Effect of Concentrate Feeding Level on Production of Holstein Cows Grazing Winter Annuals

A replicated randomized block trial was conducted to determine the response of Holstein cows rotationally grazing annual ryegrass-Crimson clover pasture to supplemental concentrate. Within each of 2 yr, 16 Holstein cows were assigned to one of four blocks by energy-corrected milk yield, days in milk, and parity. Treatments included one of four levels of concentrate based on the following grain to milk ratios: 0 kg concentrate or 1 kg for each 7, 5, or 3 kg of energy-corrected milk. Average chemical composition (DM basis) of pasture during each grazing season was 22.5% DM, 18.5% CP, and 21.5% ADF in 1996 and 23.5% DM, 14.6% CP, and 25.2% ADF in 1997. Concentrate DMI averaged 0, 4.4, 6.2, and 8.3 kg/d for 0, 1:7, 1:5, and 1:3 treatments in 1996, respectively. Yield of milk and components increased linearly as the amount of concentrate fed increased. A quadratic response was observed for yield of milk fat and protein as yield of these components increased up to 1:5 and then reached a plateau. Concentrate DMI in 1997 averaged 0, 4.4, 6.1, and 10.5 kg/d for 0, 1:7, 1:5, and 1:3 treatments, respectively. Yields of milk and milk protein, lactose, and solids-not-fat increased linearly as the amount of concentrate fed increased. Regression analysis predicted that pasture alone would support milk yields of 20.4 kg and that the increase in milk yield diminished with each increase in amount of concentrate fed. These data indicate that the amount of concentrate fed when high quality annual ryegrasscrimson clover pasture is readily available can be limited to 1 kg for each 4.5 kg of energy-corrected milk to optimize income over concentrate cost. (