DOI: 10.1590/1089-6891v18e-40419
ZOOTECNIA

THE NUTRITIONAL BALANCE OF EARLY LACTATION DAIRY COWS GRAZING IN INTENSIVE SILVOPASTORAL SYSTEMS

EQUILÍBRIO NUTRICIONAL DAS VACAS LEITEIRAS EM ALTA PRODUÇÃO PASTANDO EM SISTEMAS SILVIPASTORIS INTENSIVOS

Elisa Sierra Montoya1*
Julian David Chará2
Rolando Barahona-Rosales1

1Universidade Nacional de Colômbia, Medellín, Colômbia
2Centro para la Investigación en Sistemas Sostenibles de Producción Agropecuaria – CIPAV, Cali, Colômbia
*Corresponding author - elsierramo@unal.edu.co

Abstract
A study was carried out to estimate the balance of metabolizable protein (MP), metabolizable energy (ME), calcium, and phosphorus in 12 recently calved (RC) and early lactation (EL, 42 – 50 days after calving) Gyr x Holstein dairy cows grazing in a Leucaena leucocephala and Cynodon plectostachyus intensive silvopastoral system (ISS) and receiving energy and protein supplementation. Dry matter (DM) availability from the grazing paddocks, nutrients offered and their balance were estimated. On average, the available forage DM per animal.day-1 was 44.7 kg for C. plectostachyus and 11.8 kg for L. leucocephala. EL cows had greater requirements of MP, ME, and minerals than RC cows. In RC cows, ME, MP, and mineral requirements were supplied by the total diet, while EL cows exhibited a negative energy balance. For both RC and EL cows, ME was the limiting dietary factor, whereas MP and P were found to be in excess. If cows were only to receive ISS forages with no supplementation, estimated daily milk yield would be 10 and 12 litters for RC and EL cows, respectively. Under tropical conditions, based on ISS forage intake, RC and EL cows can meet most of their ME, MP, calcium, and phosphorous requirements.
Keywords: energy balance; Leucaena leucocephala; nutrient requirements; phosphorus balance; protein balance.

Resumo
Um estudo foi realizado para estimar o equilíbrio de proteína metabolizável (PM), energia metabolizável (EM), cálcio e fósforo em 12 vacas Gyr x Holandesa recém-paridas (RP) e início da lactação (IL, 42-50 dias após o parto), pastando em um sistema silvipastoril intensivo (SSI) com Leucaena leucocephala e Cynodon plectostachyus e recebendo suplementação energética e protéica. A disponibilidade da matéria seca (MS) dos piquetes de pastagem, nutrientes oferecidos e seu equilíbrio foram estimados. A oferta de forragem média (kg MS) por animal.dia-1 foi 44,7 de C. plectostachyus e 11,8 de L. leucocephala. Vacas IL tiveram maiores exigências da MP, ME e minerais que vacas RP. Em vacas RP, requisitos da EM, PM e minerais foram fornecidos pela dieta total, enquanto vacas IL exibiram um balanço energético negativo. Tanto para vacas de RP e IL, EM foi o fator limitante da dieta, enquanto que PM e P foram encontrados em excesso. Se as vacas recebessem apenas forragem SSI sem suplementação, a produção de leite diária estimada seria de 10 e 12 litros para as vacas RP e IL. Em condições tropicais, com base no consumo de forragem em SSI, vacas RP e IL podem ter a maioria das suas necessidades de EM, PM, cálcio e fósforo atendidas.
Palavras-chave: balanço de energia; balanço de fósforo; balanço da proteína; Leucaena leucocephala; necessidades de nutrientes.

Receveid on March 23th, 2016
Accepted on February 16th, 2017

Introduction

A balanced nutrition is required for adequate productive and reproductive performance of dairy cows(1). Due to their high productivity, the nutritional requirements of cows in specialized tropical dairy farms are difficult to meet. Before calving, there is a reduction in dry matter intake (DMI) and as the birth event approaches, DMI reduces even further(1). At parturition, after colostrum production stops, milk is produced in high volumes during the period known as early lactation, which accounts for the high nutritional requirements reported for dairy cows represented in a high dietary demand of protein, energy and minerals.

Under tropical conditions, livestock production systems are commonly based in grazing of native pastures, characterized by poor quality and limited forage availability during the dry season(2). Under stressful environmental conditions such as reduced precipitation, high ambient temperatures and humidity, tropical forages accumulate structural carbohydrates or plant cell walls, which limits their digestibility, which in few instances is greater than 55%, and voluntary DMI(3,4).

