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Dietary Preference of Dairy Cows Grazing Ryegrass and White Clover

Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, North Wyke, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 2SB, England, UK

Corresponding author: S. M. Rutter; e-mail: mark.rutter{at}bbsrc.ac.uk.

The dietary preference of lactating dairy cows grazing perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) was studied. Twelve groups of 2 lactating, Holstein-Friesian dairy cows grazed 1.2-ha plots containing conterminal monocultures of clover and grass. Half of the groups grazed a plot containing 75% clover and 25% grass (by ground area), with the remaining groups grazing a plot containing 25% clover and 75% grass. The intake rates of clover were higher than those of grass, and intake rates were higher in the evening than in the morning. During daylight hours, clover formed 63.2% of the diet of the groups offered 25% clover, which was higher than the 25% offered but lower than preference for 100% clover. This indicated that cows showed a partial preference for clover, with an overall value (i.e., the mean of the 75% and 25% clover groups) of 73.8%. There was a diurnal pattern to preference, with a stronger preference for clover in the morning and with the preference for grass increasing during the day. The basis for partial preference remains unclear and warrants further research.

Key Words: grazing • dairy cow • behavior • legume

Abbreviation key: C25 = 25% clover, 75% grass treatment, C75 = 75% clover, 25% grass treatment, SSH = sward surface height

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