Atkins, N.E.

Bleach, E.C.L.

Hargreaves, PR

Sinclair, L.A.

Forage choice or trace mineral supplementation are not the main factors impacting performance of outwintered heifers.Most replacement dairy heifers out-wintered in the UK are from low input spring calving systems, with the common forages being grass, kale and fodder beet (Atkins et al, 2014). Farmers using such systems generally consider performance of heifers to be adequate, reporting mean liveweight (Lwt) gain of 0.56 kg/d – enough to reach 90% of mature Lwt by first calving (Atkins et al, 2014). Previous research has reported reduced performance of dairy cows out-wintered on grass (Keogh et al, 2009) and trace mineral nutrition may affect performance, particularly when grazing kale, a brassica low in copper and containing anti-nutritional factors (Barry, 2013). The objective of the study was to compare theperformance and metabolism of heifers out-wintered on the three most common forages in commercial spring calving farms and the effect of trace mineral supplementatio

SRUC - Scotland's Rural College

The effects of out-wintering replacement dairy heifers on deferred grazing, kale or fodder beet without or with a trace mineral bolus on pre-calving performance in commercial spring calving herds

There is little effect of out-wintering forage source on subsequent lactation performance, but the provision of a mineral bolus may improve performance and reproduction in early lactation particularly when out-wintered on kale.Out-wintering replacement dairy heifers on grass, kale or fodder beet, is most common amongst low input spring calving systems (Atkins et al, 2014). Farmers out-wintering heifers generally consider performance in first lactation, equal to that of housed animals (Atkins et al, 2014). Indeed, past research has reported comparable lactation performance in dairy cows out-wintered on forage brassicas or grass compared with housing (Keogh et al, 2009). Trace mineral nutrition, particularly when grazing kale, may also affect the subsequent lactation performance due to the low trace mineral concentration in forages and anti-nutritional factors. The objective of the study was to compare the effects out-wintering on deferred grazing, kale or fodder beet, without and with additional trace minerals during the out-wintering period, on first lactation performance

The effects of out-wintering replacement dairy heifers on deferred grazing, kale or fodder beet, without or with a trace mineral bolus on first lactation performance in commercial spring calving herds

The effects of out-wintering replacement dairy heifers on deferred grazing, kale or fodder beet without or with a trace mineral bolus on pre-calving performance in commercial spring calving herds

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SRUC - Scotland's Rural College

SRUC - Scotland's Rural College

SRUC - Scotland's Rural College

SRUC - Scotland's Rural College