June 2015
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Livestock Science
The aim of this study was to assess the effect of three alfalfa pasture herbage allowances on milk yield and composition during autumn-winter grazing season on early autumn calving dairy cows. Eighteen multiparous Holstein dairy cows were assigned to one of three treatments in a 3 × 3 Latin square design: low herbage allowance (14 kg DM/cow; LHA), medium herbage allowance (27 kg DM/cow; MHA) and high herbage allowance (41 kg DM/cow; HHA). Dry matter disappearance was lower at LHA although remained similar between MHA and HHA (P<0.05). However, as herbage allowance (HA) increased, lower grazing efficiencies (as the proportion of material removed) were registered (P<0.05). Total dry matter intake (DMI; kg/d) was also lowest for LHA and similar between the other two treatments (P<0.05). Milk yield, 4%FCM, milk fat (g/kg) and casein (g/kg) tended to increase from LHA to HHA (P<0.10). Cows at LHA tended to loss weight whilst cows at MHA and HHA had a tendency to increase BW according the season progressed (P<0.10). In summary, managing cows at HHA will allow cows to a slightly increase in individual milk production and BW gain but in detriment of herbage utilization and potentially, milk production per hectare.