@article {3672, title = {Does silage containing Plantain affect the urination behaviour and urinary nitrogen of dry cows grazing diverse or conventional pasture?}, journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production}, volume = {82}, year = {2022}, month = {01/2022}, pages = {14-21}, address = {Online}, abstract = {

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of diverse silage containing plantain on urination behaviour and urinary and faecal nitrogen (N) concentration of dairy cows when grazing standard ryegrass-white clover (RGWC) or diverse pasture containing plantain. Four groups of six non-lactating dairy cows were balanced and randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments in a 2 {\texttimes} 2 factorial design: RGWC pasture plus RGWC silage; RGWC pasture plus diverse silage containing plantain; diverse pasture plus RGWC silage; diverse pasture plus diverse silage. Urination behaviour (frequency and volume) was continuously measured for a minimum of 24 hours on four cows per treatment using the Lincoln University PEETER V1.0 sensor. There was no silage or silage {\texttimes} pasture type interaction effects on urination behaviour, though diverse pasture regardless of silage increased daily urination frequency (p=0.046) and daily urine volume (p=0.003) of cows by 27\% and 31\% respectively, compared to RGWC. Spot urine N\% concentration was similar among treatments, but faecal N\% tended (p=0.07) to be higher in cows grazing diverse pasture compared to those grazing RGWC with no silage type effect. Unlike fresh plantain, silage containing plantain does not seem to alter urination behaviour or N excretion of dairy cattle. Keywords: Plantago lanceolata L; dairy cattle; winter study; urination frequency

}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Brown TM and HMGP Herath and Beckett BP and Bryant RH and Al-marashdeh O} } @article {3672, title = {Impact of maternal diet during late gestation and pre-weaning milk allowance on heifer growth and first lactation milk yield}, journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production}, volume = {82}, year = {2022}, month = {01/2022}, pages = {99-103}, address = {Online}, abstract = {A total of 60 Friesian x Jersey heifer calves were allocated to a 2{\texttimes}2 factorial design to investigate early life nutrition on growth and production. The first factor was the maternal treatments where dams were offered a low crude protein (7.8\% LCP) or moderate crude protein (13.6\% MCP) diet for the last 50 days of gestation. The second factor was the calf milk replacer (CMR) allowance to heifer offspring, which was either restricted (RES) or high allowance (HA) allowance (15 or 25\% of initial live weight, respectively). All calves were given colostrum for 4 days then, warmed CMR (150 g/L) in two equal feeds between days 5 and 39, after which all calves received the same 15\% allowance. Milk intake, liveweight gain and fecal score were recorded for 5 weeks. Calves were weaned off milk at 8 weeks of age. The HA treatment improved weaning weight (88 vs 79{\textpm}1.4 kg; P<0.001) and overall ADG pre-weaning (0.9 vs 0.8{\textpm}0.02 kg/day; P<0.001) compared to RES. There was no effect of maternal diet on pre-weaning growth or fecal score. There was limited statistical evidence of a long-term effect of early life nutrition on milk yield, though maternal nutrition appeared to be more important than pre-weaning nutrition on future milk production.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Moonsan Y and Thomas C and McCoard SA and Hammond KJ and Edwards GR and Bryant RH} } @article {3672, title = {BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Assessing the behaviour of pastoral poultry in an integrated system on a commercial dairy farm}, journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production}, volume = {81}, year = {2021}, month = {01/2022}, pages = {54-56}, address = {Online}, abstract = {The aim of this study was to determine the ranging behaviour and dispersal patterns of layer hens on a commercial pastoral dairy farm. One thousand seven hundred and sixty layers housed across three different flocks varying in age and shed type were observed weekly. Their outdoor area was classified into three zones based on the distance from their shed. Hens in each zone were observed for one hour at dawn, midday and dusk. There was no effect of time of day on bird dispersal patterns, but when hens were outdoors, the effect of location was significant (P<0.001) with the majority (26.77\%) of hens in the apron with the remaining visible hens observed in the outer range (21.99\%) and mid-range (16.33\%). In integrated pastoral systems with hens, management of hen excreta dispersal can be achieved through regular relocation of housing, feeders and water. Keywords: free-range; flock; location; zones; integrated farming system}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Smalling SS and Greig B and Bunt C and Tanner J and Bryant RH} } @article {3672, title = {BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Changes to cow behaviour when transitioning from twice a day to a 3-in-2 milking schedule}, journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production}, volume = {81}, year = {2021}, month = {01/2022}, pages = {51-53}, address = {Online}, abstract = {The objective of this study was to assess changes to cow behaviour when decreasing milking frequency from twice a day (TAD) to three milkings in two days (3-in-2). CowManager SensOor{\texttrademark} ear tags were attached to cows (n=29) for 15 days before, and 30 days after, transitioning to 3-in-2. To investigate general trends, paired t-tests were used to compare means between activity types (time spent active, highly active, not active, eating or ruminating) and milking frequency. After transitioning to 3-in-2 milking, the total time active was greater (+32.3 mins/cow/day; SEM 6.46), whilst the time spent eating (-16.2 mins/cow/day; SEM 7.57) and ruminating (-12.7 mins/cow/day; SEM 3.59) decreased. These differences were inconsistent between daylight and dark hours. These results indicate that the extra time spent in the paddock by the cows due to a 3-in-2 milking schedule was spent active, potentially due to social interaction and feed-searching behaviours, with a decrease in rumination and eating behaviours. Key words: Milking frequency; behaviour; activity; transition.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Hall LS and Bryant RH and Edwards JP} } @article {3672, title = {Effect of farm system and milk urea phenotype on milk yield and milk composition of dairy cows in Canterbury}, journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production}, volume = {81}, year = {2021}, month = {01/2022}, pages = {196-200}, address = {Online}, abstract = {To investigate the effect of farm system, and cow selection for milk urea nitrogen (MUN), on milk yield and milk composition, a farmlet study was carried out between October 2018 and May 2019 in Lincoln, Canterbury. A farm system with a low stocking rate and low N fertiliser input (LSR, 2.9 cows/ha) sown with a conventional ryegrass clover and plantain diverse pastures was compared with a farm system with a moderate stocking rate and moderate N fertiliser (MSR, 3.9 cows/ha) using conventional ryegrass and white clover pastures and supplementing 3 kg DM/cow/d as crushed barley grain. Each farmlet had total herd size of 40 mixed-age HF x J spring-calving dairy cows which included six cows selected solely for a high MUN or a low MUN. There was no effect of farm system on milk fat, protein or lactose content but MUN was lower in LSR compared with MSR. Milk production was also lower for LSR (466 vs 429{\textpm}12.4 kg MS/cow/ha, P<0.05), owing to poorer quality diet in mid lactation. Cows selected for low MUN tended to produce less milk compared with high MUN cows (4478 vs 3987{\textpm}174 kg/cow, P<0.10) though this was partially offset by increased protein content in milk of low MUN cows. Farm system and animal selection for MUN have a greater impact on milk yield than on milk composition. Keywords: Plantago lanceolata; somatic cell count; multi-species pastures;}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Bryant RH and O{\textquoteright}Conner PO and Robic Y and Curtis J and Handcock RC and Al-marashdeh O} } @article {3672, title = {The effect of feeding fodder beet or kale during winter on growth and behaviour of rising-one-year-old dairy heifers}, journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production}, volume = {81}, year = {2021}, month = {01/2022}, pages = {81-86}, address = {Online}, abstract = {While fodder beet (FB) has been used by the dairy industry for winter grazing over the last 10 years, there is no published information on its effect on heifer performance. Farmers have recently expressed concern regarding the suitability of fodder beet for wintering growing dairy heifers due to the low crude protein (CP) content of the FB bulb. To compare liveweight gain and grazing behaviour, 191, 9- to 12-month-old heifers at the Southern Dairy Hub were offered either FB (n=93; HFR-FB) or kale (n=98; HFR-Kale), both with pasture baleage as a feed supplement, in winter 2019. Allocations were formulated to achieve similar energy intake, but HFR-Kale were offered a higher proportion of their diet as baleage. There were no differences in apparent DM intake, but HFR-FB consumed a diet with overall lower CP (11.4\%) than did HFR-Kale (13.4\%). Heifers in both treatments had a similar average daily liveweight gain (0.45 {\textpm} 0.083 kg/day) but neither group achieved the 0.6 kg/day average daily gain target for heifer growth. Differences were observed in eating and ruminating behaviour between the two groups, but more research is required to validate the measurement devices used in this study for animals grazing crop. The results indicate the challenges of achieving industry-recommended growth rates over winter in heifers grazing forage crops and highlight the importance of feed testing for nutritive value to ensure nutrient requirements are being met. Keywords: Live weight; Beta vulgaris; Brassica oleracea; allocation; intake; feed quality}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Harris P and Dalley DE and Bryant RH} } @article {3672, title = {The effects of substituting autumn nitrogen fertiliser with gibberellic acid on feed supply and milk production}, journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production}, volume = {81}, year = {2021}, month = {01/2022}, pages = {190-195}, address = {Online}, abstract = {The aim of this study was to investigate the use of gibberellic acid (GA) to improve feed supply and milk yield in late lactation. A grazing study at Lincoln used 36 lactating, mixed-age, Friesian-Jersey cross dairy cows balanced over three un-replicated treatments of perennial-ryegrass and white-clover pasture treated with nitrogen (N) fertiliser as urea (50 kg N/ha), GA as ProGibb{\textregistered} SG (8 g GA/ha) or untreated (Control). Treatments were applied in late March 2014 and grazed over 12 days in May. There was no effect of treatment on herbage pre-grazing pasture mass (2058{\textpm}6.9 kg DM/ha, P=0.20), clover (3.6{\textpm}0.86\%, P=0.53), ryegrass (88.0{\textpm}2.33\%, P=0.24) or crude protein (CP) content (17.8{\textpm}1.60\%, P=0.31). All milk yield components: 14.6{\textpm}0.40 L/day, 1.4{\textpm}0.09 kg MS/cow/day, 5.4{\textpm}0.33\% fat and 4.4{\textpm}0.21\% protein were similar among treatment groups (P=0.71, 0.14, 0.16 and 0.06, respectively). Although faecal-N content of cows on GA pasture (3.72\% N) was higher (P<0.001) than cows on N-fertilised pasture (3.45\% N) there was no treatment effect (P>0.05) on urinary-N content (0.4 {\textpm} 0.02\% N) or N excretion in milk (101{\textpm}4.4 g N/cow/d). The lack of response to GA or N fertiliser highlights the importance of timing of growth promotants for late lactation. Keywords: perennial ryegrass; white clover; urea; growth promotants; dairy cow; milk production}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Miller ME and Edwards GR and Hague H and Bryant RH} } @article {3672, title = {BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Conventional or Albrecht-Kinsey fertiliser approach in a commercial-scale dairy farm systems comparison}, journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production}, volume = {79}, year = {2019}, month = {07/2019}, pages = {100-102}, address = {Palmerston North}, abstract = {Long-standing questions around application of nutrients other than N, P and K (such as Mg and Ca), to meet either plant or soil requirements have been tested for the first time at a commercial dairy-farm-scale. Two dairy farms with similar soil type and soil management history were used to compare physical and financial productivity when the fertiliser regime followed either a conventional plant requirement approach (CON) or an Albrecht-Kinsey soil requirement approach (A-K). A longitudinal study commencing in 2012/13 included measurements of pasture and animal production, fertility and quality, and animal health. After six years there are no apparent impacts of fertiliser regime on milk yield or pasture growth, although less N fertiliser was applied on the A-K farm and this farm grew more clover. Though not statistically significant, there were more in-calf cows and fewer metabolic problems pre- and post- calving in the A-K farm system compared with the CON system. Setting up and maintaining the soils at target parameters cost more (+$532/ha fertiliser costs in the first year; +$197 in the last two years), but animal health costs were on average $56/ha/yr lower.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Bryant RH and Zwart T and Greer G and Casey J and Solly K and Pinxterhuis I and Horrocks A and Gillespie R and Pellow R} } @article {3672, title = {BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Investigation of the water-soluble carbohydrates content of Plantain (Plantago Lanceolata L.)}, journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production}, volume = {79}, year = {2019}, month = {07/2019}, pages = {174-176}, address = {Palmerston North}, abstract = {Previous research has shown that the water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) of Plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) leaves differ from that of many other common forages. Analytical methods used to quantify WSC may underestimate the concentration of WSC in plantain herbage. To ascertain the suitability of current method, the conventional anthrone reaction method (AR) was compared against the phenol-sulphuric acid method (PSA). The WSC of eight plantain samples and one ryegrass sample were compared using AR and PSA against high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that AR greatly underestimated the WSC content of plantain compared with PSA, which was similar to HPLC (7.18\%, 13.5\%, 14.7\% DM, respectively, P<0.001). The discrepancy between the results from AR and PSA was due to sorbitol, which was not detected using AR. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Jiang S and Bryant RH and Jiao J and Tung R} } @article {3672, title = {Change in herbage nutritive value of mown and standing pasture under rotational grazing}, journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production}, volume = {79}, year = {2019}, month = {07/2019}, pages = {103-107}, address = {Palmerston North}, abstract = {Varying the regrowth interval, pre-graze herbage mass and mowing pasture prior to grazing are strategies used to try to improve pasture quality and nutrient availability to grazing livestock. This study compared the nutritive value of pastures which had been mown before grazing, or grazed as standing pastures following a long (Long, 28 days) or moderate (Mod, 21 days) regrowth interval. Nutritive value and dry matter percent were determined at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12 and 24 hours in replicated paddocks during a 24-hour grazing period following allocation to dairy cows at 0700 h. Due to previous grazing management, which maintained a high proportion of leafy material in the grazed stratum, the nutritive value of the available herbage before grazing was similar for all treatments. Mowing before grazing resulted in a relatively constant nutrient supply over a 24 h grazing period; however, this did not alter cow performance (e.g., milksolids production or BCS) compared with grazing standing pasture. By contrast preferential selection of higher quality pasture by cows grazing standing pasture resulted in lower concentration of herbage crude protein (P<0.05) and greater concentration of fibre (P<0.05) at the end of the grazing period. When pastures were mown, herbage wilted, increasing DM from 17.5 to 39.4\% DM within 24 hours (P<0.05). Despite large differences in pasture management, extending the regrowth interval and using repeated pre-graze mowing did little to alter herbage nutritive content.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Bryant RH and Edwards P and Thomas C and Kay J and Clement A} } @article {3672, title = {Effect of in-vitro ruminal fermentation and HCL/pepsin digestion on loline}, journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production}, volume = {79}, year = {2019}, month = {07/2019}, pages = {13-19}, address = {Palmerston North}, abstract = {Loline, an alkaloid produced by Neotyphodium endophytes in pastoral grass species with potential antimicrobial properties, has several known derivatives; N-formyl loline (NFL), N-acetyl loline (NAL), N-acetyl norloline (NANL), N-methyl loline (NML), and loline base, though the availability and form during rumen fermentation and digestion is unclear. Festuca pratensis seeds either with (LOL) or without (NIL) lolines (150-200 {\textmu}g/mL) were incubated in either sterile or viable rumen fluid or in either HCL/pepsin (pH 2) or water (pH 7). At 72 hours LOL in sterile rumen fluid had 23\%, 26\%, and 45\% more NFL (P=0.05), NANL (P=0.04), and loline base (P=0.01) respectively, with 27\% more total loline present (P=0.06), and 65\% more NML (P=0.09) compared with LOL in viable rumen fluid. Loline tended to alter the fermentation pattern as NIL produced 11\% more ammonia (P=0.07), and 5\% less propionate (P=0.06) than LOL. In HCL/pepsin there were 38\%, 49\%, and 39\% more total lolines (P=0.05), NANL (P=0.02), and NFL (P=0.04) respectively, compared with water. Rumen and abomasal digestion appear to have a small effect on loline{\textquoteright}s form and concentration with only slight alteration to the rumen fermentation pattern. Presence of lolines had little evidence of an antimicrobial effect.