The aimofthisstudywastoassesstheeffectofthreealfalfapastureherbageallowancesonmilkyield
and compositionduringautumn–winter grazingseasononearlyautumncalvingdairycows.Eighteen
multiparous Holsteindairycowswereassignedtooneofthreetreatmentsina33 Latinsquaredesign:
low herbageallowance(14kgDM/cow;LHA),mediumherbageallowance(27kgDM/cow;MHA)and
high herbageallowance(41kgDM/cow;HHA).DrymatterdisappearancewasloweratLHAalthough
remained similarbetweenMHAandHHA(Po0.05). However,asherbageallowance(HA)increased,
lowergrazingefficiencies (astheproportionofmaterialremoved)wereregistered(Po0.05). Totaldry
matter intake(DMI;kg/d)wasalsolowestforLHAandsimilarbetweentheothertwotreatments
(Po0.05). Milkyield,4%FCM,milkfat(g/kg)andcasein(g/kg)tendedtoincreasefromLHAtoHHA
(Po0.10).CowsatLHAtendedtolossweightwhilstcowsatMHAandHHAhadatendencytoincrease
BWaccordingtheseasonprogressed(Po0.10).Insummary,managingcowsatHHAwillallowcowstoa
slightly increaseinindividualmilkproductionandBWgainbutindetrimentofherbageutilizationand
potentially,milkproductionperhectare.