Milk production from pasture

Abstract

It is well known that milk production from good pasture in England and the United States rarely exceeds some 31 gal. daily, the actual amount depending on the fat content of the milk and the appetite of the animals (Woodman, 1957; Hodgson & Sweetman, 1947). A similar result apparently holds good in East Africa, for computation of the apparent values of good local pastures for milk production lead to the conclusion that from them a 1000 lb. Ayrshire of average appetite could at best give only some 3 gal. of milk of 4 % fat and a Jersey of some 800 lb. live weight and average appetite could produce only some 2 gal of milk of 5 % fat. The nutritive values of the pastures were estimated by means of our table of average digestible crude protein (D.C.P.) and total digestible nutrients (T.D.N.) to be expected at different levels of crude protein (c.p.) and crude fibre (C.F.) in the diet (Glover et al. 1960). The requirements of each animal were estimated by two common standards. The first was based on the averages of the low and high levels OfD.C.P. and T.D.N. for maintenance and milk production given by Morrison (1957). The second was based on revised British feeding standards.