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Increasing demands for land is necessitating the optimisation of grazing land used for livestock production. Hormonal growth promoter implants (HGPI) are widely used to improve cattle performance and thus land-use efficiency. However, there is limited information on their efficacy in grazing systems. Forty grazing steers, 10 of each breed (Angus, Hereford, Holstein, Overo Colorado), had growth rates monitored for 85 days after which half received HGPI and half continued as a control. Growth rates were monitored for an additional 61 days and performance between the groups compared. Implants had a significant impact on liveweight gain (LWG; p = 0.013), and whilst breed did not (p = 0.65), there was an interaction effect of breed × treatment (p = 0.029). For three of the four breeds, the LWG was greater in the implant group (mean +14.3%). The exception was for Holstein steers which did not respond to the implant. In general, HGPI were found to be effective in increasing LWG of grazing cattle and thus has the potential to increase yield densities and relieve pressures of land use and competition. The efficacy may be affected by breed and other extraneous factors not covered in this study. Furthermore, the use of HGPI must be carefully considered in a wider context since its use might have secondary impacts.
M. Jordana Rivero; Luis Araya; Marcelo Oyarzo; Andrew S. Cooke; Sarah A. Morgan; Veronica M. Merino. Efficacy of Hormonal Growth Promoter Implants on the Performance of Grazing Steers of Different Breeds in Southern Chile. Sustainability 2021, 13, 9135 .
AMA StyleM. Jordana Rivero, Luis Araya, Marcelo Oyarzo, Andrew S. Cooke, Sarah A. Morgan, Veronica M. Merino. Efficacy of Hormonal Growth Promoter Implants on the Performance of Grazing Steers of Different Breeds in Southern Chile. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (16):9135.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Jordana Rivero; Luis Araya; Marcelo Oyarzo; Andrew S. Cooke; Sarah A. Morgan; Veronica M. Merino. 2021. "Efficacy of Hormonal Growth Promoter Implants on the Performance of Grazing Steers of Different Breeds in Southern Chile." Sustainability 13, no. 16: 9135.
The aim was to determine the effect of the herbage allowance (HA) and supplement type (ST) on dry matter intake (DMI), milk production and composition, grazing behavior, rumen function, and blood metabolites of grazing dairy cows in the spring season. Experiment I: 64 Holstein Friesian dairy cows were distributed in a factorial design that tested two levels of daily HA (20 and 30 kg of dry matter (DM) per cow) and two ST (high moisture maize (HMM) and cracked wheat (CW)) distributed in two daily rations (3.5 kg DM/cow/day). Experiment II: four mid-lactation rumen cannulated cows, supplemented with either HMM or CW and managed with the two HAs, were distributed in a Latin square design of 4 × 4, for four 14-d periods to assess ruminal fermentation parameters. HA had no effect on milk production (averaging 23.6 kg/day) or milk fat and protein production (823 g/day and 800 g/day, respectively). Cows supplemented with CW had greater protein concentration (+1.2 g/kg). Herbage DMI averaged 14.17 kg DM/cow.day and total DMI averaged 17.67 kg DM/cow.day and did not differ between treatments. Grazing behavior activities (grazing, rumination, and idling times) and body condition score (BCS) were not affected by HA or ST. Milk and plasma urea concentration increased under the high HA (+0.68 mmol/L and +0.90 mmol/L, respectively). Cows supplemented with HMM had lower milk and plasma urea concentrations (0.72 mmol/L and 0.76 mmol/L less, respectively) and tended (p = 0.054) to have higher plasma β-hydroxybutyrate. Ruminal parameters did not differ between treatments.
Verónica Merino; Lorena Leichtle; Oscar Balocchi; Francisco Lanuza; Julián Parga; Rémy Delagarde; Miguel Ruiz-Albarrán; M. Rivero; Rubén Pulido. Metabolic and Productive Response and Grazing Behavior of Lactating Dairy Cows Supplemented with High Moisture Maize or Cracked Wheat Grazing at Two Herbage Allowances in Spring. Animals 2021, 11, 919 .