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Froehlich KA and Greer A and Bryant RH} } @article {3672, title = {BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Effect of maternal diet in late gestation on development of dairy calves}, journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production}, volume = {78}, year = {2018}, month = {07/2018}, pages = {186-188}, address = {Lincoln}, abstract = {To investigate whether feeding strategies to reduce urinary N excretion would have negative effects on calf development, two feeding systems were compared. A total of 190 pregnant, Friesian {\texttimes} Jersey dairy cows were randomly allocated to one of two groups and offered either a low crude protein diet of maize silage and fodder beet (LCP) or a moderate CP diet of lucerne silage and fodder beet (MCP) for eight weeks prior to calving. Apparent metabolisable energy (ME) intake of dams was similar (110 MJME/cow/day) but CP concentration was greater for MCP than LCP (13.4 vs 7.5\% of the DM). There was no effect of maternal diet on calf birth weight (33.0{\textpm}0.5 kgLW) or morphometric measurements; heart girth (72.8{\textpm}0.5) spine length (54.4{\textpm}0.4) or hip height (73.1{\textpm}0.4 cm). These results suggest that dietary protein restriction in late gestation does not have any immediate negative effects on in utero calf development.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Moonsan Y and Thomas C and Bryant RH and Edwards GR} } @article {3672, title = {In sacco digestion kinetics of plantain and ryegrass-white clover harvested in the morning and afternoon}, journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production}, volume = {78}, year = {2018}, month = {07/2018}, pages = {34-39}, address = {Lincoln}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Box LA and Edwards GR and Bryant RH} } @article {3672, title = {Milk production and milk fatty acid composition of grazing dairy cows supplemented with fodder beet}, journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production}, volume = {78}, year = {2018}, month = {07/2018}, pages = {6-10}, address = {Lincoln}, abstract = {A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementing a perennial ryegrass-based diet with fodder beet on milk production and milk fatty acid (FA) composition, of dairy cows in early lactation. Sixty Friesian {\texttimes} Jersey cows, were blocked into six groups of 10 cows, and groups randomly allocated to three replicates fed either 18 kg DM/day of ryegrass herbage (H), or 14.4 kg DM/ day of ryegrass herbage + 4 kg DM of harvested FB bulbs (FBB). Dry matter intake (DMI) was similar between H and FBB (15.0{\textpm}0.77 and 14.2{\textpm}0.48 kg DM/day respectively). Although milk yield tended to be greater for H than FBB (20.0 and 18.9 kg/ day respectively; P=0.09); milk solids production was not affected by treatment (P=0.89). Supplementation with FBB increased the saturated (80.6 versus 73.2{\textpm}0.39 g/100g FA; P<0.001) and medium chain milk FA (66.7 versus 56.2{\textpm}0.783; P<0.001) content, compared with H. Under the conditions of the present study, our results suggest that, supplementing grazing dairy cows with FBB in early lactation, may not improve milk production and increases the saturated FA content of milk.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Fleming AE and Edwards GR and Bryant RH and Dalley DE and Gregorini P} } @article {3672, title = {Plantain: It is not only the dietary content, but also how we graze it{\textellipsis}}, journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production}, volume = {78}, year = {2018}, month = {07/2018}, pages = {151-156}, address = {Lincoln}, abstract = {A mechanistic and dynamic model of a grazing ruminant, MINDY, was used to explore the effect of both the proportion dietary inclusion of plantain (PL) and its grazing management, compared with ryegrass (RG), on urinary N (UN) excretion of dairy cows. The treatment tested were: 1) frequency of allocation and 2) dietary proportion of PL. Frequency of allocation was set by stripgrazing (24 hrs. pasture breaks) PL or RG monocultures for 1, 5 or 10 consecutive days, allocated either after the morning (AM) or afternoon (PM) milking. The proportion of dietary PL was set by offering either 25 or 50\% of the diet as PL monocultures allocated either AM or PM. MINDY had greater intake of PL-containing diets than RG alone, resulting in increased N intake. However, with the exception of the {\textquoteleft}frequency{\textquoteright} treatments, daily urinary N excretion (UN) was reduced by including PL compared with RG alone. Plantain monocultures led to similar or lower urine volume compared with RG. Grazing RG and PL every 1 or 5 days increased urine volume, frequency and UN compared with RG or continuous PL. Offering PL or RG in the AM compared with PM reduced UN but reduced milk yield. This modelling exercise suggests that including PL in cattle{\textquoteright}s diet reduces UN and UN concentration, and that the frequency and timing of its allocation help to reduce environmental impact further while maintaining or increasing MS.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Gregorini P and Bryant RH and Beck MR and Edwards GR} } @article {3672, title = {Simulating the intake and nitrogen excretion from cows grazing forages fertilised with increasing rates of nitrogen}, journal = {New Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production}, volume = {78}, year = {2018}, month = {07/2018}, pages = {141-145}, address = {Lincoln}, abstract = {The dry matter intake (DMI), production, and urinary nitrogen (N) excretion of dairy cows grazing forage grown under increasing N fertiliser rates were explored using a mechanistic model of a grazing ruminant. The MINDY cow model was initialised to represent a multiparous Holstein-Friesian dairy cow in late lactation (age 3.5 years, 212 days in milk). Simulated cows were offered a common allowance (30 kg DM/cow/d) of chicory, plantain, lucerne, or perennial ryegrass, fertilised at rates of 0, 100, 200, 350 and 500 kg N/ha/y (0N, 100N etc.) for 20 days in March. Forage physical and chemical composition data were obtained from a Waikato experimental field site. When N rate increased from 0{\textendash}500N, predicted DMI of cows grazing plantain and ryegrass increased