Supplementation of dairy cows with commercial concentrate or ground maize grain under cut-and-carry or grazing of cultivated pastures in small-scale systems in the highlands of central Mexico
J. Velarde-Guillén A , J. G. Estrada-Flores A , A. A. Rayas-Amor B , F. Vicente C , A. Martínez-Fernández C , D. Heredia-Nava D , M. D. Celis-Alvarez A , I. K. Aguirre-Ugarte A , E. Galindo-González A and C. M. Arriaga-Jordán A E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Rurales (ICAR), Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEMex), Instituto Literario #100, Col. Centro, 50000, Toluca, Estado de México, México.
B Departamento de Ciencias de la Alimentación (DCA), División de Ciencias Biológicas y de la salud (CBS), Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Lerma (UAM-L), Av. Hidalgo poniente #46, Col. La Estación, 52006, Lerma de Villada, Estado de México, México.
C Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Carretera Oviedo s/n, 33300 Villaviciosa, Asturias, España.
D Investigador de Cátedras CONACYT, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Centro Universitario de Los Altos (CUALTOS), Universidad de Guadalajara, Carretera a Yahualica, Km. 7.5, C.P. 47600, Tepatitlán de Morelos, Jalisco, México.
E Corresponding author. Email: cmarriagaj@uaemex.mx
Animal Production Science 59(2) 368-375 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN15375
Submitted: 22 July 2014 Accepted: 31 October 2017 Published: 8 January 2018
Abstract
Small-scale dairy systems (SSDS) in Mexico represent over 78% of dairy farms and 37% of milk production. In the central highlands, many SSDS base the feeding of herds on irrigated cultivated pastures (mostly cut-and-carry), straws, and large amounts of commercial concentrates that result in high feeding costs and low economic sustainability. Intensive grazing may result in lower feeding costs when compared with cut-and-carry strategies. The high protein content of pasture may meet requirements of dairy cows with moderate milk yield (16–20 kg milk/cow.day), so that lower protein supplements, like ground maize grain, may substitute for commercial concentrates. An on-farm experiment following a participatory rural research approach was undertaken with seven farmers evaluating commercial concentrate (CC) or ground maize grain (MG) as supplement; and two pasture managements, grazing (G) or cut-and-carry (C) of irrigated ryegrass/white clover pastures to assess productive performance and feeding costs. Six farmers participated with four milking cows each and one farmer with two groups of four milking cows in a 2 by 2 factorial experiment. Daily milk yield per cow before the experiment was used as covariate. The experiment lasted 12 weeks. There is a trend in G for higher protein content in milk (P < 0.10). CC showed higher body condition score than MG with a significant interaction for body condition score with the highest body condition score in CCC (P < 0.05). Feeding costs were 15% higher per kg of milk yield and 19% per kg of energy-corrected milk under cut-and-carry but no statistical differences were detected (P > 0.05) in comparison with the grazing strategy. Supplementing with home-grown ground maize grain resulted in 28.5% higher margins per kg of milk produced. Implementing grazing involves less work burden for small-scale dairy farmers, and combined with home-grown grains as supplement is a viable option that may reduce feeding costs in these systems.
Additional keywords: feeding costs, ryegrass-white clover pastures, participatory livestock research, rural development.
References
Albarrán B, Garcia A, Espinoza A, Espinosa E, Arriaga CM (2012) Maize silage in the dry season for grazing dairy cows in small-scale production systems in Mexico’s highlands. Indian Journal of Animal Research 46, 317–324.Alfonso-Ávila AR, Wattiaux MA, Espinoza-Ortega A, Sánchez-Vera E, Arriaga-Jordán CM (2012) Local feeding strategies and milk composition in small-scale dairy production systems during the rainy season in the highlands of Mexico. Tropical Animal Health and Production 44, 637–644.
| Local feeding strategies and milk composition in small-scale dairy production systems during the rainy season in the highlands of Mexico.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Anaya-Ortega JP, Garduño-Castro G, Espinoza-Ortega A, Rojo-Rubio R, Arriaga-Jordán CM (2009) Silage from maize (Zea mays), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) or their mixture in the dry season feeding of grazing dairy cows in small-scale dairy production systems in the highlands of Mexico. Tropical Animal Health and Production 41, 607–616.
