Search

Two short-term grazing experiments were conducted with Norwegian Red cows. In Exp 1, 24 cows were randomly assigned to one of the following three pasture allocation methods (PAM): weekly pasture allowance (7RG), grazing 1/7 of 7RG each day (1SG), or grazing as 1SG but had access to grazed part of the paddock within one week (1FG). In Exp 2, 7RG was shortened to 5 days (5RG). We hypothesized that PAM will affect sward quality, quantity, intake and production differently. Pasture chemical composition changed with advancing grazing days but were not different between treatments. Pasture intake, milk yield, and methane emission were not affected by PAM. In Exp 1, 7RG cows spent less time on grazing, whereas in Exp 2, 1FG cows spent longer on grazing than others. Patterns observed in sward quality, and behavioural and physiological adaptations of cows to short-term changes in nutrient supply may explain the observed effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the iodine (I) level in Norwegian milk, the I concentration was determined in 104 dairy tanker milk samples collected from 19 milk tours in different areas of Norway, throughout the year 2008. The I concentration in milk from indoor feeding was 122 µg L−1and higher than in milk from the summer season, being 92 µg L−1. The weighted average mean I concentration throughout the year was 114 µg L−1milk. The results showed that the I concentration in milk from the winter season 2008 has been reduced to nearly the half during the last decade, from 232 µg I L−1in milk collected in the winter season in 2000. The I concentration in milk from the summer season is at the same level as a decade ago. The reason for the reduction in I in milk produced during the winter season is not known. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]