Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of silage from ryegrass intercropped with winter or common vetch for grazing dairy cows in small-scale dairy systems in Mexico

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The objective was to determine the effect of including silages of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) intercropped with winter vetch (Vicia villosa) (ARG-VV) or with common vetch (Vicia sativa) (ARG-VS) compared with maize silage (MS) on milk yield and milk composition of dairy cows grazing cultivated perennial ryegrass–white clover pastures with supplemented concentrate during the dry season. Six Holstein dairy cows with a mean yield of 19.0 kg/cow/day at the beginning of the experiment were randomly assigned to a 3 × 3 repeated Latin square. Treatments were: 8 h/day intensive grazing, 3.6 kg of dry matter (DM) per cow per day of concentrate plus MS, and ARG-VV or ARG-VS ad libitum at a stocking rate of 3.0 cows/ha for three experimental periods of 3 weeks each. Milk yield (MY) and milk composition, live weight and body condition score as well as silage and concentrate intakes were recorded during the third week of each experimental period, and pasture intake was estimated indirectly from utilised metabolisable energy. Economic analysis was obtained by preparing partial budgets. There were no statistical differences (P > 0.10) in MY, milk fat or protein content nor for live weight, but there was significant difference (P < 0.10) in body condition score. There were non-statistical differences in silage DM intake (P < 0.11); however, significant differences (P < 0.10) were obtained for estimated grazed herbage intake whilst no differences for total DM intake. Slightly higher economic returns (10%) were obtained with ARG-VS over MS, and this was 7% higher than ARG-VV. It is concluded that ARG-VS could be an option for complementing grazing for small-scale dairy production systems in the dry season as it is comparable to MS in animal performance and slightly better in economic terms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

ADF:

Acid detergent fibre

ADL:

Acid detergent lignin

ARG:

Annual ryegrass

DM:

Dry matter

IVDMD:

In vitro DM digestibility

IVOMD:

In vitro OM digestibility

m a.s.l:

Metres above sea level

ME:

Metabolisable energy

NDF:

Neutral detergent fibre

NHA:

Net herbage accumulation

OM:

Organic matter

SEM:

Standard error of the mean

References

  • Animal and Food Research Council (AFRC) 1993. Energy and protein requirements of ruminants, (CAB International, Wallingford, UK).

