Open AccessPRODUCTION OF MILK AND MILK COMPONENTS BY COWS GRAZING DIFFERENT RYEGRASS CULTIVARS
Author(s) -
I. M. Brookes,
J. A. Lancashire
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
proceedings of the new zealand grassland association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1179-4577
pISSN - 0369-3902
DOI - 10.33584/jnzg.1979.41.1529
Subject(s) - grazing , perennial plant , cultivar , biology , agronomy , milk production , lolium perenne , spring (device) , zoology , mechanical engineering , engineering
The production of milk and milk components by identical twin cows given ad libitum access to swards of Nui or Ruanui perennial ryegrasses, or a tetraploid hybrid ryegrass (G4708), for short-term periods in spring, summer, and autumn, showed no consistent differences. Similar trials conducted in the spring with unrelated cows grazing Tama tetraploid Westerworlds ryegrass or a tetraploid Italian ryegrass (G4709) also showed no production differences. The use of these cultivars in dairy production systems is therefore more likely to be determined by such agronomic features as annual and seasonal yields, disease resistance and persistency rather than nutritional characteristics.