Effects of defoliation intensity at the first grazing of forage rape (Brassica napus L.) by dairy cattle on subsequent regrowth potential, total DM consumed, nutritive characteristics and nutrient selection

The use of summer brassica forage crops in dryland dairy systems in southern Victoria is considered a key component of the feed base as they provide home-grown forage with high nutritive characteristics during a period where perennial ryegrass growth is limited due to high summer temperatures and low soil water content. Current knowledge on the use of single-grazing brassica crops such as turnips (Brassica rapa L.) is well defined; however, information on the management of regrowth brassica species that can provide multiple grazings is more limited. The present experiment determined the effect of different grazing regimes (high, medium and low defoliation intensity) at the first grazing on subsequent regrowth capability and nutritive characteristics of Winfred (Brassica napus L.) over the summer growing period across 2 years. We hypothesised that intensive defoliation of a summer regrowth brassica at the first grazing will result in lower total DM yields and harvested estimated metabolisable energy (ME) and crude protein per hectare for the growing season than do more lax grazing options that results in less DM removal at the first grazing. Total DM and estimated ME consumed over the growing period varied between years. In Year 1, more (P < 0.05) DM was consumed at the first grazing and less (P < 0.05) at the subsequent grazing for the high-intensity treatment. However, both total DM and estimated ME consumed were higher (P < 0.05) for the high-intensity treatment than for the low-intensity treatment, while in Year 2, there were no differences between the treatments. Nutritive characteristics and mineral concentrations were relatively unaffected by grazing regimes. The results of the present experiment indicated that the optimum grazing management to maximise total DM yields and consumption of spring-sown Winfred will vary depending on the seasonal growing conditions. In years where moisture stress will be limiting crop growth, a high defoliation-intensity first grazing that consumes a high proportion of DM on offer, including some of the main stem, will maximise the total DM grown and consumed from the crop. Care, however, should be taken not to remove all axillary buds from the remaining stems. In summers where moisture stress is not likely to seriously restrict crop growth, a medium defoliation-intensity grazing where the leaf and petiole, but little of the stem, are removed will maximise DM regrowth, leading to maximum total DM grown for the season. A high defoliation-intensity first grazing that removes at least half the stem is, under these conditions, likely to remove too many axillary buds and reduce water-soluble carbohydrate reserves required for DM regrowth, while a lax first grazing will result in a lower DM regrowth.