    Google Scholar 

  • Anaya-Ortega, J.P., Garduño-Castro, G., Espinoza-Ortega, A., Rojo-Rubio, R. and Arriaga-Jordán, C.M., 2009. Silage from maize (Zea mays), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) or their mixture in the dry season feeding of grazing dairy cows in small-scale dairy production systems in the Highlands of Mexico. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 41, 607–616.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bartl, K., Gamarra, J., Gómez, C.A., Wettstein, H.R., Kreuzer, M. and Hess, H.D., 2009. Agronomic performance and nutritive value of common and alternative grass and legume species in the Peruvian highlands, Grass and Forage Science, 64, 109–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burke, F., O'Donovan, M.A., Murphy, J.J., O'Mara, F.P. and Mulligan, F.J., 2008. Effect of pasture allowance and supplementation with maize silage and concentrates differing in crude protein concentration on milk production and nitrogen excretion by dairy cows. Livestock Science, 114, 325–335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erol, A., Kaplan M. and Kizilsimsek, M., 2009. Oats (Avena sativa) - common vetch (Vicia sativa) mixtures grown on a low-input basis for a sustainable agriculture. Tropical Grasslands, 43, 191–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Espinoza-Ortega, A., Espinosa-Ayala, E., Bastida-López, J., Castañeda-Martínez, T. and Arriaga-Jordán, C.M., 2007. Small-scale dairy farming in the highlands of central Mexico: Technical, economic and social aspects and their impact on poverty, Experimental Agriculture, 43, 241–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferris, C.P., Binnie, R.C., Frost, J.P. and Patterson, D.C., 2008. Effect of offering silage during housing at night on the performance of grazing dairy cows and on labour requirements. Grass and Forage Science, 63, 138–151.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • González-Castañeda, F., Peña-Ramos, A. and Nuñez-Hernández, G., 2006. Harvest stages, forage yield and quality of corn hybrids with different biological cycle. Revista Fitotecnia Mexicana, 29, 103–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heredia-Nava, D., Espinoza-Ortega, A., González-Esquivel, C.E. and Arriaga-Jordán, C.M., 2007. Feeding strategies for small-scale dairy systems based on perennial (Lolium perenne) or annual (Lolium multiflorum) ryegrass in the central highlands of Mexico, Tropical Animal Health and Production, 39, 179–188.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hernández-Mendo, O. and Leaver, J.D., 2006. Production and behavioural responses of high- and low-yielding dairy cows to different periods of access to grazing or to a maize silage and soyabean meal diet fed indoors, Grass and Forage Science, 61, 335-346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser, A.G., Dear, B.S. and Morris, S G., 2007. An evaluation of the yield and quality of oat–legume and ryegrass–legume mixtures and legume monocultures harvested at three stages of growth for silage, Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47, 25–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mekonnen, H., Dehninet, G., and Kelay, B., 2010. Dairy technology adoption in smallholder farms in “Dejen” district, Ethiopia, Tropical Animal Health and Production, 42, 209–216.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morrison, S.J. and Patterson, D.C., 2007. The effects of offering a range of forage and concentrate supplements on milk production and dry matter intake of grazing dairy cows, Grass and Forage Science, 62, 332–345.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mwangi, D., Methu, J., Mujaffar, H., Khan, S., Moyo, S., Pearson, A., and Romney, D., 2005. Cattle. In: E. Owen, A. Kitalyii, N. Jayasuriya and T. Smith (eds), Livestock and wealth creation: Improving the husbandry of animals kept by resource-poor people in developing countries, (Nottingham University Press, Nottingham), 433 – 450.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nadeem, M., Ansar, M., Anwar, A., Hussain, A. and Khan S., 2010. Performance of winter cereal-legumes fodder mixtures and their pure stand at different growth stages under rainfed conditions of Pothowar, Journal of Agricultural Research, 48, 181-192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pica-Ciamarra, U. and Otte, J., 2008. Livestock as a pathway out of poverty in Latin America: A policy perspective. In: O.A. Castelán-Ortega, A. Bernués-Jal, R. Ruiz-Santos and F. Mould (eds), Opportunities and challenges for smallholder ruminant systems in Latin America, (Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Mexico), 437 – 476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pursiainen, P. and Tuori, M., 2008. Effect of ensiling field bean, field pea and common vetch in different proportions with whole-crop wheat using formic acid or an inoculant on fermentation characteristics, Grass and Forage Science, 63, 60–78,

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rushton, J., 2008. Resource management strategies in mountain agro-ecosystems of Latin America. In: O.A. Castelán-Ortega, A. Bernués-Jal, R. Ruiz-Santos and F. Mould (eds), Opportunities and challenges for smallholder ruminant systems in Latin America, (Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Mexico), 17 – 51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slots, T., Butler, G., Leifert, C., Kristensen, T., Skibsted, L.H. and Nielsen, J.H., 2009. Potentials to differentiate milk composition by different feeding strategies. Journal of Dairy Science, 92, 2057–2066.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Woodward, S.L., Chaves, A. V., Waghorn, G. C., Brookes, I. M. and Burke J. L. 2006. Supplementing fresh pasture with maize, lotus, sulla and pasture silages for dairy cows in summer, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 86, 1263–1270.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Authors are grateful to Mr. Ernesto Álvarez-González, the participating farmer who was responsible for the demonstration module where the experiment took place. We express our gratitude to Ms. Laura Edith Martínez-Contreras and Ms. Lourdes Maya-Salazar for their help in the chemical analysis at the laboratory at ICAR. The experimental work was possible through funding by the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (grant UAEM 2384/2006). Our gratitude also to the Mexican National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT) for the scholarship granted to Martha Hernández-Ortega.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Rurales (ICAR), Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Instituto Literario 100, C.P. 50000, Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico

    Martha Hernández-Ortega, Darwin Heredia-Nava, Angelica Espinoza-Ortega, Ernesto Sánchez-Vera & Carlos M. Arriaga-Jordán

Authors
  1. Martha Hernández-Ortega
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Darwin Heredia-Nava
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Angelica Espinoza-Ortega
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ernesto Sánchez-Vera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Carlos M. Arriaga-Jordán
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carlos M. Arriaga-Jordán.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hernández-Ortega, M., Heredia-Nava, D., Espinoza-Ortega, A. et al. Effect of silage from ryegrass intercropped with winter or common vetch for grazing dairy cows in small-scale dairy systems in Mexico. Trop Anim Health Prod 43, 947–954 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-9788-2

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-9788-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation