Sammendrag
Two short-term grazing experiments were conducted with Norwegian Red cows. In Exp 1, 24 cows
were randomly assigned to one of the following three pasture allocation methods (PAM): weekly
pasture allowance (7RG), grazing 1/7 of 7RG each day (1SG), or grazing as 1SG but had access to
grazed part of the paddock within one week (1FG). In Exp 2, 7RG was shortened to 5 days (5RG).
We hypothesized that PAM will affect sward quality, quantity, intake and production differently.
Pasture chemical composition changed with advancing grazing days but were not different
between treatments. Pasture intake, milk yield, and methane emission were not affected by
PAM. In Exp 1, 7RG cows spent less time on grazing, whereas in Exp 2, 1FG cows spent longer
on grazing than others. Patterns observed in sward quality, and behavioural and physiological
adaptations of cows to short-term changes in nutrient supply may explain the observed effects.
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