Effect of concentrate supplementation level on production, health and efficiency in an organic dairy herd

The proportions of organic feed and roughage in the feed ration for organic dairy cows have to reach 100 and 60%, respectively, in 2005. The aim of this study was to elucidate the long-term effects of reducing or omitting concentrate supplementation to high genetic merit dairy cows on a basal ad libitum diet of clover-grass (silage and grazing). Three concentrate levels, N, L and L+ (38, 0 and 19% of dry matter (DM) intake, respectively) were investigated in a herd of 60 cows during 3 years. The production in group N was 6723 kg energy corrected milk (ECM) per cow year, based on an intake of 6226 kg DM of which 38% was concentrates. In group L the omission of concentrates reduced intake to 4770 kg DM, and milk production to 5090 kg ECM per cow year. Milk protein content was reduced and milk free fatty acid content was increased, and the first calving interval was significantly increased, as compared to group N. The intake in group L+ was 5226 kg DM per cow year of which 19% was concentrates. Milk production in group L+ was reduced by only 493 kg ECM per cow year as compared to group N, primarily due to a significantly improved feed conversion ratio (12%). There were no indications of health problems associated with the reduced feeding levels

Micro-mineral profile in different grassland species

The aim was to investigate the micro-mineral profile of herbage as affected by grassland species, cutting time and seasonality and in relation to dairy cow requirements. The different grassland species were grown and harvested in mixtures with one grass and one legume for two growing seasons. The species turned out to have very individual mineral profiles, not influenced by year. Among the legumes red clover (Trifolium pratense) had high concentrations of Co, Cu and Zn, white clover (Trifolium repens) of Mn and Fe, lucerne (Medicago sativa) of Se and lotus (Lotus corniculatus) of Co, Mn, Zn and Fe. Among the grasses perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) generally had the highest concentrations of all the micro-minerals. Hybrid ryegrass (Lolium hybridum) had slightly lower concentrations than perennial ryegrass for all minerals. Meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis) had lower concentrations still, and timothy (Phleum pratense) had, with the exception of Zn, the lowest concentrations. In general, the mineral concentrations were higher in summer than in spring growth. During the growth Cu, Zn and Fe concentrations decreased, whereas Co, Se and Mg were unaffected. It was concluded that a mixture of red clover and perennial ryegrass had the best profile of micro-minerals for cattle feeding

Vitamin and mineral content and feeding value of different legumes and grass species grown in seven legume-grass mixtures

The aim was to examine if including a range of grassland species could help to balance the diet on organic dairy farms compared with traditional mixtures. Four different grass species and four legume species were grown and harvested in mixtures with one grass and one legume for two growing seasons. The species turned out to have very individual mineral, vitamin and fiber profiles and organic matter digestibility, not influenced by year. Among the legumes red clover (Trifolium pratense) and white clover (Trifolium repens) had the highest feeding value and red clover had further a high content of Co, Cu and Zn. Lucerne (Medicago sativa) had as red clover a high growth potential in mixture but had in general a low content of macro and micro minerals with exception of Se. Lotus (Lotus corniculatus) had a low competitive strength, and the effect of the whole herbage was therefore limited even that the content of the vitamins were high. Among the grasses perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) generally had the highest feeding value, and a higher content of the macro and micro minerals and of vitamins as well than the other grasses (hybrid ryegrass (Lolium hybridum), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis) and timothy (Phleum pratense)). The only exception was meadow fescue, which had a higher content of alfa-tocopherol

Performance and parasitosis in heifers grazing mixed with sows

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of mixed grazing with first season heifers and pregnant sows on animal performance, gastro-intestinal helminths, pasture quality and sward structure during three grazing seasons. This presentation will focus on results from 1999, primarily regarding performance and parasitosis in heifers. There have been no earlier reports on such mixed grazing systems. Three grazing systems were studied in replicate: 1) Heifers grazing alone; 2) sows grazing alone; 3) heifers grazing together with sows. The heifers were inoculated with low doses of infective O.ostertagi larvae at turn-out. Continuous grazing was practised in paddocks regulated in size according to herbage allowance. Individual weight gain, faecal egg output and serum pepsinogen concentrations - as indicator of O.ostertagi infection - were measured fortnightly. The sward structure and quality were greatly influenced by the applied grazing system. The average daily gain of the heifers was significantly higher (P=0.0006) when grazing together with sows (1,121±45 g/day, n=16) than when grazing alone (869±48 g/day, n=14). The mean pepsinogen concentrations were elevated in the heifers grazing alone. It is concluded, that weight gains were significantly better and infection levels with O.ostertagi were significantly reduced in heifers grazing together with sows