by 5.2 and 2.7 kg DM/cow/day (43 and 20\% increase), respectively, facilitated by increased sward height and mass, and reduced herbage strength. Predicted DMI of cows grazing chicory peaked at 200N and, for cows grazing lucerne, declined with N fertilisation. Intake of highly fertilised (>200N) chicory and lucerne diets were potentially affected by high herbage soluble N content resulting in high predicted rumen ammonia concentrations (>18 mmol/L), reducing incentive for grazing. While predicted milk production from cows grazing chicory, plantain and ryegrass increased, the efficiency of dietary N used for milk production declined, with increasing N applied. Increasing N rate also increased predicted urine N concentration, and urinary N excretion from simulated cows fed chicory, plantain, and ryegrass. This study suggests that N fertiliser rates of 200N for chicory, plantain and ryegrass provides a balance between cow production and N excretion.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Minnee EMK and Bryant RH and Chapman DF and Gregorini P} } @conference {3672, title = {Stand-off pad wintering system: effect of surface types on cow comfort and urination behaviour}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {77}, year = {2017}, month = {06/2017}, pages = {137-142}, address = {Rotorua}, abstract = {Two consecutive experiments were conducted over four weeks during winter to investigate the effect of different stand-off pad surface types on dairy cow lying behaviour, cleanness and lameness scores, and urination frequency. In experiment one, 350 Frie-sian {\texttimes} Jersey, pregnant non-lactating dairy cows were blocked and assigned to five treatments for two weeks: fodder beet grazed in situ with no stand-off (control); fodder beet grazed in situ and cows spent 17 hours on a woodchip stand-off (WCG); harvested fodder beet bulb fed in paddock and cows spent 17 hours on a woodchip stand-off (WCH); fodder beet grazed in situ and cows spent 17 hours on a 70 mm round-stone stand-off (S70); fodder beet grazed in situ and cows spent 17 hours on a 50 mm round-stone stand-off (S50). In experiment two, 156 Friesian {\texttimes} Jersey, pregnant non-lactating dairy cows were blocked and assigned to three treatments for two weeks: control and WCG as described in experiment one, and a third geotextile {\textquoteleft}carpet{\textquoteright} stand-off for 17 hours (GC). In experiment one, surface type had no effect on lying time (average 10.1 hours), cleanness and lameness score, or urination behaviour. In experiment two, lying hours were greater (P=0.01) for cows on carpet (11.6) than for cows on woodchip (10.8). While current results showed a negligible effect of surface type on cow comfort and urination behaviour during winter, a longer study, covering the whole winter season, is required to confirm these results. }, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Al-marashdeh O and Cameron KC and Bryant RH and Box L and Arends A and Coveney A and Crystal J and Edwards GR} } @conference {3672, title = {Dietary preference of dairy cows for perennial ryegrass cultivars growing with and without white clover}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {76}, year = {2016}, month = {07/2016}, pages = {81-86}, address = {Adelaide}, abstract = {Dietary preference of dairy cows for eight perennial ryegrass cultivars (AberMagic, Alto, Base, Bealey, Commando, Kamo, One50 and Prospect) growing with and without white clover was examined at two vegetative stages (May and October) and one reproductive stage (November). Groups of dairy cows (n = 8) were offered free choice among cultivars growing with or without white clover for 6 to 8 hours. Preference was defined as the relative decreasing rate in sward surface height. Preference was higher for the tetraploid cultivars, Base and Bealey and the high-sugar diploid cultivar, AberMagic (preference ranged from 1.02 to 1.45). Preference was negatively correlated with herbage mass (r = -0.179, P = 0.013), proportion of dead material (r = -0.301, P < 0.001) and neutral detergent fibre (r = -0.287, P < 0.001), and positively correlated with sward surface height (r = 0.386, P < 0.001), ryegrass lamina length (r = 0.233, P = 0.001), tiller mass (r = 0.338, P < 0.001), water-soluble carbohydrate concentration (r = 0.143, P = 0.049) and organic matter digestibility in dry matter (r = 0.312, P < 0.001). Although the proportion of white clover was low (< 7\% DM) in all three experiments, the interactions between perennial ryegrass cultivar and the presence of white clover were significant (P = 0.004 at pre-heading stage, P = 0.046 at reproductive stage and P = 0.038 at post-heading stage), with differences among preference for perennial ryegrass cultivars reduced when white clover was present}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Chen A and Bryant RH and Edwards GR} } @conference {3672, title = {Does mowing before grazing increase dry matter intake and milk yield?}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {76}, year = {2016}, month = {07/2016}, pages = {73-77}, address = {Adelaide}, abstract = {Mowing pasture before allocation of herbage to dairy cows is one management strategy suggested to improve feed quality, increase herbage dry matter (DM) intake and increase milk solids yield. To test these hypotheses, pasture at either a three or four week regrowth interval was offered to dairy cows 3 hours after pasture had been mown or as standing pasture. Forty-eight late lactation, Friesian x Jersey dairy cows were blocked into four groups and randomly allocated to each treatment. There was no effect of mowing or regrowth interval on botanical composition of the pasture on offer. Composition of herbage above 3.5 cm varied in DM content which was increased by mowing (13.2 versus 18.4\% DM, P<0.05). For pastures with a three week regrowth interval, crude protein content was higher in the mown compared with standing herbage. At a similar herbage allocation, apparent DM intake was lower in mown (14.9 kg DM/cow/day) than in standing (15.5 kg DM/cow/day) treatments (P<0.05). This resulted in lower milk solids yield (P<0.05) in mown (1.24 MS/cow/day) compared with standing pasture (1.40 kg MS/cow/day). There was no apparent advantage in mowing ryegrass pastures in late lactation to improve herbage utilisation, DM intake or milk yield.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Bryant RH and Kingsbury LA and Edwards GR} } @conference {3672, title = {Effect of grazing system on nitrogen partitioning in lactating dairy cows grazing irrigated pastures in Canterbury, New Zealand}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {76}, year = {2016}, month = {07/2016}, pages = {94-99}, address = {Adelaide}, abstract = {Regulations currently being developed by Regional Councils throughout New Zealand to manage freshwater quality may require substantial reductions in nitrate leaching from dairy farms in many regions. The objective of this study was to quantify nitrogen intake, partitioning, and excretion in two irrigated farming systems in Canterbury, comparing different possible pathways for future industry development. A {\textquoteleft}higher input{\textquoteright} system (HI, n = 34 cows) was characterised by a stocking rate of 5 cows per/ha, ~300 kg/ha/year fertiliser N and ~1t DM/cow/year purchased supplement fed on the milking platform. The {\textquoteleft}lower input{\textquoteright} system (LI, n = 29 cows) used a stocking rate of 3.5 cows/ha, 150 kg/ha/year fertiliser N, and minimal purchased supplement. Urine, faeces, plasma, and milk samples were collected for N determination at consecutive afternoon and morning milkings once per month for four years. Estimated N intake did not differ between HI and LI (537 g N/cow/day and 557 g N/cow/day respectively, P = 0.29). No differences were recorded for N parameters and estimated milk and urine N output/cow was not affected by farm system. When scaled to per hectare, urinary N excretion was 33\% greater for HI compared with LI (1.1 kg/ha/day and 0.8 kg/ha/day, respectively, P = 0.02).}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Clement AR and Dalley DE and Chapman DF and Edwards GR and Bryant RH} } @conference {3672, title = {Milk production and urinary nitrogen excretion of dairy cows grazing perennial ryegrass-white clover and pure plantain pastures}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {76}, year = {2016}, month = {07/2016}, pages = {18-21}, address = {Adelaide}, abstract = {Milk production and urinary nitrogen (N) concentration were measured in late lactation dairy cows grazing a perennial ryegrass- white clover pasture, pure plantain and an area that is comprised of 50\% perennial ryegrass-white clover and 50\% pure plantain by ground area (50-50 pasture-plantain), (n=12). Milksolids production was greater (P=0.01) for cows grazing plantain (1.67 kg MS/cow/d) than those grazing pasture (1.50 kg MS/cow/d), with cows grazing 50-50 pasture-plantain intermediate (1.60 kg MS/cow/d). Urine-N concentration was 56\% lower (P<0.001) for plantain (2.4 g N/L) and 33\% lower for 50-50 pasture-plantain (3.6 g N/L) than pasture (5.4 g N/L). Plantain may offer environmental benefits to dairy systems by reducing the urinary N concentration deposited on the soil from grazing cows in late lactation.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Box LA and Edwards GR and Bryant RH} } @conference {3672, title = {Relationship between social dominance and milk production of dairy cows grazing pasture}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {76}, year = {2016}, month = {07/2016}, pages = {69-72}, address = {Adelaide}, abstract = {The objectives of this experiment were to study factors determining social dominance of grazing dairy cows and the relationship between social dominance and milk production under grazing systems. A total of 252 spring calving Friesian x Jersey dairy cows in three groups differing in stocking rate and herd size grazing perennial ryegrass and white clover pasture were observed for three months in early lactation to determine their dominance value. All cows ranged in age from 2 to 11 years and live weight (LW) ranged from 340 kg to 648 kg. Dominance values were determined by social interactions indicating dominance and submission between cows. Social interactions were recorded on a win and loss basis. In all three groups, the dominance value was positively correlated (P<0.05) with age (r = 0.42 to 0.65), live weight (r = 0.33 to 0.47) and milk production (r = 0.32 to 0.42), but no relationship with body condition score was found. In conclusion, older cows with higher live weight were more dominant and tended to have higher milk production.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Hussein AN and Al-marashdeh O and Bryant RH and Edwards GR} } @conference {3672, title = {Urine volume of non-lactating dairy cows in late gestation fed forage based diets in winter}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {76}, year = {2016}, month = {07/2016}, pages = {22-25}, address = {Adelaide}, abstract = {Quantitative information on urine volume of dairy cows fed winter forages is required to accurately evaluate nitrate leaching risks on these diets. Thirty-two Friesian x Jersey non-lactating, pregnant dairy cows were fed either 10 kg DM of fodder beet with 5.6 kg DM of ryegrass baleage or 16.4 kg DM of kale with 6.4 kg of oat silage. Cows were fitted with a urine meter for 24 to 72 hours to record the frequency and volume of urine events. Daily urine volume (28 {\textpm} 3 L/cow/day), frequency (9 {\textpm} 0.89 events/cow/day), and event volume (3.2 {\textpm} 0.3 L/event) were not significantly different between fodder beet and kale treatments. This was despite respective differences in total apparent water (51 vs. 70 L/cow/day, {\textpm} 2, P<0.001) and nitrogen (N) intake (231 vs. 488 g N/cow/ day, {\textpm} 9.4, P<0.001). In this study, water consumption and N intake did not appear to be linked with urine volume of dairy cows when two different forage diets were compared.