Abstract
The effects of leader-follower grazing on intensively managed meadow fescue and perennial ryegrass pastures for dairy cattle were evaluated. A 1.6ha pasture was divided into 23 paddocks (each paddock being 7 a) and 4 lactating dairy cows were grazed on each paddock for 9 hours every day using the one-day grazing system. As followers, 2 heifers were grazed on each paddock, except for 3 control paddocks, for 24 hours starting immediately after the end of the cow (leader) grazing. Surplus grass in each paddock was harvested once a year. No significant differences in herbage yield and in nutritive value of herbage subjected to leader-follower grazing were found. The leader-follower grazing improved the efficiency of pasture utilization and did not affect the herbage intake of cows which was regulated by herbage allowance. Daily body weight gain of heifers (followers) was 0.87-1.02kg.
