during final 5 days). Herbage DM intake increased from 4.8 kg/day with pTMR75 to 6.7 kg/day with pTMR50. Total DM intake decreased from 19.4 kg/day (TMR100), to 18.1 and 15.8 kg/day (pTMR75 and pTMR50, respectively). Milk production, energy corrected milk production (ECM), and milk fat content were similar between treatments, averaging 25.6, 28.4 kg/day and 44.6 g/kg, respectively. Ryegrass pastures were able to replace up to 50% of TMR offered to mid lactation dairy cows with no adverse effects on ECM production.
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