Milk quality of Jersey cows kept on winter pasture supplemented or not with concentrate

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of the use of supplementation in pasture cultivated with Avena strigosa (black oats), Lolium multiflorum (ryegrass) and Vicia sativa L. (common vetch) on the composition and somatic cells count (SCC) of Jersey cow milk. Eight cows of the Jersey breed were separated by milk production, lactation period and live weight and were randomly blocked into two homogeneous groups (one with supplementation and other only on pasture), in a randomized complete design. Both groups were allowed to pasture for about 7 hours per day in a rotational grazing system in strips, with a one-day occupation period. The supplemented group was fed daily with 8 kg of supplement made of soy bean meal, soy shells, calcium limestone and mineral salt. The results showed significant differences between the two groups, because the percentage of total solids, protein and milk fat were higher in the supplemented cows. The lactose percentage was not influenced by the supplement intake. The somatic cell count, although there was a lower statistical difference for the group on pasture, showed small numerical oscillation between the groups and therefore should not be considered an effect of supplementation. The supplement supply to Jersey cows during lactation caused an increase in the total milk solid percentage, because it raised the fat and protein concentration.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Gonzalez,Helenice de Lima, Velho,Ione Maria Pereira Haygert, Silva,Marcelo Abreu da, Medeiros,Renato Borges de, Paim,Nilton Rodrigues, Nörnberg,José Laerte
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia 2009
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-35982009001000018
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