The effect of herbage allowance on the dry matter intake and
milk production of dairy cows
C.B. Glassey, A.W.F. Davey, C.W. Holmes
Massey University, Palmerston North
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1980, 40: 59-63
Three groups of six cows were offered daily herbage allowances
of 52.7, 33.2 and 13.5 kg DM/cow for a 5-week period in early lactation.
These allowances resulted in apparent intakes of 16.3, 14.3 and 9.6 kg
DM/cow, and residual yields after grazing of 1850, 1550 and 750 kg
DM/ha. The cows offered the higher allowance had greater liveweight
gains (P<0.1) than those on the moderate allowance, but there was no
significant difference in components of milk production. The low
allowance cows produced significantly less milk and lost liveweight and
body condition. There were no significant differences in milkfat
production among the three groups during the 29-week period from the end
of the experiment until the end of the lactation.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Last Updated 12-09-1998