| Silage from maize (Zea mays), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) or their mixture in the dry season feeding of grazing dairy cows in small-scale dairy production systems in the highlands of Mexico.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD1M3htlGltg%3D%3D&md5=1e45e87dd972ae8f2c7c0a0c1fbf6494CAS |
Arriaga-Jordán CM, Albarrán-Portillo B, García-Martínez A, Castelán-Ortega OA (2002) On-farm comparison of feeding strategies based on forages for small-scale dairy production systems in the highlands of central Mexico. Experimental Agriculture 38, 375–388.
| On-farm comparison of feeding strategies based on forages for small-scale dairy production systems in the highlands of central Mexico.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Auldist MJ, Marett LC, Greenwood JS, Hannah M, Jacobs JL, Wales WJ (2013) Effects of different strategies for feeding supplements on milk production responses in cows grazing a restricted pasture allowance. Journal of Dairy Science 96, 1218–1231.
| Effects of different strategies for feeding supplements on milk production responses in cows grazing a restricted pasture allowance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38Xhsl2isrrP&md5=91d003f416bc15dce5eae869a6a0d6f6CAS |
Auldist MJ, Marett LC, Greenwood JS, Wright GM, Hannah M, Jacobs JL, Wales WJ (2014) Replacing wheat with canola meal in a partial mixed ration increases the milk production of cows grazing at a restricted pasture allowance in spring. Animal Production Science 54, 869–878.
Chaney AL, Marbach EP (1962) Modified reagents for determination of urea and ammonia. Clinical Chemistry 8, 130–132.
Conroy C (2005) ‘Participatory livestock research.’ (ITDG Publishing: Bourton-on-Dunsmore, Warwickshire, UK)
Dillon JL, Hardaker JB (1980) ‘Farm management research for small farmer development.’ FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin 41. (Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): Rome)
Duncan AJ, Teufel N, Mekonnen K, Singh VK, Bitew A, Gebremedhin B (2013) Dairy intensification in developing countries: effects of market quality on farm-level feeding ad breeding practices. Animal 7, 2054–2062.
| Dairy intensification in developing countries: effects of market quality on farm-level feeding ad breeding practices.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC2c%2FjsFKltg%3D%3D&md5=a3b7adb1fc98a6e2efd2c8ca59869908CAS |
Espinoza-Ortega A, Espinosa-Ayala E, Bastida-López J, Castañeda-Martínez T, Arriaga-Jordán CM (2007) Small-scale dairy farming in the highlands of central Mexico: technical, economic and social aspects and their impact on poverty. Experimental Agriculture 43, 241–256.
| Small-scale dairy farming in the highlands of central Mexico: technical, economic and social aspects and their impact on poverty.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fadul-Pacheco L, Wattiaux MA, Espinoza-Ortega A, Sánchez-Vera E, Arriaga-Jordán CM (2013) Evaluation of sustainability of smallholder dairy production systems in the highlands of Mexico during the rainy season. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 37, 882–901.
| Evaluation of sustainability of smallholder dairy production systems in the highlands of Mexico during the rainy season.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2010) ‘Status and prospects for smallholder milk production a global perspective.’ (Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): Rome, Italy)
Garduño-Castro Y, Espinoza-Ortega A, González-Esquivel CE, Mateo-Salazar B, Arriaga-Jordán CM (2009) Intercropped oats (Avena sativa) – common vetch (Vicia sativa) silage in the dry season for small-scale dairy systems in the highlands of Central Mexico. Tropical Animal Health and Production 41, 827–834.
| Intercropped oats (Avena sativa) – common vetch (Vicia sativa) silage in the dry season for small-scale dairy systems in the highlands of Central Mexico.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Granzin BC (2004) Effects of supplement grain type and level of feeding on the milk production of early-lactation Holstein-Friesian cows grazing temperate and tropical pastures. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 44, 735–743.
| Effects of supplement grain type and level of feeding on the milk production of early-lactation Holstein-Friesian cows grazing temperate and tropical pastures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hanson JC, Johnson DM, Lichtenberg E, Minegishi K (2013) Competitiveness of management-intensive grazing dairies in the mid-Atlantic region from 1995 to 2009. Journal of Dairy Science 96, 1894–1904.
| Competitiveness of management-intensive grazing dairies in the mid-Atlantic region from 1995 to 2009.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXntFGitg%3D%3D&md5=5de34b6aaf6cf88d6270711bfc246b79CAS |
Harter HL (1960) Critical values for Duncan’s new multiple range test. International Biometric Society 16, 671–685.
| Critical values for Duncan’s new multiple range test.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hellin J, Erenstain O, Beuchelt T, Camacho C, Flores D (2013) Maize stover use and sustainable crop production in mixed crop–livestock systems in Mexico. Field Crops Research 153, 12–21.
| Maize stover use and sustainable crop production in mixed crop–livestock systems in Mexico.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hemme T, IFCN (Dairy Team and IFCN Researchers) (2007) IFCN Dairy Report 2007, International Farm Comparison Network. IFCN Dairy Research Center, Kiel, Germany.
Heredia-Nava D, Espinoza-Ortega A, González-Esquivel CE, Arriaga-Jordán CM (2007) Feeding strategies for small-scale dairy systems based on perennial (Lolium perenne) or annual (Lolium multiflorum) ryegrass in the central highlands of Mexico. Tropical Animal Health and Production 39, 179–188.
| Feeding strategies for small-scale dairy systems based on perennial (Lolium perenne) or annual (Lolium multiflorum) ryegrass in the central highlands of Mexico.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2svnsVWisw%3D%3D&md5=fc60c676118524169883b50dd8c9fc89CAS |
Hernández-Mendo O, Leaver JD (2004) Effect of replacing time available for grazing with time available for eating maize silage and soybean meal on milk yield and feeding behaviour in dairy cows. Grass and Forage Science 59, 318–330.
| Effect of replacing time available for grazing with time available for eating maize silage and soybean meal on milk yield and feeding behaviour in dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hodgson J (1990) ‘Grazing management: science into practice.’ (Longman Scientific and Technical: Harlow)
Jenkins TC, McGuire MA (2006) Major advances in nutrition: impact on milk composition. Journal of Dairy Science 89, 1302–1310.
| Major advances in nutrition: impact on milk composition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28Xjt1Sjsbw%3D&md5=a126a8d01495ba1f04a2e01c9dd88502CAS |
Jones B, Nachtsheim CJ (2009) Split-plot designs: what, why and how. Journal of Quality Technology 41, 340–361.
Kaps M, Lamberson WR (2004) ‘Biostatistics for animal science.’ (CABI Publishing: Wallingford, UK)
Kaufmann LD, Dohme-Meier F, Münger A, Bruckmaier RM, van Dorland HA (2012) Metabolism of grazed vs. zero-grazed dairy cows throughout the vegetation period: hepatic and blood plasma parameters. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 96, 228–236.
| Metabolism of grazed vs. zero-grazed dairy cows throughout the vegetation period: hepatic and blood plasma parameters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XmtVKjt7w%3D&md5=04299c9ec7262c10382ac85e0422763dCAS |
Lithourgidis AS, Vasilakoglou IB, Dhima KV, Dordas MD, Yiakoulaki CA (2006) Forage yield and quality of common vetch mixtures with oat and triticale in two seeding ratios. Field Crops Research 99, 106–113.
| Forage yield and quality of common vetch mixtures with oat and triticale in two seeding ratios.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Macoon B, Sollenberger LE, Moore JE, Staples CR, Fike JH, Portier KM (2003) Comparison of three techniques for estimating the forage intake of lactating dairy cows on pasture. Journal of Animal Science 81, 2357–2366.
| Comparison of three techniques for estimating the forage intake of lactating dairy cows on pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXmvVegtr4%3D&md5=7448d76b25c3aadf70dcb602ea0f1074CAS |
Martínez-García CG, Rayas-Amor AA, Anaya-Ortega JP, Martínez-Castañeda FE, Espinoza-Ortega A, Prospero-Bernal F, Arriaga-Jordán CM (2015) Performance of small-scale dairy farms in the highlands of central Mexico during the dry season under traditional feeding strategies. Tropical Animal Health and Production 47, 331–337.