Estimation of the nutrient requirements for maintenance, pregnancy, and lactation and their difference (balance) with dietary available nutrients is a good practice that can contribute to enhance the reproductive and productive performance of animals. Energy availability is of great importance to the nutrition of the adult cow(1,3), and affects reproductive performance and milk production during early lactation. This is of particular importance under tropical conditions as energy availability is limited due to high structural content of most forages(3). Likewise, attention should be given to the content of metabolizable protein and minerals, the latter usually having low absorption rates.

A promising strategy to increase animal productivity in the tropics is the adoption of intensive silvopastoral systems (ISS), a form of agroforestry which focuses on sustainable grazing management and integrates herbaceous forages, shrubs established in high densities (more than 10.000/ha), timber trees, and animals(5). The benefits of ISS on productive parameters of the dairy herd have been adequately demonstrated(6), but not enough attention has been given to the nutritional status of dairy cows in early lactation. As the adoption of ISS is increasing, it becomes important to determine in what proportion the nutritional requirements of animals are satisfied. The present study was carried out to estimate the nutritional balance of recently calved and early lactation crossbred dairy cows grazing on a Leucaena leucocephala-based ISS.

Materials and Methods

The study was carried out at Hacienda El Chaco, located at the Department of Tolima, Colombia, at 04º29’07’’ North and 74º59’5’’ West. The farm is located in the tropical dry forest life zone(7), with an altitude of 605 m.a.s.l and an average rainfall of 1200 mm per year(5). During the experimental period, relative humidity was 70%, average temperature was 26 ºC, and monthly rainfall oscillated between 8.8 mm (June 2012) and 99.4 mm (February 2013).

Twelve crossbred (50% Gyr x 50% Holstein) dairy cows between 2 and 4 parturitions were evaluated both at calving (RC; day 0 from calving until 1-2 week postpartum) and at early lactation (EL; 42 – 50 days after calving) during an eight-month experimental period starting in May 2012. Cows had 494 ± 41,3 kg of body weight and 67 months of age.

When in the RC group, cows spent 4-5 d feeding their calves with colostrum and early lactation milk and from then on, they were milked twice daily and produced on average 14 kg of milk·d-1. As part of the EL group, cows produced 17 kg of milk·d-1. Throughout the experiment, cows grazed in an ISS with C. plectostachyus and L. leucocephala with > 10.000 leucaena shrubs.ha-1 and Azadirachta indica, Albizia guachapele, and Tectona grandis trees planted in rows every 30 m. In addition to grazing, cows received supplementation based on rice flour, mineral salt, corn silage, and commercial concentrate at a rate of 1.8, 0.12, 1.9, and 2.6 kg DM·cow-1, respectively.

Cows grazed ISS strips of 2000-3000 m² divided by an electrical fence with 24 h occupation and 38 d recovery periods. Stocking rate in the ISS was 4.46 AU·ha-1 (1 AU= 450 Kg body weight) and the grazing pressure was 12.1 Kg of DM per 100 Kg body weight. Dry matter intake of ISS forages was estimated through quantification of DM offered and rejected(8). Forage availability was estimated for C. plectostachyus and L. leucocephala in 15 out of 39 ISS paddocks. For C. plectostachyus, areas of high, medium, and low grass availability were measured within each paddock, assigning a grass availability score to 60 or more 0.25 m² (50 x 50 cm) quadrats at randomly selected points(8). The availability of L. leucocephala was estimated by measuring DM availability in one-lineal meter sections of high, medium, and low legume availability, where all edible forage was cut and weighed. As with the grass, 60 or more points were scored along the paddock. This procedure allowed quantification of DM availability per cow. Efficiency of forage utilization was estimated by quantifying forage refusals and expressing them as a percentage of forage available before grazing.

Whenever forage availability was estimated (six times during the experiment), forage samples were collected to perform chemical analyses. In turn, samples of supplements were collected twice during the study. Analyses carried out in these samples included the determination of calcium(9) and phosphorus content(10), both by U.V – VIS atomic absorption spectrophotometry; total ash by direct incineration(11); acid detergent fiber; neutral detergent fiber; ether extract(12); crude protein by Kjeldahl(13) and gross energy content(14). These analyses were carried out at the Laboratory of Chemical and Bromatological Analysis of the National University of Colombia, Medellín.