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Farrell LJ and Bryant RH and Hague H and Edwards GR} } @conference {3672, title = {Milk production and urination behaviour of dairy cows grazing diverse and simple pasture}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {75}, year = {2015}, month = {07/2015}, pages = {79-83}, address = {Dunedin}, abstract = { Milk production and urination patterns were measured for mid-lactation dairy cows grazing a simple perennial ryegrass-white clover pasture (n = 15) and a more diverse pasture (n = 15) containing herb (chicory and plantain) and legume (lucerne) species in addition to the perennial ryegrass and white clover. Milksolids production was similar for simple (2.09 kg MS/cow/d) and diverse (1.94 kg MS/cow/d) pasture. Urination volume and frequency were similar for simple (2.0 L/urination, 11.6 urinations/cow/d) and diverse (2.2 L/urination, 15.0 urinations/cow/d) pasture. Urine-nitrogen (N) concentration was 20\% lower for diverse (4.9 g N/L) than simple (6.1 g N/L) pasture. Diverse pastures may offer benefits for reducing the environmental impact of dairy farming by reducing the N loading of urine patches.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Edwards GR and Bryant RH and Smith N and Hague H and Ferris A and Farell L} } @conference {3672, title = {Use of a urine meter to detect variation in urination behaviour of dairy cows on winter crops}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {75}, year = {2015}, month = {07/2015}, pages = {84-88}, address = {Dunedin}, abstract = { Nitrate leaching loss from urine patches is predicted using a number of variables including urine N concentration, number of urine patches produced, and urine patch size however, there is a lack of quantitative data on the variability of urination events. A study was conducted using two wintering systems at Ashley Dene, Lincoln, between June and July 2014. Wintering systems were either kale (KA) fed at an allowance of 14 kg DM/cow/day plus barley straw (3 kg DM/cow/day) (n=5), or fodder beet (FB) fed at an allowance of 8 kg DM/cow/day, plus ryegrass baleage (6 kg DM/cow/day) (n=7). Twelve pregnant, non-lactating Holstein- Friesian x Jersey cows were fitted with calibrated urine meters which measured volume and frequency of urination events. The meters were worn for 24-hour periods. A calibration equation was used to calculate urine patch coverage from measured urine patch areas in the field and urine volumes. There was large variation between animals for urination behaviour. Average urination volume was similar for KA and FB (2.37 L/event; P>0.1 SEM=0.29), however urination frequency (12 vs. 8 events/day; P<0.1 SEM=2.25) and daily total urine volume (30 vs. 18 litres; P<0.03, SEM=4.56) were greater for KA. Average urine patch area was also 1.8 times larger on KA than on FB (0.47 vs. 0.25 m2). This information will be used to help predict nitrate leaching losses from grazing systems.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Ravera BL and Bryant RH and Cameron KC and Di HJ and Edwards GR and Smith N} } @conference {3672, title = {Grazing behaviour, dry matter intake and urination patterns of dairy cows offered kale or fodder beet in winter}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {74}, year = {2014}, month = {06/2014}, pages = {23-28}, address = {Napier}, abstract = {The opportunity to reduce nitrogen (N) losses to the environment from wintering systems for dairy cows may arise from a combination of restricted grazing systems and feeding low N diets to reduce N intake. Lack of information on urination behaviour and grazing intake during restricted grazing makes it difficult to predict animal and environmental responses. Three winter forage systems were simulated and pregnant, non-lactating Friesian x Jersey dairy cows were offered diets which varied in crop allowance and supplement: early sown-kale (EK) comprising 14 and 3 kg DM/cow/d of kale and barley straw; late-sown kale (LK) comprising 11 and 5 kg DM/cow/d of kale and green-chop oat silage; and fodder beet (FB) comprising 8 and 6 kg DM/cow/d fodder beet and grass baleage. Grazing behaviour, DM intake, DM utilisation and urination and faecal frequency, were recorded for six hours following morning crop allocation. After six hours, utilisation of EK, LK and FB crops were 82, 76 and 90\%, corresponding to respective DM intake rates of 1.9, 1.4 and 1.2 kg DM/cow/hr. Average urination frequency (2.7 urinations/cow) and duration (9.1 seconds/urination) during the six hour grazing bout was similar for all treatments, and urine N concentration was also similar for each treatment (2.22 g N/L). As cows consumed a high proportion (> 75\%) of their daily intake within six hours, and few urination events occurred during this period, the results indicate suitability for use of these systems in a restricted grazing regime combined with a standoff pad in order to mitigate losses of N to environment.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Jenkinson BAB and Edwards GR and Bryant RH} } @conference {89255, title = {Effect of post grazing residual and concentrate feeding on milk production in early lactation}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {73}, year = {2013}, month = {Jan}, pages = {205-210}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, address = {Hamilton}, abstract = {

Two strategies to increase nutrient supply to early lactation dairy cows were compared and the cumulative effects on pasture quality and milk production were investigated. In a farmlet experiment the effect of feeding pasture only, or pasture plus concentrate (4kg/cow/day) at low (3.5 cm) or high (5.0 cm) post-grazing pasture residual (PGPR) was determined using a 2 x 2 factorial combination. Milk production for four groups of eight Friesian x Jersey dairy cows was measured within three consecutive grazing rotations during the first 12 weeks of lactation. PGPR for the low and high treatments remained constant throughout the 12 week period at 3.7 and 4.5 cm respectively. Mean milk solids production in the first, second and third rotation were 1.99 {\textpm} 0.12, 2.14 {\textpm} 0.10 and 2.01 {\textpm} 0.09 kg MS/cow/day respectively. Increasing PGPR from 3.7 to 4.5 cm did not affect pasture quality, milk production or milk composition. Concentrate feeding increased milk solids yield by 0.30 kg (P \< 0.05) in the third rotation. Concentrate feeding also increased milk protein yield by 68 g (P \<0.05), 104 g (P \<0.05) and 167 g (P \<0.001) in the first, second and third rotation respectively. When pasture quality is not altered by PGPR, feeding a concentrate is more effective at increasing nutrient supply than raising grazing height.