AMA StyleVerónica Merino, Lorena Leichtle, Oscar Balocchi, Francisco Lanuza, Julián Parga, Rémy Delagarde, Miguel Ruiz-Albarrán, M. Rivero, Rubén Pulido. Metabolic and Productive Response and Grazing Behavior of Lactating Dairy Cows Supplemented with High Moisture Maize or Cracked Wheat Grazing at Two Herbage Allowances in Spring. Animals. 2021; 11 (4):919.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVerónica Merino; Lorena Leichtle; Oscar Balocchi; Francisco Lanuza; Julián Parga; Rémy Delagarde; Miguel Ruiz-Albarrán; M. Rivero; Rubén Pulido. 2021. "Metabolic and Productive Response and Grazing Behavior of Lactating Dairy Cows Supplemented with High Moisture Maize or Cracked Wheat Grazing at Two Herbage Allowances in Spring." Animals 11, no. 4: 919.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects of daily herbage allowance (DHA, defined as the product of pre-grazing herbage mass and offered area per animal) on pasture conditions and milk production of Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. Forty-four early lactation dairy cows were randomly assigned to one of four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design that tested two levels of DHA (17 and 25 kg DM/cow.day) and two levels of maize silage supplementation (MSS, 4.5 and 9 kg DM/cow.day) over a 77-day period. Low DHA decreased the post-grazing herbage mass from 1546 to 1430 kg DM/ha and the compressed sward height from 5 to 4.4 cm, while the grazing efficiency remained unaffected. Low DHA induced a faster herbage mass reduction, while the sward-height and pasture characteristics did not differ from the high DHA regime. Low DHA decreased the tiller production rates and daily lamina growth, while the leaf-production rate was not affected by the DHA. Daily increases of herbage mass were greater in the high DHA than in the low DHA treatments. Individual milk production and milk protein concentration decreased at a low DHA compared to high DHA, while the milk fat concentration was greater and the milk output per hectare increased by 1510 kg. Neither the MSS level nor the interaction DHA by the MSS level had any effect on the sward characteristics or the productivity of the cows. From these results, it is suggested that, in a high-quality pasture, using 17 kg DM/cow.day was appropriate for improving both herbage utilization and milk production per hectare while maintaining the short-term conditions of a pasture grazed by dairy cows in the autumn.
Verónica M. Merino; Oscar A. Balocchi; M. Jordana Rivero; Rubén G. Pulido. Short-Term Effect of Daily Herbage Allowance Restriction on Pasture Condition and the Performance of Grazing Dairy Cows during Autumn. Animals 2019, 10, 62 .
AMA StyleVerónica M. Merino, Oscar A. Balocchi, M. Jordana Rivero, Rubén G. Pulido. Short-Term Effect of Daily Herbage Allowance Restriction on Pasture Condition and the Performance of Grazing Dairy Cows during Autumn. Animals. 2019; 10 (1):62.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVerónica M. Merino; Oscar A. Balocchi; M. Jordana Rivero; Rubén G. Pulido. 2019. "Short-Term Effect of Daily Herbage Allowance Restriction on Pasture Condition and the Performance of Grazing Dairy Cows during Autumn." Animals 10, no. 1: 62.
Grazing ruminant systems can be sustainably intensified by improving efficiency while reducing their environmental impact. The objective of the present study was to examine the potential of pastures differing in water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and crude protein (CP) contents to affect milk production and composition as well as the behaviour of cows grazing perennial ryegrass (PRG) swards. By modifying the nitrogen (N) fertilisation rate (83 and 250 kg/ha per year) and the defoliation frequency (two or three leaves per tiller) in combination with cultivar selection (high-sugar vs. standard cultivars), we obtained two swards differing in WSC and CP contents. The two contrasting swards were each grazed by six dairy cows in nine daily strips in autumn. Pasture samples were collected to determine herbage mass and quality. Cow behaviour was recorded by direct observation. Herbage offered and apparently consumed were similar between swards (averaging 37.3 and 18.2 kg/cow, respectively), although the residual was lower in the high-sugar sward (1735 vs. 2143 kg/ha). Cows spent less time grazing in the high-sugar sward (66.9% v. 71.6%), but the rumination times was similar (14.6%). Milk production and composition were similar between groups, suggesting that high-quality pastures would require a greater difference in nutritional composition to affect animal performance.
Verónica M. Merino; Oscar A. Balocchi; M. Jordana Rivero. Milk Production, Milk Quality, and Behaviour of Dairy Cows Grazing on Swards with Low and High Water-Soluble Carbohydrates Content in Autumn: A Pilot Trial. Animals 2019, 9, 1012 .
AMA StyleVerónica M. Merino, Oscar A. Balocchi, M. Jordana Rivero. Milk Production, Milk Quality, and Behaviour of Dairy Cows Grazing on Swards with Low and High Water-Soluble Carbohydrates Content in Autumn: A Pilot Trial. Animals. 2019; 9 (12):1012.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVerónica M. Merino; Oscar A. Balocchi; M. Jordana Rivero. 2019. "Milk Production, Milk Quality, and Behaviour of Dairy Cows Grazing on Swards with Low and High Water-Soluble Carbohydrates Content in Autumn: A Pilot Trial." Animals 9, no. 12: 1012.
