Session 1.5.4.

Interest of multi-species swards

for pasture-based milk

production systems

A. I. Roca-Fernández, J. L. Peyraud, L. Delaby,

J. Lassalas and R. Delagarde

http://www.multisward.eu

Session 1.5.4. Interest of multi-species for pasture-based milk production systems

BENEFITS OF MIXED SWARDS

vs. MONOCULTURES(Lüscher et al., 2013)

POTENTIAL OF MULTISPECIES

SWARDS vs. MIXED SWARDS (Sanderson et al., 2004; Soder et al., 2006)

At AGRONOMIC and

ZOOTECHNICAL level.

In Europe, productivity of CHICORY

BACKGROUND

Animal production per ha at grazing

WELL KNOWNLESS KNOWN

UNKNOWN

http://www.multisward.eu

Session 1.5.4. Interest of multi-species for pasture-based milk production systems

To compare FOUR TYPES OF SWARDS grazed by dairy cows on

SEASONAL and ANNUAL grazing days and milk production per ha.

OBJECTIVE

1 spp. 3 spp. 4 spp. 5 spp.

L LT LTC LTCF

Lolium perenne L. + Trifolium repens L.

+ Trifolium pratense L. + Cichorium intybus L. + Festuca arundinacea Schreb.

Pure ryegrass Mixed swards Multispecies swards (MSS)

http://www.multisward.eu

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN(From Multisward Common experiment)

Session 1.5.4. Interest of multi-species for pasture-based milk production systems

LOCATION

INRA

Le Rheu, France

STRIP-GRAZING SYSTEM

Total = 8.7 ha

ANIMALS

HF cows (n=36)

Reference

periods at each

grazing season

20 h/day

at grazing

without

supplementation

block

1block 2

block 3 block 4

4

3

2

1

4 treatments x 4 blocks

GRAZING AREA

http://www.multisward.eu

GRAZING MANAGEMENT

Session 1.5.4. Interest of multi-species for pasture-based milk production systems

Mineral N fertilisation = 75 kg N/ha/year for each treatment

GRAZING RULES

Same grazing calendar.

Similar pasture allowance (22 kg DM/cow/day > 3 cm).

Extra non experimental cows to adjust grazing pressure.

GRAZING CALENDAR

Seasons

Grazing

Cycles

2011

Autumn Spring Summer

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Autumn Spring Summer

Year 1 Year 2

2012 2013

Swards sown in 2010

http://www.multisward.eu

MEASUREMENTS

Session 1.5.4. Interest of multi-species for pasture-based milk production systems

AT SWARD LEVEL AT ANIMAL LEVEL

Pre-grazing pasture mass

Pasture height

Botanical composition

Chemical composition

Grazing days/ha

Milk production

per cow/day

per ha/year

Pasture DM intake (ytterbium in 5 grazing cycles)

http://www.multisward.eu

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Session 1.5.4. Interest of multi-species for pasture-based milk production systems

3 orthogonal contrasts to test the effect of:

T introducing legumes

M multispecies vs. mixed swards

F introducing tall fescue

BY ANALYSIS OF COVARIANCE

http://www.multisward.eu

SWARD CHARACTERISTICS

Session 1.5.4. Interest of multi-species for pasture-based milk production systems

Sward species: T~20%, C~30%, F~10%

- No treatment effect on pasture mass

- Greater pasture quality on MSS:

NDF (- 56 g/kg DM)

pasture DM digestibility (+ 24 g/kg DM)

http://www.multisward.eu

Treatment Contrast

Variable L LT LTC LTCF T M F

Grazing days (days/ha/year)

749 816 788 770 0.07 ns ns

Pasture intake (kg DM/cow/day)

14.4 15.0 16.6 16.5 ns ** ns

Milk per cow (kg/day)

17.1 18.1 18.4 18.8 *** * ns

Milk per ha (t/year)

14.0 16.1 15.6 15.6 ** ns ns

ANIMAL PERFORMANCE

Session 1.5.4. Interest of multi-species for pasture-based milk production systems

+ 13%

http://www.multisward.eu

NO INTERACTION WITH SEASON

Session 1.5.4. Interest of multi-species for pasture-based milk production systems

Good weather conditions favourable for ryegrass growth

Grazing days/ha Milk production/ha

http://www.multisward.eu

CONCLUSION

Session 1.5.4. Interest of multi-species for pasture-based milk production systems

Advantages of MULTI-SPECIES SWARDS on milk

production per ha are due to the cumulative effect of:

grazing days

pasture quality

pasture intake per cow

milk production per cow

http://www.multisward.eu

Thank you very much for your attention.

Session 1.5.4. Interest of multi-species for pasture-based milk production systems