}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Bryant RH and Harkin C and Vazathara T and Edwards GR} } @conference {89229, title = {Milksolids production of dairy cows grazing lucerne and perennial ryegrass in spring}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {73}, year = {2013}, month = {Jan}, pages = {93-95}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, address = {Hamilton}, abstract = {

The potential of New Zealand grazing systems is dependant on the dry matter (DM) yield, nutritive characteristics, and utilisation of pasture. The most common pasture is a mixture of ryegrass and white clover, which is tolerant of a wide range of environments and management (Kemp et al. 1999). However species such as these with shallow root systems and poor growth in high temperatures will have reduced herbage accumulation and quality during dry summer periods (Hoglund \& White 1985). As demand for irrigation has increased to alleviate these problems, it has also raised questions about water allocation impacts on dairy farm production and profit (Thorrold et al. 2004). For Canterbury, which experiences hot, dry summers, lucerne is a potential source of high quality feed due to its active warm season growth and greater water use efficiency (Mills \& Moot 2010).

}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Smith G and Bryant RH and Edwards GR} } @conference {78976, title = {Dry matter intake and nitrogen losses of pregnant, non-lactating dairy cows fed kale with a range of supplements in winter}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {72}, year = {2012}, month = {Jan}, pages = {8-13}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, address = {Christchurch}, abstract = {

An outdoor winter-feeding study conducted over 14 days using 40 Friesian-Jersey cross dairy cows measured dry matter (DM) intake and nitrogen (N) excretion of cows fed kale with either barley straw (S), whole crop barley silage (WCBS) and Lotus pedunculatus silage (LS) fed with (LS+PEG) or without polyethylene glycol (LS-PEG). Treatment groups did not differ in DM utilisation of kale (80\%) or apparent intake of kale (11.6 kg DM/cow/d). Total daily intake of N was lowest for S, intermediate for WCBS and highest for LS+PEG and LS-PEG (280, 323, 350 and 352 g N/cow/d, respectively). Urinary N excretion was lower (P \< 0.05) on kale diets supplemented with either S or WCBS (202 and 186 g N/cow/d respectively) compared with LS+PEG and LS-PEG (227 and 239 g N/cow/d respectively). Supplement treatment did not affect total faecal N excretion but faecal N\% was higher (P \< 0.05) in LS treatment groups (3.05\% in LS+PEG and 3.28\% in LS-PEG), compared with WCBS (2.74\%) and S (2.43\%). This study indicates that the current commonly used feeding system of kale, supplemented with straw, is a feeding system that has a low urinary N excretion compared with alternatives.

}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Miller ME and Bryant RH and Edwards GR} } @conference {78996, title = {Grazing behaviour of dairy cows on simple and diverse swards in summer and autumn}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {72}, year = {2012}, month = {Jan}, pages = {106-110}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, address = {Christchurch}, abstract = {Increasing the proportion of dicotyledonous species such as herbs and legumes in dairy pastures may increase herbage dry matter intakes through ease of prehension. Simple swards consisting of either standard perennial ryegrass, high sugar ryegrass or tall fescue cultivars with white clover were established at the Lincoln University research dairy farm. Diverse swards were created by adding chicory and plantain to all mixtures, plus prairie grass and red clover to the perennial ryegrass, and praire grass and lucerne to the tall fescue. Grazing behaviour of cows during a two hour grazing session was monitored in summer and autumn. In summer, Diverse swards had a greater compressed sward surface height, lower mass and bulk density. Cows grazing Simple swards achieved a greater bite rate (49.3 vs 43.8 bites/min respectively (P < 0.05)). In autumn, all pasture swards had lower mass and contained a higher proportion of grass species than in summer. Bite rate was greater on Diverse compared with Simple swards (60.3 vs 54.3 bites/min respectively (P < 0.05)). Lower bite rate on Simple swards was compensated for by increasing grazing duration (P < 0.001). Sward type influenced bite rate adaptations.}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Bryant RH and Miller ME and Edwards GR} } @conference {75867, title = {BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Comparison of the performance of dairy cows offered energy supplements prior to drying off and kale at high and low allowance during the dry period in winter}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, volume = {71}, year = {2011}, month = {Jan}, pages = {33-36}, publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production}, address = {Invercargill}, abstract = {Forage availability and body condition score (BCS) of the dairy cow are important aspects of dairy livestock management during the dry and peripartum period. New Zealand guidelines recommend a target BCS of 5.0 at calving (1-10 scale where 1 = Emaciated and 10 = Obese, Roche et al., 2009). Providing adequate forage to meet... Continued}, issn = {1176-5283}, author = {Greenwood SL and Dalley DE and Purdie NG and Rugoho I and Bryant RH and Edwards GR} }