Grazing management strategies, performance and enteric methane emissions of dairy cows on elephant grass cv. Cameroon

• Grant number: 14/20182-9
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2016
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Pastures and Forage Crops
• Principal researcher: Sila Carneiro da Silva
• Grantee: Marilia Barbosa Chiavegato
• Home Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Brazilian milk production has significantly increased in the past decade; however, Brazil's absolute milk production is low as compared to the largest production countries. Grazing is a common characteristic of the many different dairy production systems implemented across Brazil. Therefore, the definition of adequate grazing strategies becomes essential. The adequate grazing strategy is the one that increases milk production in the long term, avoiding pasture degradation and promoting sustainable milk production. Environmental protection is inseparable from dairy production in the current context of climate change and global warming. The main environmental concern associated to dairy production is the production, and emission, of enteric methane (CH4). The grazing strategy implemented affects sward structure, and consequently, dry matter accumulation, forage chemical composition, animal performance, and enteric CH4 emissions. This study will evaluate the effects of two levels of grazing strategies on animal performance, milk production and mitigation of enteric CH4 emissions. In the first step, we will evaluate the effects of grazing swards with 95% of light interception (LI) versus maximum IL on animal performance, milk production, milk composition and enteric CH4 emissions. The second step represents a refinement of the first one, once the ideal point of herbage allowance has been identified, the effects of time of grazing rotation (morning versus afternoon) on animal performance, milk production, milk composition and enteric CH4 emissions will be evaluated. With this study, we expect to identify grazing strategies that allow for high quality milk sustainable production, with no addition of production cost.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CONGIO, GUILHERMO F. S.; BATALHA, CAMILA D. A.; CHIAVEGATO, MARILIA B.; BERNDT, ALEXANDRE; OLIVEIRA, PATRICIA P. A.; FRIGHETTO, ROSA T. S.; MAXWELL, THOMAS M. R.; GREGORINI, PABLO; DA SILVA, SILA C.. Strategic grazing management towards sustainable intensification at tropical pasture-based dairy systems. Science of The Total Environment, v. 636, p. 872-880, SEP 15 2018. (16/22040-2, 14/20182-9)

CONGIO, GUILHERMO F. S.; CHIAVEGATO, MARILIA B.; BATALHA, CAMILA D. A.; OLIVEIRA, PATRICIA P. A.; MAXWELL, THOMAS M. R.; GREGORINI, PABLO; DA SILVA, SILA C.. Strategic grazing management and nitrous oxide fluxes from pasture soils in tropical dairy systems. Science of The Total Environment, v. 676, p. 493-500, AUG 1 2019. (14/20182-9, 16/22040-2)