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    Keep an eye on the digestive processes of dairy cows during the transition to pasture by screening manure

    Feed changes, such as at the beginning and end of the grazing season, also affect the digestive system of cattle, as the entire digestive system (especially the rumen) has to adapt to the new ration. With the help of feces screening, conclusions can be drawn about how the food changes affect the digestive processes. During manure sieving, the manure is sieved using a three-part sieve (consisting of an upper, middle and lower sieve) and depending on the proportion of fecal residue in the three sieves, it can be estimated how well the food was digested. As part of a research project, it was investigated how the structure and composition of the feces changes during the transition phases in spring and autumn and whether there are differences between paddock pasture and short grass pasture.

    The results of this project show that the feces dry matter was significantly lower when fed on pasture than when fed in stables . It was also noticeable that in the first two to four weeks after the feed change, the proportion of fecal fractions in the upper sieve was higher and that in the middle and lower sieves was lower. This was noted during both the spring and fall transitions and suggests that feed digested less well first few weeks after the .

    also found paddock pasture and short grass pasture farming The forage from the short grass pasture had a higher digestibility of organic matter and fiber than that from the paddock pasture. In addition, a lower manure dry matter content was found in short-grass pasture farming, as well as higher proportions in the upper sieve and lower proportions in the middle and lower sieve during manure screening. This suggests that the digestive processes in the rumen were somewhat impaired by the high-sugar and low-structure short-grass pasture forage, although the digestibility of the forage was higher than in paddock grazing.

    Based on the results available, it is advisable to change the feed as slowly and gently as possible . This means that structural feed (e.g. in hay racks) should still be offered in the first few weeks after starting full-grazing farming. It is also advisable to start feeding in the stable or via feed racks a few weeks before the animal is installed in the autumn. In this way, the gentlest possible change in feed can be ensured without major effects on the animal's digestive processes.

     

    Further information on manure screening: Cattle feces assessment

     (c) HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein

    team

    Terler Georg, Dr.

    Dr. George Terler

    Milk production and animal nutrition
    Steinwidder Andreas, Priv.  Doz.  Dr.

    Priv. Doz. Dr. Andreas Steinwidder

    Head of Research & Innovation
    Rohrer Hannes

    Hannes Rohrer

    Organic grassland and agriculture

     

    Effects of a change in feed from stable to pasture farming on the digestive processes and milk production of dairy cows

    Kiendler Stefanie (2020 - 2024)
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