The literature concerning the nutritional content of white clover as a grazed herbage or conserved crop offered to dairy cattle and aspects of frothy bloat are reviewed. In the first nine week change-over design experiment the effect on milk production and behaviour of spring calving dairy cows grazing white clover/grass swards at contrasting sward heights were examined. Grazing the clover/perennial ryegrass sward to a height of 4 cm increased clover content, but reduced milk production. The 8 cm sward increased milk yields by 15.8%. This was accompanied by an increase in fat and protein yields. Grazing time and biting rate were increased on the 4 cm sward. Cows offered choice between sward types produced intermediate milk production values. A second change-over design experiment conducted over 12 weeks examined milk production and behaviour of spring calving dairy cows in early lactation grazing perennial ryegrass or White clover/perennial ryegrass swards alone or offered a choice between the two sward types or grazed on clover/perennial ryegrass during the day and perennial ryegrass at night. The inclusion of clover in the diet of the dairy cows significantly increased milk production, but reduced fat content. Protein content, fat and protein yields were increased. Cows offered a choice or mixed day and night grazing regime produced similar results, which were intermediate between the clover/ryegrass and perennial ryegrass treatments. Grazing time was increased on clover/perennial ryegrass swards. This experiment also 1 demonstrated the ability of cows to adjust their grazing time to maximise herbage intake. The third experiment compared the value in relation to milk production of three different buffer forages fed to spring calving dairy cows in late lactation grazing either clover/ryegrass or ryegrass swards. The forages were ryegrass and ryegrass/clover silages and ryegrass hay. Milk yield and composition were not affected by forage type, but intakes were higher for grass silage for cows grazing clover/ryegrass swards and visa versa. Hay OM intake was low. The final experiment conducted over the first 15 weeks of the grazing season studied the effect of energy:protein concentration of strawmix supplements on the productivity of spring calving dairy cows grazing a high white clover sward. Milk yields were increased by the provision of a strawmix supplement. The energy:protein ratio had a significant effect on milk composition except fat content. The high energy:high protein supplement tended to precipitate ruminal tympany (bloat), while the low energy:high protein supplement tended to reduce ruminal tympany on this clover based sward. These experiments have given some insight into the use of clover and stimulated questions which require further investigation to enable the farmer to safely incorporate clover into dairy farming systems.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:305999 |
Date | January 1992 |
Creators | James, Nicola Lewis |
Publisher | Bangor University |
Source Sets | Ethos UK |
Detected Language | English |
Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Source | https://research.bangor.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/the-management-and-utilisation-of-white-cloverperennial-ryegrass-and-perennial-ryegrass-swards-in-relation-to-milk-production-and-behaviour-of-dairy-cattle(1a1a64ab-31af-40f0-9dcc-fd88c15e8795).html |
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