Abstract

LEMUS RAMIREZ, Vicente et al. Milk production in dairy cows grazing alfalfa (Medicago sativa) in the central Mexican highlands. Rev. mex. de cienc. pecuarias [online]. 2020, vol.11, n.1, pp.1-18.  Epub June 11, 2020. ISSN 2448-6698.  https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v11i1.4814.

Pasture grazing and feed supplementation strategies can seriously affect milk production in dairy cows. An evaluation was done of the effects of environmental and grazing management factors on pasture productivity variables, and milk and milk solids (fat+protein+lactose) production in an alfalfa grazing system in central Mexico from 2009 to 2011. Data were collected on milk yield and composition, pre-grazing herbage mass (PHM), residual herbage mass (RHM), herbage disappearance rate (HDR), pasture growth rate (PGR), and stocking rate (SR), among other variables. Data on rainfall, temperature, and evapotranspiration at the experimental site was obtained from remote sensing databases. Grazing area increased and supplementation decreased from 2009 to 2011. Annual pasture dry matter production (t DM ha-1) was 17,343 in 2009, 14,649 in 2010, and 13,497 in 2011. Annual pasture utilization rate was 75 % in 2009, 71 % in 2010 and 73 % in 2011, while SR (cows ha-1) was 3.7 in 2009, 3.1 in 2010 and 2.7 in 2011. Milk production (19,290 in 2009, 13,419 in 2010, and 12,563 kg ha-1 in 2011) and milk solids (2,409 in 2009, 1,638 in 2010 and 1,554 kg ha-1 yr-1 in 2011) decreased over time. Based on a multiple regression, grazing interval and nighttime temperature explained PGR; daytime temperature and SR explained PHM; PGR, daytime temperature and feed energy explained milk yield; and HDR and feed energy explained milk solids yield. Feed supplement use is most needed during the 192-d window (October to April) when PGR is below average, and RHM needs to be between 400 and 500 kg DM ha-1 to maximize PGR in the following grazing cycle.

Keywords : Milk solids production; Grazing management; Alfalfa pastures.

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