Nitrogen use efficiency, reticulo-ruminal pH and behaviour of lactating cows grazing either in a full-time system or in a part-time system with indoor feeding of fresh herbage and concentrate

Akert, Franziska; Kreuzer, M.; Hofstetter, P.; Berard, J.; Reidy, Beat (2020). Nitrogen use efficiency, reticulo-ruminal pH and behaviour of lactating cows grazing either in a full-time system or in a part-time system with indoor feeding of fresh herbage and concentrate The Journal of Agricultural Science, 158(6), pp. 527-538. Cambridge University Press 10.1017/S0021859620000891

Text nitrogen-use-efficiency-reticulo-ruminal-ph-and-behaviour-of-lactating-cows-grazing-either-in-a-full-time-system-or-in-a-part-time-system-with-indoor-feeding-of-fresh-herbage-and-concentrate.pdf - Published Version Restricted to registered users only Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (445kB) | Request a copy

Increasing herd size and fragmented or non-uniform land challenge pasture-based milk pro-duction systems. Therefore, part-time grazing combined with indoor feeding of fresh herbage(‘cut-and-carry’) allows to maintain the advantages of fresh-herbage-based diets. However,consequences for environmental nitrogen losses, animal behaviour and ruminal metabolismare decisive for its implementation. Animal performance, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), reti-culo-ruminal pH and feeding/locomotive behaviour were compared in six cows subjectedeither to full-time grazing (system F) or to part-time grazing system with indoor feeding offresh herbage and concentrate (system P). Biweekly samplings were performed on six lactatingcows per treatment in spring, summer and autumn. Nitrogen (N) balance was calculatedfrom estimated N intake and N output via faeces, urine and milk. Reticulo-ruminal pHwas recorded using a wireless data recorder. Eating and locomotive behaviour were measuredwith noseband sensors and pedometers. In spring, but not later, herbage intake per unit ofbody weight was higher for system F compared to system P cows. Eating time was shorterby 15% in P compared to F cows. Across systems, NUE declined from spring to summer/autumn from about 300 to 200 g milk protein N/kg N intake. Reticulo-ruminal pH was morevariable under part-time grazing conditions, with a pronounced decrease subsequent to offer-ing the herbage indoors. The part-time grazing system resulted in similar or higher NUE thanfull-time grazing. Additional studies with larger numbers of experimental units are required tobe able to develop comprehensive recommendations for the improvement of the two grazingsystems.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL > Agriculture School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL > Agriculture > Grasslands and Ruminant Production Systems
Name:	Akert, Franziska0000-0002-2571-2499; Kreuzer, M.; Hofstetter, P.; Berard, J. and Reidy, Beat0000-0002-8619-0209
Subjects:	S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General) S Agriculture > SB Plant culture S Agriculture > SF Animal culture
ISSN:	0021-8596
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Funders:	[UNSPECIFIED] Innosuisse - Suisse Innovation Agency ; [UNSPECIFIED] Bundesamt für Landwirtschaft Schweiz ; [UNSPECIFIED] Schweizer Milchproduzenten
Language:	English
Submitter:	Simon Lutz
Date Deposited:	21 Dec 2020 11:40
Last Modified:	22 Sep 2021 02:18
Publisher DOI:	10.1017/S0021859620000891
Uncontrolled Keywords:	cut and carry; fresh herbage; grazing; nitrogen use efficiency; reticulo-ruminal pH
ARBOR DOI:	10.24451/arbor.13953
URI:	https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/13953