Local breed Beef breed
(early-maturing)
Angus LI x Holstein Limousine Herens
Beef breed (late-maturing)
AN F1 LI HR
Crossbreed
461
610 513 620
LW cows (kg) Breed Type
OBJECTIVE
To study the differences in the feeding behaviour of four different types of suckler cows at pasture, in order to find out the best one for beef production from grass
RESULTS and DISCUSSION
yThe specialized beef types (AN&LI) spent less time grazing and ingested less grass at pasture than the dual-purpose types (F1&HR) yThe beef x dairy crossbred cows (F1) had the calves with the highest growth rate due to a high level of grass intake at pasture
combined with a high milk production potential.
yNo differences were recorded between the four types of cattle in the daily pattern of the grazing behaviour. This is probably due the a strong herd effect as they were conducted as a single herd.
Grazing behaviour and intake of four types of suckler cows at pasture
MATERIAL and METHODS
CONCLUSION
Based on their “assiduity” at grazing and the resulting productivity, it can be recommended to use beef x dairy crossbred cows in suckler herds for beef production at pasture.
André Chassot and N. Gressé
Swiss federal research station for animal production and dairy products (ALP), 1725 Posieux, Switzerland
Andre.Chassot
@alp.admin.ch
Grazing intake
Grazing behaviour Faecal alkane technique
Automatic recording system
Types of suckler cows
Measurement techniques
- 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
8 9 1011 1213 14 1516 1718 1920 21 2223 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Time
Grazingintensity(min/hr)
AN F1 LI HR
Mastication
8 :00 10 :00 12 :00 14 :00 16 :00 18 :00 20 :00 22 :00 0 :00 2 :00 4 :00 6 :00 8 :00
Biting
No activity
Time
Daily pattern
a b a ab
a b
ab a
a bc ac b
0 20 40 60 80 100
AN F1 LI HR
Proportion of 24 hours (%)
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
AN F1 LI HR
kg DM/100 kg LW Daily herbage DM intake
9.5 10.0 10.5 11.0 11.5 12.0
AN F1 LI HR
Hours/day
51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58
AN F1 LI HR
Jawmvt/min
Grazing time Biting rate
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
AN F1 LI HR
mg DM Bite mass
calculated
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600
AN F1 LI HR
ADG (g d-1)
Growth of the calvesa
aMean of a one-month period around the period of behaviour recording