Daily herbage allowance is recognised as the main tool to control pasture utilisation and milk production per cow. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term effects of daily herbage allowance (DHA) on pasture characteristics and milk production of dairy cows. Forty-four dairy cows were randomly assigned to one of four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design by considering two levels of DHA (20 and 30 kg DM/cow.day) and two types of supplements (high-moisture maize and maize silage) over a 77-day period. Pre- and post-grazing herbage masses, vertical distribution of herbage mass, species density, botanical and chemical composition, sward depletion and changes in morphological components of the pasture were measured. The effect of DHA on soil compaction was evaluated on the basis of the penetration resistance. Milk production and composition levels, bodyweights and body condition scores were recorded. Post-grazing residual declined as the level of DHA decreased, while grazing efficiency increased from 39.8% to 44.8%. We found no effects of DHA on any pasture characteristics, pasture regrowth or soil compaction. Low-DHA conditions induced a faster sward-height reduction, while the herbage mass remained unaffected. Individual milk production decreased with DHA. However, milk outputs per hectare increased by 2772 L/ha. Milk composition, bodyweight and body condition score were not affected by DHA. The results showed that DHA restriction decreases milk production per cow while increasing both herbage utilisation and milk production per hectare, without affecting long-term pasture condition.
Verónica Merino; O. A. Balocchi; R. G. Pulido. Pasture condition and milk production by grazing dairy cows as affected by daily herbage-allowance restriction. Animal Production Science 2019, 59, 1510 .
AMA StyleVerónica Merino, O. A. Balocchi, R. G. Pulido. Pasture condition and milk production by grazing dairy cows as affected by daily herbage-allowance restriction. Animal Production Science. 2019; 59 (8):1510.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVerónica Merino; O. A. Balocchi; R. G. Pulido. 2019. "Pasture condition and milk production by grazing dairy cows as affected by daily herbage-allowance restriction." Animal Production Science 59, no. 8: 1510.
The cumulative effects of daily herbage allowance (DHA) restriction on pasturecharacteristics and the sustainability of pasture-based dairy systems were evaluated. Sixty-four dairy cows were randomly assigned to one of two grazing treatments (20 and 30 kg DM cow-1 day-1). Milk yield and pre- and post-grazing herbage mass were recorded for every grazing event. Botanical and chemical compositions of the pasture were evaluated. Low DHA increased the stocking rate by 0.7 cows ha-1 and consequently increased grazing efficiency from 41 to 47%. Daily herbage allowance restriction did not affect pasture characteristics or milk production per cow, but DHA restriction increased milk production per hectare (+27%). The results suggest that restriction on daily herbage allowance ensures a higher level of herbage utilization and milk output per ha than high DHA, without affecting pasture characteristics. Therefore, DHA might be a useful grazing management tool for improving the profitability and sustainability of grazing-based dairy systems.
Verónica Merino; Universidad De Concepción; Oscar Balocchi; Rubén Pulido; Universidad Austral De Chile. Effect of daily herbage allowance restriction on pasture characteristics and milk production by grazing dairy cows in spring. Ciencia e investigación agraria 2018, 45, 21 -34.
AMA StyleVerónica Merino, Universidad De Concepción, Oscar Balocchi, Rubén Pulido, Universidad Austral De Chile. Effect of daily herbage allowance restriction on pasture characteristics and milk production by grazing dairy cows in spring. Ciencia e investigación agraria. 2018; 45 (1):21-34.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVerónica Merino; Universidad De Concepción; Oscar Balocchi; Rubén Pulido; Universidad Austral De Chile. 2018. "Effect of daily herbage allowance restriction on pasture characteristics and milk production by grazing dairy cows in spring." Ciencia e investigación agraria 45, no. 1: 21-34.
O. Balocchi; R. Pulido; Verónica Merino. Oferta diaria de pradera: Efecto sobre el rendimiento y calidad de la pradera y sobre la producción de leche por vaca y por hectárea. Agro Sur 2013, 41, 9 -16.
AMA StyleO. Balocchi, R. Pulido, Verónica Merino. Oferta diaria de pradera: Efecto sobre el rendimiento y calidad de la pradera y sobre la producción de leche por vaca y por hectárea. Agro Sur. 2013; 41 (2):9-16.
Chicago/Turabian StyleO. Balocchi; R. Pulido; Verónica Merino. 2013. "Oferta diaria de pradera: Efecto sobre el rendimiento y calidad de la pradera y sobre la producción de leche por vaca y por hectárea." Agro Sur 41, no. 2: 9-16.
Luis Latrille; Verónica Merino; Gonzalo Beels. PRODUCCIÓN DE TERNEROS "DE GRANO" ALIMENTADOS CON MAÍZ Y SUPLEMENTOS PROTEICOS. Agro Sur 2010, 38, 109 -117.
AMA StyleLuis Latrille, Verónica Merino, Gonzalo Beels. PRODUCCIÓN DE TERNEROS "DE GRANO" ALIMENTADOS CON MAÍZ Y SUPLEMENTOS PROTEICOS. Agro Sur. 2010; 38 (2):109-117.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuis Latrille; Verónica Merino; Gonzalo Beels. 2010. "PRODUCCIÓN DE TERNEROS "DE GRANO" ALIMENTADOS CON MAÍZ Y SUPLEMENTOS PROTEICOS." Agro Sur 38, no. 2: 109-117.