The effects of herbage allowance on pasture characteristics and milk production of dairy cows

Figures & data

Figure 1. Weather conditions during the experiment (January 2010–December 2010).

Table 1. Growth rate by season (kg DM ha⁻¹day⁻¹) and annual means of high (HA), medium (MA) and low (LA) herbage allowance.

Season	HA	MA	LA
Autumn	60 ± 5.2 a	50 ± 5.2 ab	46 ± 5.2 b
Winter	43 ± 5.2	55 ± 5.2	42 ± 5.2
Spring	38 ± 5.2 b	57 ± 5.2 ab	56 ± 5.2 a
Summer	18 ± 5.2	19 ± 5.2	24 ± 5.2
Annual means	40.0 ± 4.4	45.4 ± 4.4	42.2 ± 4.4

Notes: Means followed by the same letter in rows do not differ by the Tukey test (P < .05). Values are expressed as mean ± SD.

Table 2. Forage accumulation (kg DM ha⁻¹) by season and annual means for high (HA), medium (MA) and low (LA) herbage allowance.

Season	HA	MA	LA
Autumn	5491 ± 475 a	4522 ± 475 ab	4211 ± 475 b
Winter	4022 ± 475	5117 ± 475	3898 ± 475
Spring	3462 ± 475 b	5168 ± 475 ab	5051 ± 475 a
Summer	1645 ± 475	1770 ± 475	2214 ± 475
Annual accumulation	14,620 ± 571	16,576 ± 571	15,373 ± 571

Notes: Means followed by the same letter in rows do not differ by the Tukey test (P < .05). Values are expressed as mean ± SD.

Figure 2. Botanical composition of high (HA), medium (MA) and low (LA) herbage allowance during seasons.

Table 3. Percentage of uncovered soil (%) and annual means for high (HA), medium (MA) and low (LA) herbage allowance.

Season	HA	MA	LA
Autumn	17.9 ± 8.0	19.8 ± 8.0	24.2 ± 8.0
Winter	17.6 ± 8.0	19.8 ± 8.0	13.1 ± 8.0
Spring	16.2 ± 8.0	12.7 ± 8.0	7.7 ± 8.0
Summer	32.3 ± 8.0	45.9 ± 8.0	55.1 ± 8.0
Means	21.0 ± 4.0	24.2 ± 4.0	25.6 ± 4.0

Notes: Means followed by the same letter in rows do not differ by the Tukey test (P < .05). Values are expressed as mean ± SD.

Table 4. Botanical composition (%) and percentage of coverage of uncovered soil (%) according to high (HA), medium (MA) and low (LA) herbage allowance.

	Autumn	Winter	Spring	Summer
Fescue	58.0 ± 2.4	54.5 ± 2.4 a	56.0 ± 2.4 a	40.7 ± 2.4 b
Legume	19.8 ± 1.3 c	26.4 ± 1.3 b	36.4 ± 1.3 a	5.4 ± 1.3 d
Invasive species	8.9 ± 3.0 b	5.8 ± 3.0 b	2.1 ± 3.0 b	35.6 ± 3.0 a
Dead material	12.7 ± 1.8 b	12.0 ± 1.8 b	10.3 ± 1.8 b	31.7 ± 1.8 a
Uncovered soil	20.6 ± 2.9 b	16.5 ± 2.9 b	12.8 ± 2.9 b	44.5 ± 2.9 a

Notes: Means followed by the same letter in rows do not differ by the Tukey test (P < .05). Values are expressed as mean ± SD.

Table 5. Stocking rate (cows ha⁻¹) per season and for whole year of high (HA), medium (MA) and low (LA) herbage allowance.

Season	HA	MA	LA
Autumn	1.8 ± 0.2 b	2.3 ± 0.2 ab	2.8 ± 0.2 a
Winter	1.7 ± 0.2 a	1.5 ± 0.2 a	0.7 ± 0.2 b
Spring	3.3 ± 0.2	3.7 ± 0.2	3.5 ± 0.2
Summer	0 ± 0.2	0 ± 0.2	0 ± 0.2
Means	1.7 ± 0.1	1.9 ± 0.1	1.7 ± 0.1

Notes: Means followed by the same letter in rows do not differ by the Tukey test (P < .05). Values are expressed as mean ± SD.

Table 6. Milk production (L ha⁻¹) by season, and total for the year of high (HA), medium (MA) and low (LA) herbage allowance.

Season	HA	MA	LA
Autumn	2872 ± 147 b	3730 ± 147 a	3998 ± 147 a
Winter	3541 ± 147 a	3541 ± 147 a	1180 ± 147 b
Spring	5129 ± 147 b	5985 ± 147 a	6210 ± 147 a
Summer	0 ± 147	0 ± 147	0 ± 147
Total	11,542 ± 290 B	13,256 ± 290 A	11,392 ± 290 B

Notes: Means followed by the same letter in rows do not differ by the Tukey test (P < .05). Values are expressed as mean ± SD.