Extension of Grazing Period in the Late Autumn Using Regrowth after Second Harvesting of Timothy (Phleum pratense L.) Meadow

Abstract

In order to examine the effect of late autumn grazing after the second cutting of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) meadow on extension of grazing period and dry matter intake of dairy cows, and the successive first crop yield and botanical composition were measured at two study sites (fulltime grazing in Sapporo and night time grazing in Hiroo) in Hokkaido for three years. The herbage mass of regrowth was 57-263kg DM/10a and the grazing period was extended 7-23 days. During the grazing period, the efficiency of the utilization of grass was 70-85%. Both fulltime grazing and night grazing, daily dry matter intake of grazing grass was almost correspond to that in the genaral grazing period. The dry matter yield of the successive first cutting was 444-669kg/10a, and the dominance of timothy was maintained. The results suggest that the late autumn grazing after the second cutting of the timothy meadow is effective to extend grazing period of dairy cows.