Nutrient intake was calculated from the nutrient content in forages and supplements and by n-alkanes estimates of DMI carried out in a parallel study in the same farm (Sossa, personal communication). Requirements of metabolizable protein (MP), metabolizable energy (ME) calcium and phosphorous of RC and EL cows were estimated with the help of the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS), Version 5.0.4(15). Nutritional balances were calculated as the difference between intake and requirements for cows fed the diet used in the farm and under simulated conditions of cows consuming only the ISS forages.

Data of nutritional balance, forage availability, DMI and forage use efficiency were evaluated following a repeated measurement analysis using the MIXED procedure of SAS(16). In the case of the nutritional balance, the random effects were the animals and the fixed effects were the physiological status. For the rest of the variables, the random effects were the date of sampling and the fixed effect was the paddock. In terms of the forage chemical composition, an ANOVA was carried out using the GLM procedure of SAS, for which a completely randomized design was used.

Results and Discussion

Regarding the chemical composition of the diet, the protein content was almost three times greater in L. leucocephala (27%) than in C. plectostachyus (9.4%), highlighting the importance of the inclusion of this legume in the ISS (Table 1).

The total diet (ISS + supplements) contained 14.3% CP (dry matter basis), which should allow an adequate growth of ruminal bacteria and contribute to an efficient fermentation of structural carbohydrates while producing a significant amount of microbial protein(17). Increases in dietary CP and calcium contents and reductions in NDF and ADF in response to the inclusion of Leucaena were similar to previous reports(2). These changes are often accompanied by increased ruminal production of volatile fatty acids (propionic, butyric and acetic), supplying more energy to the ruminants(17).

Content of ME was 1.9 Mcal·Kg-1 DM in C. plectostachyus, a value that is common in tropical grasses that have limited availability of energy(3). Similar values were reported for this grass(18). In turn, Leucaena provided 2.64 Mcal of ME·Kg-1 DM, greater to what was reported (2.24 Mcal·Kg-1 DM) for Leucaena growing in Mexico(18). Besides greater energy intake, the presence of Leucaena in the diet often leads to increased diet digestibility, due to greater specific gravity that leads to faster ruminal rate of passage(3) as L. leucocephala has a low content of NDF (29.1%). Despite numerical variations, the content of CP, NDF, Ca, and P in ISS forages did not differ between the dry and rainy seasons (p>0,05), even though the CP content tended to be greater in the grass during the rainy season (p = 0,07) (Table 2).

On average, estimated total DMI of RC and EL cows was 2.58% and 2.72% of their body weight (BW), respectively (Table 3). In turn, Mahecha et al.(19) reported a DMI between 1.9 and 3.0% of BW in creole cows grazing ISS and receiving supplementation. Cows in early lactation exhibit low DMI, which gradually increases until two or three weeks beyond the peak of lactation(20). Increased DMI is the result of increased nutritional requirements as the lactation progresses, and because high milk yielding dairy cows ruminate for long periods during the day. The estimated DMI for Leucaena was 2.05 ± 0.47 and 2.48 ± 0.39 Kg DM·d-1 for RC and EL cows, respectively (Table 3).

The EL cows consumed more gross energy (GE), CP, Ca, P, and NDF from forages than the RC cows. About 60% and 64% of the consumed CP came from ISS forages for both RC and EL cows, while 50% of the CP supplied by the forages came from Leucaena. The GE supplied by the forages was greater than that provided by the supplements (59% in RC and 61% in EL). NDF was supplied in greater amounts by the forages in both RC and EL (72% & 76% respectively) (Table 4).

Availability of C. plectostachyus DM in the daily grazing paddocks ranged from 1279 to 2163 Kg DM.ha-1 and did not vary statistically during the experimental period (p<0.05) (Figure 1). These values are similar to those reported by Peniche-González et al.(18), who found an availability of 1692 ± 766 and 1797 ± 617.7 Kg DM·ha-1 for stargrass in dry and rainy seasons, respectively in an ISS in Mexico. On the other hand, L. leucocephala availability differed among grazing strips (82 to 939 Kg DM·ha-1). Such reduction occurred in only two of the grazing strips with waterlogging problems (Figures 1 and 2). In the region where the study took place, forages available to grazing animals are native and introduced grasses such as Hyparrhenia rufa, Paspalum spp., and Bothriochloa pertusa, most of low quality and availability during the dry season. Along with increased forage availability, the shade provided by the trees in ISS contributes to reduced stress associated with high ambient temperatures for both forage and animals. In forages, lack of shade reduces the growth and the nutritional quality, being associated with reduced nitrogen content and diet digestibility(23). In this experiment, when the availability of Leucaena decreased, that of star grass increased, possibly due to reduced competition. High diurnal temperatures and low precipitation could have reduced grass yields in the current study.

