Effect of feeding turnips to dairy cows grazing limited amounts of pasture in mid to late lactation on milksolids production

摘要

Three groups of 20 cows were allocated to one of three feeding treatments. A control group was offered only a restricted pasture allowance. Treatments groups were offered pasture and turnips at either 4 or 8 kg DM/cow/day. Cows offered 4 kg DM/cow and8 kg DM/cow of turnips produced 265 g MS/c/day (+- 24g) and 305 g MS/c/day (+- 24g) more than cows offered pasture only. The milksolids production of cows offered 8 kg DM/cow was not higher (P<0.05) than cows offered 4 kg DM as turnips. No difference (P<0.05) in liveweight or condition score was measured between treatment groups. In a second trial, three groups of 10 cows were offered 8 kg DM/cow of turnip. Treatments were turnips plus 10 kg pasture dry matter intake (DMI); turnips plus 7 kg pasture DMI and 3 kg DM of pasture silage; and turnips, 4 kg pasture DMI and 6 kg DM of pasture silage. Nutritional treatments did not increase (P<0.05) milksolids production, liveweight or conditions score, however, the high silage allowance reduced (P<0.05) animal performance.