Lokalt dyrket grønt til køerne – helt i økologiens ånd

Med den rigtige blanding af urter i grovfoderet til køerne kan økologiske landmænd dække dyrenes behov for mineraler og vitaminer med hjemmedyrket foder og derved undgå at indkøbe tilskudsblandinge

Grazing with heifers and sows alone or mixed: herbage quality, sward structure and animal weight gain

The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of mixed grazing (MI) by sows and heifers with alternate grazing (AL) or grazing heifers (HN) and sows (SN) alone on animal weight gain, sward structure, herbage quality and composition, and selection during grazing. Mixed or alternate grazing consistently improved the weight gain in both heifers and sows, compared with grazing one species alone, but the positive effect was statistically significant only for heifers. The herbage quality of the MI and AL systems was better compared with the SN system, but not clearly better compared with the HN system. The total animal weight gain (heifers+sows) and estimated herbage intake per hectare were also higher in the MI and AL systems compared with SN and HN systems. The sows grazed selectively as they preferred clover rather than grass and grass leaves rather than grass stem. Only few turnovers of the sward by the sows were observed. Animal behaviour was not systematically surveyed, but no adverse behaviour was observed between the two animal species. Herbage quality, proportion of rejected herbage and the load of gastro-intestinal nematodes in heifers could have positively influenced animal weight gain per day and hectare in the MI and AL systems in this study

Kataforik. En empirisk undersøgelse af pronominelle kataforer ud fra en receptiv synsvinkel

No abstract

IS THE TRIPS AGREEMENT AN ADEQUATE MEANS TO DEAL WITH UNAUTHORIZED COPYING OF SOUND RECORDINGS FROM THE INTERNET?

The Internet has expanded vastly in recent years, both in use and utility. It has become one of the most important means of distributors of information in our time. This increasing popularity has also led to online fraud, theft, piracy, and infringement. The music industry is one of the branches that will experience upheaval in the next few years. The Internet might even change the way music is distributed. Experts believe that the Internet could alter the way music is distributed and undermine the physical distribution of sound recordings. Yet, on the other hand, the Internet could help unknown bands by promoting their music to the whole world easily and cheaply. The Internet has no labels that might refuse to publish the music; it is the listeners who determine whether the music will be popular. The recording industry states that without copyright protection they are not guaranteed compensation, which again will take away the incentive to make music. Another important aspect of the Internet is that it has worldwide coverage, which means that infringement of a copyright is an international problem. However, the international copyright system is based on international treaties that have set some minimum standards that the signatories should apply to their national laws, so their national laws are coordinated. Lately, many countries have shown a growing interest in harmonizing their copyright laws. One result of this increased interest is the TRIPS agreement

Økologisk mælkeproduktion - reduceret foderniveau og strategisk anvendelse af tilskudsfoder

På den økologiske forsøgsstation Rugballegaard blev der i 1996 etableret tre produktionssystemer omfattende husdyr og sædskifte. Formålet var at belyse de overordnede bedriftsmæssige konsekvenser af økologiske produktionssystemer med kombinationer af kvæg og svin i forhold til specialiseret produktion af kvæg henholdsvis svin. Dette indlæg omhandler resulter vedrørende køerne og mælkeproduktionen. Formålet med forsøgene med malkekvægbesætningen var at undersøge malkekøernes produktion, reproduktion, sundhed og foderudnyttelse samt mælkens kvalitet, når køerne blev fodret på et reduceret niveau med grovfoder alene (primært frisk og/eller konserveret kløvergræs) eller suppleret med små mængder tilskudsfoder først i laktationen