Nutrient selection by dairy cows grazing chicory or perennial ryegrass during spring

Abstract

Traditional measures of the nutrient concentration of herbage before grazing may not accurately depict the nutrient intake of grazing animals. An experiment was conducted to investigate differences in DM and nutrient intake, and milk production of lactating cows offered chicory- or perennial ryegrass-based diets during spring on a commercial dairy farm in south-west Victoria. This experiment was conducted in mid-lactation (spring), with chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and a mixed sward of chicory and perennial ryegrass offered at two daily allowances (nominally 20 and 30 kg DM/cow to ground level). Selection differentials for estimated metabolisable ene..