Effect of pasture allocation frequency on the milk production of Holstein grazing dairy cows

Summary

The objective of this study was to test the effect of two different pasture allocation frequencies (1 vs 7 days) on milk production of grazing dairy cows. Ten lactating Holstein cows were randomly assigned to the treatments in a 2×2 Latin square design with two 7-day periods repeated three times (autumn-winter, early and late spring). During autumn-winter all the cows had one grazing session and were supplemented with 10 kg DM of a mixed ration. In spring, the cows were not supplemented and were removed from the pasture only for milking. The pasture used was a mix of Festuca arundinacea, Lotus corniculatus and Trifolium repens. Neither milk production (27.0±2.38, 20.8±0.69 and 14.7±0.66 kg cow–1 day –1), post-grazing sward heights (10.6±0.23, 11.9±0.83 and 16.3±1.37 cm), nor daily grazing time (196±10, 535±22 and 592±14 min cow –1 day –1) were different between treatments in autumn-winter, early spring, and late spring, respectively. This finding opens a viable option for farmers to simplify daily management and reduce labour demands.