concentrate supplementation

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Ruelle E., Delaby L., Wallace M. and Shalloo L.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
Determining the impact of a change of management on differing farm characteristics is a significant challenge in the evolution of dairy systems, due to the interacting components of complex biological systems. In this study the impact of increased concentrate supplementation and/or an increase in grazing intensity is simulated to determine the effect on the farm system and its economic performance. Three different grazing systems (with three different stocking rates 1.9, 2.2 and 2.5 cows per hectare, three different post-grazing heights 5.2, 4.5 and 3.8 cm, three different nitrogen fertilisation rates 160, 200 and 250 kg per ha) and four different concentrate-supplementation strategies (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 Mg per lactation) resulting in 12 different scenarios were simulated. Three different models (Moorepark Grass Growth Model, Pasture Base Herd Dynamic Milk model and the Moorepark Dairy Systems Model) were integrated and simulated in order to simulate the different scenarios. Overall, this study has shown that increasing concentrate supplementation generally resulted in a reduction in farm profitability, while in general increasing grazing intensity resulted in an increase in farm profitability.

Bijeenkomst: EGF2015
Auteur: Foley C., Shortall J. and O’Brien B.
ISBN: 978-9090-289-61-8
Jaar van uitgifte: 2015
Producttype: Paper
Voluntary movement of cows from paddock to milking yard is an inherent aspect of an automatic milking system (AMS) integrated with grazing. The motivation for the cow to present at the milking yard, during the main grass-growing period, is the trained knowledge that they will be rewarded with fresh grass in a new paddock. In late-lactation concentrate supplementation assists in ensuring the cow receives adequate nutrition. Although the cow decides to present at the milking yard, AMS settings determine when the cow is milked based on milk yield and time since last milking. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of milking permission and concentrate supplementation on milk production and cow traffic. There were 4 treatments with combinations of milking permissions, 3.2 or 1.8 times per day and concentrate supplementation allowance of either 3 kg or 0.84 kg per day. This study has highlighted strategies to maintain consistent milk production and cow traffic in the latter stages of lactation, through adjusting AMS settings for concentration supplementation and milking permission.