Summer Grazing and Winter Feeding Studies with Suckler Cows

Drennan, M. J.

doi:10.1007/978-94-009-6024-4_4

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

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“…Performance of the calves was not significantly influenced by the experimental period. This indicates that nutrient requirements of calves were widely covered on all pastures by milk and own forage nutrient intake (DRENNAN 1984) in the genotypes used. This is confirmed by the study of DRENNAN and MCGEE (2009), at least for lowland grazing conditions, where intensification and higher fertilisation of lowland pasture did not result in increased gains of suckler calves.…”

Section: Animal Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Alpine summer grazing is known to impair performance and metabolic status of dairy cows (BERRY et al 2001) but in turn might improve constitution, physical health and life-time performance of dairy cows when having experienced high-alpine grazing before the first parturition (RUHLAND 1983). Unless a slowly growing beef breed is used (BERRY et al 2002), mountainous pastures may also be limiting in terms of milk yield of suckler cows and maximal weight gain of their progeny (DRENNAN 1984), this directly in later stage of lactation when calves have to consume more forage (ESTERMANN et al 2002). Finally, extensive grasslands do not guarantee low N losses to the environment (SCHELLBERG et al 2007), and differences in body N and P retention might play an important role in N and P utilisation from forage of these grasslands as well as emissions of these nutrients from livestock husbandry.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Feed, N and P utilisation of Brown Swiss heifers in comparison with Angus and Simmental suckler cows with their progeny grazing mountain pastures

et al. 2010

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Abstract. The aim of the present study was to compare intake and nutrient turnover in two major production systems on mountainous pastures, suckler beef production and rearing of heifers. Data from 4 × 6 Angus or Simmental suckler beef cows with Angus sired calves were opposed to those measured in six growing Brown Swiss heifers applying a contrast model. In each of two vegetative seasons (years A and B) animals were kept together on three mountainous pastures, P1 (1 000 m a.s.l.), P2 and P3 (both 2 000 m a.s.l.), providing either first growth (P1, P2) or re-growth herbage (P3). Intake and herbage digestibility were estimated by the double alkane indicator technique. On average of the two years, the cows together with their progeny weighed 741 kg and the heifers 374 kg. The average daily body weight gain in beef calves (1 044 g) was twice of that measured in the heifers (546 g). Body weight of the cows remained quite constant on average. Dry matter intakes were 17.0 and 8.2 kg/d, and 118 and 96 g/kg0.75 body weight in suckler cows with progeny and heifers, respectively. On all pastures, cattle of both categories selected herbage of similar energy and protein content. Digestibilities of organic matter (73–74 %) and fibre (NDF, 69 %) were similar between categories, though differing among pastures. Nitrogen utilisation was equal in both categories (8 % of intake), but varied among pastures (11 %, 8 % and 5 % on P1, P2 and P3, respectively) and years (11 % and 6 % in years A and B) due to different herbage N contents and intakes. When related to intake, also excretion of faecal and urinary N was equal in both categories. Faecal P losses relative to weight gain were similar in both categories but differed between pastures and years. The results demonstrated unexpectedly similar nutrient use efficiencies and relative N and P losses of the two livestock system options currently common in utilising of mountainous pasture.

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Section: Animal Performancementioning

confidence: 99%