Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Calculating herbage utilization and intake by dairy cows under subtropical conditions using conventional field measurement techniques or the HerbValo method

  • Regular Articles
  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the HerbValo method in comparison to conventional field measurement techniques as a tool for estimating the herbage utilization and dry matter (DM) intake by grazing dairy cows under subtropical conditions. It was carried out during 18 months in a commercial farm of Southern Brazil. The herbage utilization was estimated monthly in two to four randomly selected paddocks (total n = 40) using the rising-plate meter or the double-sampling technique. In parallel, the herbage utilization was estimated by the HerbValo method, which is based on simple descriptions of the herd, supplements, pasture and grazing management. Values of herbage utilization estimated by field techniques were linearly (P < 0.01) related to those estimated by HerbValo, with no effect of pasture type (tropical vs. temperate) on the origin or on the slope of the regression (slope = 0.97; origin = -0.1; R2 = 0.81; rsd = 0.17 t DM/ha). At cow × day level, values of herbage intake estimated by field techniques were also linearly related to those estimated by HerbValo (P < 0.01; R2 = 0.82; rsd = 1.30 kg DM/cow/day). A negative linear relationship (P < 0.01) between herbage and supplement intake was obtained for both field (slope = -1.06; R2 = 0.72; rsd = 1.64) and HerbValo (slope = -0.92; R2 = 0.82; rsd = 1.08) approaches. Herbage utilization and intake by a dairy herd in a subtropical grazing-based system can be reliably estimated by the HerbValo method with the advantage of not requiring direct field pasture measurements.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The data sets generated during this study are available and obtainable from the corresponding authors on reasonable request.

References

  • AOAC, 1997. Official Methods of Analysis. 16th (Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Gaithersburg, MD).

    Google Scholar 

  • Barros, E.C., Nicoloso, R., Oliveira, P.A.V. and Corrêa, J.C., 2019. Potencial agronômico dos dejetos de suínos (EMBRAPA Suínos e Aves, Concórdia, SC, Brazil).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cho, W., Brorsen, B.W., Biermacher, J.T. and Rogers, J.K., 2019. Rising plate meter calibrations for forage mass of wheat and rye. Agricultural & Environmental Letters, 4, 1-4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cowan, R.T. 1975. Grazing time and pattern of grazing of Friesian cows on a tropical grass-legume pasture. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, 15, 32-37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delagarde, R., Faverdin, P., Baratte, C. and Peyraud, J.L., 2011a. GrazeIn: a model of herbage intake and milk production for grazing dairy cows. 2. Prediction of intake under rotational and continuously stocked grazing management. Grass and Forage Science, 66, 45-60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delagarde, R., Faverdin, P., Baratte, C. and Peyraud, J.L., 2011b. GrazeIn: a model of herbage intake and milk production for grazing dairy cows. 3. Simulations and external validation of the model. Grass and Forage Science, 66, 61-77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delagarde, R., Caillat, H. and Fortin, J., 2017. HerbValo, une méthode pour estimer dans chaque parcelle la quantité d'herbe valorisée par les ruminants au pâturage. Fourrages, 229, 55-61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Delagarde, R., Robic, Y., Leurent-Colette, S. and Delaby, L., 2018. HerbValo- a method for calculating annual pasture utilisation by dairy cows at paddock level. In: Proceedings of the 27rd General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation, Cork, Ireland, (EGF, v.3), 960-970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Earle, D.F. and McGowan, A.A., 1979. Evaluation and calibration of an automated rising plate meter for estimating dry matter yield of pasture. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, 19, 337-343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flores, J.F., Stobbs, T.H. and Minson, D.J. 1979. The influence of the legume Leucaena leucocephala and formal- casein on the production and composition of milk from grazing cows. Journal of Agricultural Science, 92, 351-357.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • García, S.C., Islam, M.R., Clark, C.E.F. and Martin, P.M., 2014. Kikuyu-based pasture for dairy production: a review. Crop and Pasture Science, 65, 787-797.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hennessy, D., Delaby, L., Van den Pol-van Dasselaar, A. and Shalloo, L., 2020. Increasing grazing in dairy cow milk production systems in Europe. Sustainability, 12, 2443.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holmes, C.W., 1974. The Massey grass meter. Dairy Farming Annual (Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand), 26-30.

  • INRA, 2010. Alimentation des bovins, ovins et caprins: Besoins des animaux – Valeurs des aliments (QUAE Editions, Versailles, France).