Mertens(26) suggested adult cows at early lactation should consume NDF at almost 0.87-1.0% of BW. In this study, crossbred cows had an NDF intake of 1.2 and 1.39% of BW for RC and EL cows, respectively. Similarly, Vazquez & Smith(4) reported an NDF intake of 1.32 ± 0.25% of the BW in dairy cows. This could be due to the high DMI of star grass, which contributed with 61 to 65 % of all the NDF of the diet in RC and EL cows. On average, the diet contained 52% of NDF. There was a positive balance in metabolizable protein (RC: 220 g·d-1, EL: 85.6 g·d-1). As the total supplied protein exceeded the RC and EL requirements, cows needed to excrete surplus protein. During this process, energy is consumed in the liver to convert ammonia to urea, which is excreted through the urine(1). However, it is possible that part of this surplus passed the rumen as undegraded protein, as Leucaena contains tannins that protect PC from excessive rumen degradation(27). Forages contributed with most of the CP, supplying 60.5 and 63.3% for RC and EL cows, respectively. The considerable N excretion in both RC and EL cows implies high nutrient recycling in ISS, with increased grass productivity. In terms of minerals, a positive balance was estimated for RC and EL cows, being 15.5 and 19.5 g·d-1 for Ca and 23.16 and 21.25 g·d-1 for P, respectively. Minerals are commonly found in low quantities in forages, yet in this study, sufficient amounts were supplied by the whole diet. The nutrient requirements were also estimated if cows were only to consume ISS forages (Table 6). For this purpose, RC cows (494 Kg of BW) were assumed to produce 10 liters of milk·d-1 and consume 10.5 Kg of star grass and leucaena, whereas EL cows, weighing 488 Kg of BW, were assumed to produce 12 liters of milk·d-1 and consume 12.8 Kg of DM. A greater negative NB was predicted for RC cows, which would lead to a loss of 0.5 kg of BW·d-1 and their diet would contain 14.7% of CP and 1.97 Mcal EM Kg·DM-1. In turn, it was predicted that EL cows would also be in negative balance, but this would only generate a loss of 0.3 Kg of BW·d-1. In both cases, milk production would be greater than that reported for the Tolima region when cows only graze forages (6.1 liters·d-1·cow-1). Despite decreased milk production under this no supplementation scenario, the economic returns per cow would be similar than the one observed with supplemented cows, as the dietary inclusion of corn silage and rice flour increases the costs of milk production. Given that on a forage-only scenario, ISS forages would provide between 84% and 91% of the ME required, and 86% of MP required by RC and EL cows, respectively, there is the need to increase DMI by these animals. A strategy to increase intake by RC and EL cows would be reducing the stocking rate to increase DM offer from shrub fodder and forages(3,22) or increasing the area of the daily grazing strip, while reducing the usage of supplements.

Regarding total non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC), the concentration found in the forage-only diet was 17 and 18% for RC and EL cows, respectively. This value is lower than the ideal NFC concentration of 38-40%, which means that there is a restriction of potentially fermentable NFC in the rumen that could reduce the speed of rumen DM degradation.

Conclusions

ISS forages as C. plectostachyus and L. leucocephala can supply considerable amounts of ME, MP, and minerals (calcium and phosphorous) to both RC and EL cows. Under the current nutritional management at the Hacienda El Chaco, RC and EL cows consuming ISS and supplements have positive nutrient (protein, calcium and phosphorus) and energy balances.

Even though negative balances were estimated if high producing cows consumed only ISS forages, the remaining amounts of ME, MP, and minerals could be provided by formulating low cost supplements and based on local feeds.

Balances of protein and phosphorus could be adjusted even further to reduce the excretion of these nutrients to the environment and to reduce the costs in feeds such as concentrated and silages.

It is recommended that the DMI of RC and EL cows must be monitored both during the dry and rainy season to prevent deficiencies and illnesses.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Mejia Fortich Family, owners of Hacienda El Chaco, who generously allowed us to conduct this study in their farm. Also, special thanks to CIPAV staff for their logistical support. This study was funded by COLCIENCIAS and the Patrimonio Autónomo Fondo Nacional de Financiamiento para la Ciencia, la Tecnología y la Innovación, Francisco José de Caldas and FEDEGAN-FNG (Grant 0527-2011).

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