Digestion and nitrogen excretion by Holstein-Friesian cows fed grasses with lucerne or lucerne and plantain
Garry Waghorn A C , Amelia Griffin A , Mark Bryant A and Dawn Dalley
B D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A DairyNZ, Corner Ruakura and Morrinsville Roads, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand.
B DairyNZ, PO Box 85066, Lincoln University, 7647, New Zealand.
C 6 Berkley Avenue, Hamilton 3216, New Zealand.
D Corresponding author. Email: dawn.dalley@dairynz.co.nz
Animal Production Science 59(6) 1070-1080 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN18105
Submitted: 8 February 2018 Accepted: 22 May 2018 Published: 1 August 2018
Abstract
Forages and forage mixtures with greater tolerance of dry conditions than perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) are desirable for dairy farming in New Zealand, and a low urinary nitrogen (N) excretion is desirable to lessen pollution of waterways and ground water, and nitrous oxide emissions. Measurements were undertaken with late-lactation Holstein-Friesian cows (5/treatment) fed tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) with a substantial incursion of weed grasses, as either a sole diet (Grass), or with lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) or lucerne and plantain (Plantago lancelota L.), in metabolism stalls. Approximate ratios (DM basis) of Grass with lucerne (GL) were 55 : 45, and Grass with lucerne and plantain (GLP) were 55 : 25 : 20. Measurements included intakes, production, digestion, rumen function, and urinary excretion, including the circadian patterns of metabolite excretion with a focus on nitrogenous aspects. The DM intakes (kg/day) of cows fed Grass, GL and GLP were 14.9, 12.7 and 15.0 (P = 0.006), and DM digestibility (%) was 58.0, 59.8 and 61.9 (P = 0.006), respectively. Milk yields (kg/day) were Grass, 9.0; GL, 8.7 and GLP, 11.7 (P = 0.003) but composition was not affected by diet. Rumen digesta weight was greatest in cows fed Grass, averaging 23.4% of liveweight after morning feeding. The microbial growth (g/kg organic matter digested) was 16.8 in cows fed Grass and ~24.0 in the other diets. Dietary crude protein concentrations (g/100 g DM) were Grass, 15.4, GL, 20.1 and GLP, 18.3 and urinary N excretion (g/day) was lowest with the Grass diet but urinary N concentration was lowest from cows fed GLP. Daily creatinine excretion was unaffected by diet but there was a 2-fold range in excretion rates within 24 h and values from cows fed fresh forages are lower than published values from cows fed dry diets. Results showed that supplementation of poor quality pasture with lucerne or lucerne with plantain had minor effects on digestibility, and measurements of urinary N suggest a need for caution when predicting urinary N excretion from spot urine sampling in grazing trials.
Additional keywords: alfalfa, digesta particle size, rumen function, urinary nitrogen.
References
Allen MS (2014) Drivers and limits to feed intake in ruminants. Animal Production Science 54, 1513–1524.| Drivers and limits to feed intake in ruminants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Aufrère J, Dudilieu M, Poncet C (2008) In vivo and in situ measurements of the digestive characteristics of sainfoin in comparison with lucerne fed to sheep as fresh forages at two growth stages and as hay. Animal 2, 1331–1339.
| In vivo and in situ measurements of the digestive characteristics of sainfoin in comparison with lucerne fed to sheep as fresh forages at two growth stages and as hay.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Beukes PC, Palliser CC, Macdonald KA, Lancaster JAS, Levey G, Thorrold BS, Wastney ME (2008) Evaluation of a whole-farm model for pasture-based dairy systems. Journal of Dairy Science 91, 2353–2360.
| Evaluation of a whole-farm model for pasture-based dairy systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Box LA, Edwards GR, Bryant RH (2016) Milk production and urinary nitrogen excretion of dairy cows grazing perennial ryegrass-white clover and pure plantain-pastures. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 76, 18–21.
Campbell B, Wardle DA, Woods PW, Field TRO, Williamson DY, Barker GM (1996) Ecology of subtropical grasses in temperate pastures: an overview. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 57, 189–197.
Chen XB, Gomes MJ (1992) Estimation of microbial protein supply to sheep and cattle based on urinary excretion of purine derivatives – an overview of the technical details. Occasional publication. International Feed Resources Unit, Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen.
Clark DA, Caradus JR, Monaghan RM, Sharp P, Thorrold BS (2007) Issues and options for future dairy farming in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 50, 203–221.
| Issues and options for future dairy farming in New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clement AR, Dalley DE, Chapman DF, Edwards GR, Bryant RH (2016) Effect of grazing system on nitrogen partitioning in lactating dairy cows grazing irrigated pastures in Canterbury, New Zealand. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 76, 94–99.
De Klein CAM, Pinares-Patino CS, Waghorn GC (2008) Greenhouse gas emissions. In ‘Environmental impacts of pasture-based grazing’. (Ed. RW McDowell) pp. 1–32. (CAB International: Wallingford, UK)
Foote KJ, Joy MK, Death RG (2015) New Zealand dairy farming: milking our environment for all its worth. Environmental Management 56, 709–720.
| New Zealand dairy farming: milking our environment for all its worth.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gregorini P, Galli J, Romera AJ, Levy G, Macdonald KA, Fernandez HH, Beukes PC (2014) Incorporating a prediction of post-grazing herbage mass into a whole-farm model for pasture-based dairy systems. Journal of Dairy Science 97, 4354–4366.
| Incorporating a prediction of post-grazing herbage mass into a whole-farm model for pasture-based dairy systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gregorini P, Villalba J, Provenza F, Beukes PC, Forbes J (2015) Modelling preference and diet selection patterns by grazing ruminants: a development in a mechanistic model of a grazing dairy cow, MINDY. Animal Production Science 55, 360–375.
| Modelling preference and diet selection patterns by grazing ruminants: a development in a mechanistic model of a grazing dairy cow, MINDY.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gregorini P, Beukes PC, Dalley D, Romera AJ (2016) Screening for diets that reduce urinary nitrogen excretion and methane emissions while maintaining or increasing production by dairy cows. The Science of the Total Environment 551–552, 32–41.
| Screening for diets that reduce urinary nitrogen excretion and methane emissions while maintaining or increasing production by dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Harris SL, Penno JW, Bryant AM (1994) Effects of high rates of fertiliser on dairy pastures and production. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 56, 27–31.
Horowitz W, Latimer GW (2005) ‘Official methods of analysis of AOAC International.’ 18th edn. (Association of Official Analytical Chemists: Gaithersburg, MD)
International VSN (2013) ‘Genstat for Windows.’ 16th edn. (VSN International: Hemel Hempstead, UK)
Jackson FS, McNabb WC, Peters JS, Barry TN, Campbell BD, Ulyatt MJ (1996) Nutritive value of subtropical grasses invading North Island pastures. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 57, 203–206.
Lüscher A, Mueller-Harvey I, Soussana JF, Rees RM, Peyraud JL (2013) Potential of legume-based grassland-livestock systems in Europe. In ‘Proceedings of the 17th Symposium of the European Grassland Federation’, 23–26 June 2013, Akureyri, Iceland. pp. 3–39. Available at http://www.europeangrassland.org/printed-matter/proceedings.html [Verified 20 January 2018]
Macdonald KA, Penno JW, Lancaster JAS, Roche JR (2008) Effect of stocking rate on pasture production, milk production and reproduction of dairy cows in pasture-based systems. Journal of Dairy Science 91, 2151–2163.
| Effect of stocking rate on pasture production, milk production and reproduction of dairy cows in pasture-based systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Marini JC, Van Amburgh ME (2005) Partition of nitrogen excretion in urine and the faeces of Holstein replacement heifers. Journal of Dairy Science 88, 1778–1784.
| Partition of nitrogen excretion in urine and the faeces of Holstein replacement heifers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Monaghan RM (2009) The environmental impacts of non-irrigated, pasture-based dairy farming. ‘In Impacts of pastoral grazing on the environment’. (Ed. R McDowell) pp. 209–231. (CAB International: Wallingford, UK)
Moorby JM, Dewhurst RJ, Evans RT, Danelon JL (2006) Effects of dairy cow diet forage proportion on duodenal nutrient supply and urinary purine derivative excretion. Journal of Dairy Science 89, 3552–3562.
| Effects of dairy cow diet forage proportion on duodenal nutrient supply and urinary purine derivative excretion.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
O’Connell CA, Judson HG, Barrell GK (2016) Sustained diuretic effect of plantain when ingested by sheep. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 76, 14–17.
Pacheco D, Burke JL, Death AF, Cosgrove GP (2007) Comparison of models for estimation of urinary nitrogen excretion from dairy cows fed fresh forages. In ‘Meeting the challenges for pasture-based dairying. Proceedings of the 3rd Australasian dairy science symposium’. (Eds DF Chapman, DA Clark, KL Macmillan, DP Nation) pp. 417–422. (National Dairy Alliance: Melbourne)
Pacheco D, Lowe K, Burke JL, Cosgrove GP (2009) Urinary nitrogen excretion from cows at different stage of lactation grazing different ryegrass cultivars during spring or autumn. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 69, 196–200.
Pembleton KG, Tozer KN, Edwards GR, Jacobs JL, Turner LB (2015) Simple versus diverse pastures – opportunities and challenges in dairy systems. Animal Production Science 55, 893–901.
| Simple versus diverse pastures – opportunities and challenges in dairy systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Primary Industries Standing Committee (2007) ‘Nutrient requirements of domesticated ruminants.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Rebhan HJ, Donker JD (1960) Effect of condition of animal on the creatinine excretion of bovine animals. Journal of Dairy Science 43, 1639–1642.
| Effect of condition of animal on the creatinine excretion of bovine animals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rius AG, Kittelmann S, Macdonald KA, Waghorn GC, Janssen PH, Sikkema E (2012) Nitrogen metabolism and rumen microbial enumeration in lactating cows with divergent residual feed intake fed high-digestibility pasture. Journal of Dairy Science 95, 5024–5034.
| Nitrogen metabolism and rumen microbial enumeration in lactating cows with divergent residual feed intake fed high-digestibility pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robertson JB, Van Soest PJ (1981) The detergent system of analysis and its application to human foods. In ‘The analysis of dietary fiber in foods’. (Eds W James, O Theander) pp. 123–158. (Marcel Dekker Inc.: New York)
Robinson PH, Sniffen CJ, Van Soest PJ (1985) Influence of level of intake on digestion and bacterial yield in the forestomach of dairy cattle. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 65, 437–444.
| Influence of level of intake on digestion and bacterial yield in the forestomach of dairy cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Selbie DR, Buckthought LE, Shepherd MA (2015) The challenge of the urine patch for managing nitrogen in grazed pasture systems. Advances in Agronomy 129, 229–292.
| The challenge of the urine patch for managing nitrogen in grazed pasture systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Snow VO, Johnson IR, Parsons AJ (2009) The single heterogeneous paddock approach to modelling the effects of urine patches on production and leaching in grazed pastures. Crop and Pasture Science 60, 691–696.
| The single heterogeneous paddock approach to modelling the effects of urine patches on production and leaching in grazed pastures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stewart AV (1996) Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) – a potential pasture species. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 58, 77–86.
Swainson NM, Hoskin SO (2006) Apparent digestibility and rumen fermentation of fresh plantain (Plantago lanceolata cv. Ceres Tonic) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. Nui) -based pasture fed to red deer (Cervus elaphus). Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 66, 64–69.
Totty VK, Greenwood SL, Bryant RH, Edwards GR (2013) Nitrogen partitioning and milk production of dairy cows grazing simple and diverse pastures. Journal of Dairy Science 96, 141–149.
| Nitrogen partitioning and milk production of dairy cows grazing simple and diverse pastures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tozer KN, Bourdot GW, Edwards GR (2011) What factors lead to poor pasture persistence and weed ingress? In ‘Pasture persistence symposium – Grassland Research and Practice Series No. 15’. (Ed. CF Mercer) pp. 129–138. (New Zealand Grassland Association: Dunedin)
Vagnoni DB, Broderick GA (1997) Effects of supplementation of energy on ruminally undegraded protein to lactating cows fed alfalfa hay or silage. Journal of Dairy Science 80, 1703–1712.
| Effects of supplementation of energy on ruminally undegraded protein to lactating cows fed alfalfa hay or silage.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Valadares RFD, Broderick GA, Valadares Filho SC, Clayton MK (1999) Effect of replacing alfalfa silage with high moisture corn on ruminal protein synthesis estimated from excretion of total purine derivatives. Journal of Dairy Science 82, 2686–2696.
| Effect of replacing alfalfa silage with high moisture corn on ruminal protein synthesis estimated from excretion of total purine derivatives.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Waghorn GC (2002) Can forages match concentrate diets for dairy production? Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 62, 261–266.
Waghorn GC, Shelton ID, Thomas VJ (1989) Particle breakdown of fresh ryegrass or lucerne by cows during a restricted feeding period. British Journal of Nutrition 61, 409–423.
| Particle breakdown of fresh ryegrass or lucerne by cows during a restricted feeding period.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Waghorn GC, Shelton ID, Sinclair BR (1990) Distribution of elements between solid and supernatant fractions of digesta in sheep given six diets. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 33, 259–269.
| Distribution of elements between solid and supernatant fractions of digesta in sheep given six diets.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Whittet KM, Klopfenstein TJ, Erickson GE, Lay TW, McDonald RA (2004) Effect of age, pregnancy and diet on urinary creatinine excretion in heifers and cows. In ‘2004 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report’. MP80-A. pp. 100–102. (University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension: Lincoln, NE)
Wilcock RJ (2008) Land-water interactions: impacts on the aquatic environment. In ‘Environmental impacts of pasture-based grazing’. (Ed. RW McDowell) pp. 75–97. (CAB international: Wallingford, UK)
