Relationship between Temperate Grass Sward Characteristics and the Grazing Behavior of Dairy Heifers
Sward architecture mediates ruminant grazing behavior in temperate grazing lands. Temperate grasses differ in their sward structure, which may influence the grazing behavior of cattle. We determined relationships between the grazing behavior of dairy heifers and the sward structure of the following...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/7/1584 |
| _version_ | 1797407907617177600 |
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| author | Kathy J. Soder Geoffrey E. Brink Edward J. Raynor Michael D. Casler |
| author_facet | Kathy J. Soder Geoffrey E. Brink Edward J. Raynor Michael D. Casler |
| author_sort | Kathy J. Soder |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sward architecture mediates ruminant grazing behavior in temperate grazing lands. Temperate grasses differ in their sward structure, which may influence the grazing behavior of cattle. We determined relationships between the grazing behavior of dairy heifers and the sward structure of the following temperate grasses: meadow fescue (<i>Schedonorus pratensis</i> (Huds.) P. Beauv.), orchardgrass (<i>Dactylis glomerata</i> L.), quackgrass (<i>Elymus repens</i> (L.) Gould), and reed canarygrass (<i>Phalaris arundinacea</i> L.). Vegetative-stage grasses were rotationally grazed by Holstein heifers (average initial body weight of 460 kg) during 5 day periods in the spring, summer, and fall of 2007 and 2008. The herbage dry matter (DM) allowance was twice the expected daily intake (11 kg DM animal<sup>−1</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>). The sward characteristics were measured before grazing (e.g., the herbage height and mass, vertical distribution of leaf and stem fraction, and nutritive value). The grazing behavior of the heifers was quantified using automatic jaw movement recorders. In this study, the grass species had little effect on the grazing behavior. However, the bite rate was negatively correlated with the herbage mass, while the number of bites was positively correlated with the sward height and herbage mass. These results suggest that when herbage availability is not limited, grazing dairy heifers exhibit similar ingestive and rumination behavior across grass species and seasons, yet jaw movement dynamics may respond to the different characteristics of the swards. The results of this study provide the following benefits: (1) they inform managers about the jaw movement mechanics that can be expected of dairy heifers in temperate forage systems, showing that they are not limited by herbage allowance, and (2) they provide insight for future studies that employ on-animal sensors to evaluate foraging dynamics and animal performance outcomes in temperate forage pasture systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:48:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7d742272b1ac404fae39f5d5e204669d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:48:30Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-7d742272b1ac404fae39f5d5e204669d2023-12-03T14:30:37ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-06-01127158410.3390/agronomy12071584Relationship between Temperate Grass Sward Characteristics and the Grazing Behavior of Dairy HeifersKathy J. Soder0Geoffrey E. Brink1Edward J. Raynor2Michael D. Casler3USDA-ARS, Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit, Bldg. 3702 Curtin Road, University Park, PA 16802, USAUSDA-ARS, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, 1925 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706, USAUSDA-ARS, Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit, Bldg. 3702 Curtin Road, University Park, PA 16802, USAUSDA-ARS, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, 1925 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706, USASward architecture mediates ruminant grazing behavior in temperate grazing lands. Temperate grasses differ in their sward structure, which may influence the grazing behavior of cattle. We determined relationships between the grazing behavior of dairy heifers and the sward structure of the following temperate grasses: meadow fescue (<i>Schedonorus pratensis</i> (Huds.) P. Beauv.), orchardgrass (<i>Dactylis glomerata</i> L.), quackgrass (<i>Elymus repens</i> (L.) Gould), and reed canarygrass (<i>Phalaris arundinacea</i> L.). Vegetative-stage grasses were rotationally grazed by Holstein heifers (average initial body weight of 460 kg) during 5 day periods in the spring, summer, and fall of 2007 and 2008. The herbage dry matter (DM) allowance was twice the expected daily intake (11 kg DM animal<sup>−1</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>). The sward characteristics were measured before grazing (e.g., the herbage height and mass, vertical distribution of leaf and stem fraction, and nutritive value). The grazing behavior of the heifers was quantified using automatic jaw movement recorders. In this study, the grass species had little effect on the grazing behavior. However, the bite rate was negatively correlated with the herbage mass, while the number of bites was positively correlated with the sward height and herbage mass. These results suggest that when herbage availability is not limited, grazing dairy heifers exhibit similar ingestive and rumination behavior across grass species and seasons, yet jaw movement dynamics may respond to the different characteristics of the swards. The results of this study provide the following benefits: (1) they inform managers about the jaw movement mechanics that can be expected of dairy heifers in temperate forage systems, showing that they are not limited by herbage allowance, and (2) they provide insight for future studies that employ on-animal sensors to evaluate foraging dynamics and animal performance outcomes in temperate forage pasture systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/7/1584grass speciesleaf blade severance energyleaf tensile strengthon-animal sensorsward structure–grazing behavior relationships |
| spellingShingle | Kathy J. Soder Geoffrey E. Brink Edward J. Raynor Michael D. Casler Relationship between Temperate Grass Sward Characteristics and the Grazing Behavior of Dairy Heifers Agronomy grass species leaf blade severance energy leaf tensile strength on-animal sensor sward structure–grazing behavior relationships |
| title | Relationship between Temperate Grass Sward Characteristics and the Grazing Behavior of Dairy Heifers |
| title_full | Relationship between Temperate Grass Sward Characteristics and the Grazing Behavior of Dairy Heifers |
| title_fullStr | Relationship between Temperate Grass Sward Characteristics and the Grazing Behavior of Dairy Heifers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Relationship between Temperate Grass Sward Characteristics and the Grazing Behavior of Dairy Heifers |
| title_short | Relationship between Temperate Grass Sward Characteristics and the Grazing Behavior of Dairy Heifers |
| title_sort | relationship between temperate grass sward characteristics and the grazing behavior of dairy heifers |
| topic | grass species leaf blade severance energy leaf tensile strength on-animal sensor sward structure–grazing behavior relationships |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/7/1584 |
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