21st Annual Student Research Conference
The Association of Pasture Intake on Estimates of Actual Milk Production and on Genetic Estimates of Milk Production with Grazing Gelbvieh Cow-Calf Pairs.
Sheila M. Rustemeyer
Dr. Glenn R. Wehner, Faculty Mentor
The quality and amount of pasture consumption by grazing cow/calf pairs was evaluated to determine the correlation between pasture maturity and sequential milk production. This project involved characterizing pasture sward communities by percent composition and assessing the intake of these pastures by the cage and strip method over a course of the grazing season for 2007. Measurements were obtained weekly on the amount of forage available to the pairs. Grazing effects on soil nutrient content and soil compaction was also assessed. The dry matter, ash content, fiber content, fat content, and protein content was found for each sample. The objectives of this study were to attempt to correlate nutritional parameters to actual milk production of cows and their interaction with calf growth and to hopefully generate a predictive equation that relates milk production to udder score parameters and calf weight gain.
Keywords: Seasonal Pasture Quality, Cow-Calf Pairs, Milk Production, Nutrition
Topic(s):Agricultural Science
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 29-4
Location: VH 1428
Time: 2:00