| Performance of small-scale dairy farms in the highlands of central Mexico during the dry season under traditional feeding strategies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McClements DJ (1991) Ultrasonic characterisation of emulsions and suspensions. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science 37, 33–72.
| Ultrasonic characterisation of emulsions and suspensions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK38Xks1Ogsg%3D%3D&md5=e949b1b1c60eed179e0f0cf38c1088acCAS |
Pérez-Prieto LA, Peyraud JL, Delagarde R (2011a) Substitution rate and milk yield response to corn silage supplementation of late-lactation dairy cows grazing low-mass pastures at 2 daily allowances in autumn. Journal of Dairy Science 94, 3592–3604.
| Substitution rate and milk yield response to corn silage supplementation of late-lactation dairy cows grazing low-mass pastures at 2 daily allowances in autumn.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pérez-Prieto LA, Peyraud JL, Delagarde R (2011b) Pasture intake, milk production and grazing behaviour of dairy cows grazing low-mass pastures at three daily allowances in winter. Livestock Science 137, 151–160.
| Pasture intake, milk production and grazing behaviour of dairy cows grazing low-mass pastures at three daily allowances in winter.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Peyraud JL, Delagarde R (2013) Managing variations in dairy cow nutrient supply under grazing. Animal 7, 57–67.
| Managing variations in dairy cow nutrient supply under grazing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXjsFeitrg%3D&md5=0cac71bc292a7d414e6c0d77c6ba72baCAS |
Pincay-Figueroa PE, López-González F, Velarde-Guillpen J, Heredia-Nava D, Martínez-Castañeda FE, Vicente F, Martínez-Fernández A, Arriaga-Jordán CM (2016) Cut and carry vs. grazing of cultivated pastures in small-scale dairy systems in the central highlands of Mexico. Journal of Agriculture and Environment for International Development 110, 349–363.
Powell JM, Wattiaux MA, Broderick GA (2011) Evaluation of milk urea nitrogen as a management tool to reduce ammonia emissions from dairy farms. Journal of Dairy Science 94, 4690–4694.
| Evaluation of milk urea nitrogen as a management tool to reduce ammonia emissions from dairy farms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhtV2gsb%2FM&md5=c0deb42fdc8549c3668ca3ff898ffe34CAS |
Prospero-Bernal F, Martínez-García CG, Olea-Pérez R, López-González F, Arriaga-Jordán CM (2017) Intensive grazing and maize silage to enhance the sustainability of small-scale dairy systems in the highlands of Mexico. Tropical Animal Health and Production
| Intensive grazing and maize silage to enhance the sustainability of small-scale dairy systems in the highlands of Mexico.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sánchez-Gutiérrez RA, Gutiérrez-Bañuelos H, Serna-Pérez A, Gutiérrez-Luna R, Espinoza-Canales A (2014) Yield and forage quality of oats varieties under rainfed conditions in Zacatecas, Mexico. Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Pecuarias 5, 131–142.
Stroup WW, Hidebrand PE, Francis CA (1993) Farmer participation for more effective research in sustainable agriculture. In ‘Technologies for sustainable agriculture in the tropics’. (Eds J Ragland, R Lai) pp. 153–186. (American society of Agronomy Inc., Crop Science Society of America Inc., Soil Society of America Inc.: Madison, WI)
Wattiaux MA, Nordheim EV, Crump P (2005) Statistical evaluation of factors and interactions affecting dairy herd improvement milk urea nitrogen in commercial midwest dairy herds. Journal of Dairy Science 88, 3020–3035.
| Statistical evaluation of factors and interactions affecting dairy herd improvement milk urea nitrogen in commercial midwest dairy herds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXmsFejtrs%3D&md5=e5efa615bc7fd9df07c81ea97444ee73CAS |
Wildman EE, Jones GM, Wagner PE, Boman MY (1982) A dairy cow body condition scoring systems and its relationship to selected production characteristics. Journal of Dairy Science 65, 495–501.
| A dairy cow body condition scoring systems and its relationship to selected production characteristics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