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeulin, T., Lescoat, P.and Alinat, C., 2001. Evolution et estimation visuelle de la valeur nutritive d'une prairie de ray-grass anglais en condition de pâturage tournant. Rencontres Recherches Ruminants, 8, 221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mugerwa, J.S., Christensen, D.A. and Ochetim, S. 1973. Grazing behaviour of exotic dairy cattle in Uganda. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal 39, 1-11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, D.J., O’Brien, B., Hennessy, D., Hurley, M. and Murphy, M.D., 2021a. Evaluation of the precision of the rising plate meter for measuring compressed sward height on heterogeneous grassland swards. Precision Agriculture, 22, 922-946.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, D.J., Shine, P. and Murphy, M.D., 2021b. Utilizing grassland management and climate data for more accurate prediction of herbage mass using the rising plate meter. Precision Agriculture, 22, 1189-1216.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • O’Neill, B.F., Lewis, E., O’Donovan, M., Shalloo, L., Mulligan, F.J., Boland, T.M. and Delagarde, R., 2012. Evaluation of the GrazeIn model of grass dry-matter intake and milk production prediction for dairy cows in temperate grass-based production systems. 1-Sward characteristics and grazing management factors. Grass and Forage Science, 68, 504-523.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez-Prieto, L.A., Peyraud, J.L. and Delagarde, R., 2011. Substitution rate and milk yield response to corn silage supplementation of late-lactation dairy cows grazing low-mass pastures at 2 daily allowances in autumn. Journal of Dairy Science, 94, 3592-3604.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Poppi, D.P., Hughes, T.P. and L’Huillier, P.J., 1987. Intake of pasture by grazing ruminants. In: Nicol A.M. (Ed.), Feeding livestock on pasture, 1987 (New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Occasional Publication n°10), 55-63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramsbottom, G., Horan, B., Berry, D. P. and Roche, J. R., 2015. Factors associated with the financial performance of spring-calving, pasture-based dairy farms. Journal of Dairy Science, 98, 3526-3540.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ribeiro-Filho, H.M.N., Dall-Orsoletta, A.C., Mendes, D. and Delagarde R., 2021. Dry matter intake and milk production of grazing dairy cows supplemented with corn silage or a total mixed ration offered ad libitum in a subtropical area. Animal Science Journal, 92, e13558.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sanderson, M.A., Rotz, C.A., Fultz, S.W. and Rayburn, E.B., 2001. Estimating forage mass with a commercial capacitance meter, rising plate meter, and pasture ruler. Agronomy Journal, 93, 1281-1286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Senger, C.C.D., Kozloski, G.V., Sanchez, L.M.B., Mesquita, F.R., Alves, T.P. and Castagnino, D.S. 2008. Evaluation of autoclave procedures for fibre analysis in forage and concentrate feedstuffs. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 146, 169-174.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stobbs, T.H. 1978. Milk production, milk composition, rate of milking and grazing behaviour of dairy cows grazing two tropical grass pastures under a leader and follower system. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, 18, 5-11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stockdale, C.R. and King, K.R., 1983. A comparison of two techniques used to estimate the herbage intake of lactating dairy cows in a grazing experiment. Journal of Agricultural Science, 100, 227-230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stockdale, C.R., 1984. Evaluation of techniques for estimating the yield of irrigated pastures intensively grazed by dairy cows. 2. The rising plate meter. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, 24, 305–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stockdale, C.R., 1997. Supplements improve the production of dairy cows grazing either white clover or paspalum-dominant pastures in late lactation. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 37, 295-302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, N.A., Upsdell, M.P., Hooper, R., Henderson, H.V., Blackwell, M.B., McCallum, D.A., R.J. Hainsworth and Penno, J.W., 2001. Development and evaluation of a standardized means for estimating herbage mass of dairy pastures using the rising plate meter. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association, 63, 149-157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 't Mannetje, L., 2000. Measuring biomass of grassland vegetation. In: 'T Mannetje, L.; Jones, R.M. (Eds). Field and laboratory methods for grassland and animal production research CABI Publishing, Wallingford, 151-177.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Wales, W.J., Doyle, P.T., Stockdale, C.R. and Dellow, D.W., 1999. Effects of variations in herbage mass, allowance, and level of supplement on nutrient intake and milk production of dairy cows in spring and summer. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 39, 119–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

The authors thank the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES, Brazil) and the Highlands.3 Project (Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 872328) for scholarships support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-340, Brazil

    Letícia Wlodarski, Larissa B. Temp, Matheus L. Moraes, Mateus G. Santos & Gilberto V. Kozloski

  2. PEGASE, INRAE, InstitutAgro, F-35590, Saint-Gilles, France

    Rémy Delagarde

  3. CIT-Formosa, CONICET; Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Formosa, 3600, Formosa, Argentina

    Claudio A. Pozo

  4. Departamento de Produção Animal e Alimentos, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Lages, SC, 88520-000, Brazil

    Henrique M.N. Ribeiro Filho

Authors
  1. Letícia Wlodarski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rémy Delagarde
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Claudio A. Pozo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Henrique M.N. Ribeiro Filho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Larissa B. Temp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Matheus L. Moraes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Mateus G. Santos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Gilberto V. Kozloski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

G. V. Kozloski, L Wlodarski, R. Delagarde, C. A. Pozo and H.M.N. Ribeiro Filho conceived and designed the study; contributed with data analysis and have reviewed the manuscript critically. L Wlodarski, L. B. Temp, M. L. Moraes and M. G. Santos conducted data gathering and laboratorial analysis.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gilberto V. Kozloski.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

The study was carried out following procedures approved by the Animal Care and Ethical Committee of the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (Protocol n°

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wlodarski, L., Delagarde, R., Pozo, C.A. et al. Calculating herbage utilization and intake by dairy cows under subtropical conditions using conventional field measurement techniques or the HerbValo method. Trop Anim Health Prod 56, 26 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-023-03863-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-023-03863-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation