Use of farm grown cereal/protein mixes by lactating dairy cows in a winter diet

COQUIL, X. ; TROMMENSCHLAGER, J-M. ; BAZARD, C. ; DESPRES, S. and DELABY, L. (2009) Use of farm grown cereal/protein mixes by lactating dairy cows in a winter diet. [Valorisation par les vaches laitières de mélanges céréales/protéagineux fermiers dans une ration hivernale.] Carrefours de l'Innovation Agronomique, 4, pp. 145-149.

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Document available online at: http://www.inra.fr/ciag/revue_innovations_agronomiques/volume_4_janvier_2009

Summary in the original language of the document

We compared the use of three farm grown cereal/protein mixes (oat/fava bean, barley/lupin, triticale/pea), that were used to complement lactating dairy cow diets based on hay consisting of alfalfa/orchard grass and perennial grassland. The trial took place in 2007 at the INRA experimental station of Mirecourt, where an organic mixed-crop dairy system is being prototyped. The experiment was carried out in a Latin square with three groups of eight cows (50% Holstein, 50% Montbéliarde). The cows were fed 4 kg/cow/day of one of the three cereal/protein mixes, 8 kg DM/cow/day of alfalfa/orchardgrass hay, and permanent grassland hay ad libitum. The three diets were indicative of the animals’ needs. Diets had no significant effect on milk production (20.3 kg/cow/d) and milk fat content (41.3 g/kg). However, dairy cows fed with the oat/fababean mix had a significantly lower protein content in their milk. This is the result of: (i) a nitrogen surplus in relation to energy, and (ii) a lower starch content compared to the two other diets. Therefore, in organic mixed-crop dairy systems with forages that are rich in nitrogen, the choice to cultivate mixtures of cereal/pulses and the composition of these mixtures must be primarily based on their agronomic interest and not on their zootechnical one since they are not essential to a balanced animal diet.

Summary translation

Cet essai a été réalisé en carré latin, comportant 3 lots de 8 vaches laitières (50% Holstein, 50% Montbéliarde). Les animaux recevaient 4 kg/VL/j d’un des mélanges céréales/protéagineux, 8 kg MS/VL/j de foin de luzerne/dactyle et du foin de prairie permanente ad libitum. Les rations testées ont présenté un bon équilibre azote/énergie, mais variant significativement selon la ration (101 à 106 g PDIN/UFL). La production laitière (20,3 kg de lait/VL/j) et le taux butyreux (41,3 g/kg de lait) n’ont pas varié significativement selon la ration ingérée. Les vaches laitières ayant reçu le mélange avoine/féverole ont eu un TP significativement inférieur par rapport aux deux autres mélanges. Ce résultat est expliqué par (i) un surplus d’azote par rapport à l’énergie et (ii) une teneur en amidon plus faible en comparaison aux 2 autres rations. Les concentrés ont faiblement contribué à la fourniture d’azote dans la ration (22,6% des apports de PDIN). Ainsi, dans des systèmes de polyculture élevage laitiers biologiques possédant des fourrages riches en azote, le choix de mettre en culture des associations céréales/protéagineux et le choix de la composition de ces associations doivent être prioritairement raisonnés sur la base de leurs intérêts agronomiques, et non zootechniques, puisqu’elles ne sont pas indispensables à l’équilibre des rations des vaches laitières.

EPrint Type:	Journal paper
Keywords:	organic farming; dairy cows; winter diets; complementation; cereal/protein mixes; hay.
Subjects:	Animal husbandry > Production systems > Dairy cattle Animal husbandry > Feeding and growth
Research affiliation:	France > INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique
Related Links:	http://www1.montpellier.inra.fr/dinabio/
Deposited By:	PENVERN, Servane
ID Code:	15474
Deposited On:	01 Mar 2009
Last Modified:	12 Apr 2010 07:39
Document Language:	French/Francais
Status:	Published
Refereed:	Peer-reviewed and accepted

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