Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T11:24:26.896Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effects of stocking density and supplement level on milk production and cheese characteristics in Brown cows grazing on mountain pasture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 August 2008

Stefano Bovolenta
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Udine, 33010 Pagnacco, Udine, Italy
Elena Saccà
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Udine, 33010 Pagnacco, Udine, Italy
Mirco Corazzin*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Udine, 33010 Pagnacco, Udine, Italy
Flavia Gasperi
Affiliation:
IASMA Research Centre, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy
Franco Biasioli
Affiliation:
IASMA Research Centre, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy
Walter Ventura
Affiliation:
IASMA Research Centre, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy
*
*For correspondence; e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Twenty-eight Brown cows were maintained on a mountain pasture for a period of 40 days and assigned to 4 groups following a factorial design 2 stocking density (0·7 and 1·4 cows/ha)×2 supplement levels (2·4 and 4·8 kg organic matter (OM)/d). Herbage intake, animal body condition score (BCS), milk yield, milk chemical and coagulation properties, cheese composition, rheology and sensory characteristics were measured. The average herbage intake was 12·2 kg OM/d, with a significant effect related to stocking density (low, 13·1 v. high, 11·4 kg OM/d). BCS variation was always negative and changed with supplement level, although with no statistical significance (−0·43 points on average). Milk yield was lower for the group with lower availability of herbage (low supplement and high stocking density: 15·9 kg/d), whereas it was comparable among others groups (16·9 kg/d on average). The group with high supplement and low stocking density produced milk with worse cheese making properties. Cheese composition analyses showed an effect of supplement level on calcium content, and on parameters for degree of ripening, such as nitrogen fractions and lipolysis index. As for the textural parameters, hardness and gumminess were found to be higher with the low level of supplement. The different level of supplementation could differentiate the groups on the basis of the sensory perception of cheese.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Agabriel, C, Martin, B, Sibra, C, Bonnefoy, JC, Montel, MC, Didienne, R & Hulin, S 2004 Effect of dairy production systems on the sensory characteristics of Cantal cheeses: a plant-scale study. Animal Research 53 221234CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anonymous 1963 Titratable acidity evaluation with the Soxhlet-Henkel (SH) method. Milchwissenschaft 18 520Google Scholar
AOAC 1990 Official methods of analysis. 16th edition. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Arlington, Virginia, USAGoogle Scholar
AOAC 2000 Official methods of analysis. 17th edition. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Arlington, Virginia, USAGoogle Scholar
Barcarolo, R, Casson, P & Tutta, C 1992 Analysis of the volatile constituents of food by headspace GC-MS with reversal of the carrier gas flow during sampling. Journal of high resolution chromatography 15 307311CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berry, NR, Bueler, T, Jewell, PL, Sutter, F & Kreuzer, M 2001a The effect of supplementary feeding on composition and renneting properties of milk from cows rotationally grazed at high altitude. Milk Science International 56 123126Google Scholar
Berry, NR, Sutter, F, Bruckmaier, RM, Blum, JW & Kreuzer, M 2001b Limitations of high Alpine grazing conditions for early-lactation cows: effects of energy and protein supplementation. Animal Science 73 149162CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bickel, H 1988 Fat-corrected milk (FCM), an inaccurate and confusing term. Livestock Production Science 18 311313CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bourne, MC 1978 Texture profile analysis. Food Technology 72 6266Google Scholar
Bovolenta, S & Piasentier, E 1998a Concentrate supplementation of Dairy cows grazing an alpine pasture. In Proceedings of the EC Workshop: Pasture Ecology and Animal Intake. Dublin, Ireland, September 24–25, 1996. Teagasc, Dunsany, Ireland177180Google Scholar
Bovolenta, S, Ventura, W, Piasentier, E & Malossini, F 1998b Supplementation of dairy cows grazing an alpine pasture: effect of concentrate level on milk production, body condition and rennet coagulation properties. Annales de Zootechnie 47 169178CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bovolenta, S, Saccà, E, Ventura, W & Piasentier, E 2002a Effect of type and level of supplement on performance of dairy cows grazing on alpine pasture. Italian Journal of Animal Science 1 255263CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bovolenta, S, Ventura, W & Malossini, F 2002b Dairy cows grazing an alpine pasture: effect of pattern of supplement allocation on herbage intake, body condition, milk yield and coagulation properties. Animal Research 51 1523CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buchin, S, Martin, B, Dupont, D, Bornard, A & Achilleos, C 1999 Influence of the composition of Alpine highland pasture on the chemical, rheological and sensory properties of cheese. Journal of Dairy Research 66 579588CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bugaud, C, Buchin, S, Coulon, JB, Hauwuy, A & Dupont, D 2001a Influence of the nature of alpine pastures on plasmin activity, fatty acid and volatile compound composition of milk. Lait 81 401414CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bugaud, C, Buchin, S, Noël, Y, Tessier, L, Pochet, S, Martin, B & Chamba, JF 2001b Relationships between Abondance cheese texture, its composition and that of milk produced by cows grazing different types of pastures. Lait 81 593607CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coulon, JB, Hurtaud, C, Remond, B & Verite, R 1998 Factors contributing to variation in the proportion of casein in cows' milk true protein: a review of recent INRA experiments. Journal of Dairy Research 65 375387CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Coulon, JB, Delacroix-Buchet, A, Martin, B & Pirisi, A 2004 Relationships between ruminant management and sensory characteristics of cheeses: a review. Lait 84 221241CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dillon, P 2006 Achieving high dry-matter intake from pasture with grazing dairy cows. In Fresh Herbage for Dairy Cattle. Elgersma A, Dijkstra J & Tamminga S, Wageningen, Holland. 1–26Google Scholar
Edmonson, AJ, Lean, IJ, Weaver, LD, Farver, T & Webster, G 1989 A body condition scoring for Holstein dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 72 6878CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Estermann, BL, Wettstein, HR, Sutter, F & Kreuzer, M 2001 Nutrient and energy conversion of grass-fed dairy and suckler beef cattle kept indoors and on high altitude pasture. Animal Research 50 477493CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goering, HK & Van Soest, PJ 1970 Forage Fibre Analyses (Apparatus, Reagents, Procedures, and Some Applications). Agricultural Handbook ARS-USDA, Washington, DC 379Google Scholar
Grandison, AS & Ford, GD 1986 Effects of variations in somatic cell count on the rennet coagulation properties of milk and on the yield, composition and quality of Cheddar cheese. Journal of Dairy Research 53 645655CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gripon, JC, Desmazeaud, M, Le Bars, D & Bergere, JL 1975 Importance of the micro-organisms and of the enzymes during ripening cheese. Le Lait 55 502516CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gunasekaran, S & Ak, MM 2003 Cheese Rheology and Texture. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USAGoogle Scholar
Hauwuy, A, Bornard, A, Coulon, JB & Haltel, L 1993 Dairy cow performance in mountain pasture:effect of concentrate supplementation level. INRA Productions Animales 6 289295CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoden, A, Peyraud, JL, Muller, A, Delaby, L, Faverdin, P, Peccatte, JR, Fargetton, M 1991 Simplified rotational grazing management of dairy cows: effect of rates of stocking and concentrate. Journal of Agricultural Science Cambridge 116 417428CrossRefGoogle Scholar
International Dairy Federation 1982 Cheese and Processed cheese. Determination of the total solids content (Reference Method). IDF, Brussels, FIL-IDF Standard no. 4-AGoogle Scholar
International Dairy Federation 1986 Determination of fat content (cheese). IDF, Brussels, FIL-IDF Standard no. 5-BGoogle Scholar
International Dairy Federation 1988 Cheese and processed cheese products. Determination of chloride content. IDF, Brussels, FIL-IDF Standard no. 88-AGoogle Scholar
International Dairy Federation 1989 Milk and milk products. Determination of fat acidity. IDF, Brussels, FIL-IDF Standard no. 6-BGoogle Scholar
International Dairy Federation 1993 Milk determination of nitrogen content. IDF, Brussels, FIL-IDF Standard no. 20-BGoogle Scholar
International Organization for Standardization 2004 Sensory analysis, Methodology, Triangle test. Standard 4120. ISO, Geneva, SwitzerlandGoogle Scholar
Macheboeuf, D, Coulon, JB & D'Hour, P 1993 Effect of breed, protein genetic variants and feeding on cows' milk coagulation properties. Journal of Dairy Research 60 4354CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Malossini, F, Bovolenta, S, Piasentier, E & Valentinotti, M 1994 Variability of n-alkanes content in a natural pasture and in faeces of grazing dairy cows. Animal Feed Science and Technology 50 113122CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Malossini, F, Bovolenta, S, Piras, C & Ventura, W 1995 Effect of concentrate supplementation on herbage intake and milk yield of dairy cows grazing an alpine pasture. Livestock Production Science 43 119128CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Malossini, F, Bovolenta, S, Piasentier, E, Piras, C & Martillotti, F 1996 Comparison of n-alkanes and chromium oxide for estimating herbage intake by grazing dairy cows. Animal Feed Science and Technology 61 155165CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, B, Buchin, S & Hurtaud, C 2003a Milk production conditions and sensory properties of cheese. Production Animales 16 283288CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, B, Buchin, S, Hauwui, A & Laurent, P 2003b Influence of dairy farms production systems on the Beaufort cheese sensory properties observed in one dairy plant. Rencontres Recherche Ruminants 10 237Google Scholar
Mayes, RW, Lamb, CS & Colgrove, PM 1986 The use of dosed and herbage n-alkanes as markers for the determination of herbage intake. Journal of Agricultural Science 107 161170CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mazal, G, Vianna, PCB, Santos, MV & Gigante, ML 2007 Effect of somatic cell count on Prato Cheese composition. Journal of Dairy Science 90 630636CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McMahon, DJ & Brown, RJ 1982 Evaluation of Formagraph for comparing rennet solutions. Journal of Dairy Science 65 16391642CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McSweeny, PLH 2004 Biochemistry of cheese ripening. International Journal of Dairy Technology 57 127144CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Muir, DD & Hunter, EA 1992 Sensory evaluation of Cheddar cheese: Order of tasting and carryover effects. Food Quality and Preferences 3 141145CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Brian, B, Crosse, S & Dillon, P 1996 Effects of offering a concentrate or silage supplement to grazing dairy cows in late lactation on animal performance and on milk processability. Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research 35 113125Google Scholar
O'Brian, B, Dillon, P, Murphy, JJ, Mehra, RK, Guinee, TP, Connolly, JF, Kelly, A & Joyce, P 1999 Effects of stocking density and concentrate supplementation of grazing dairy cows on milk production, composition and processing characteristics. Journal of Diary Research 66 165176CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Penno, JW, MacDonald, KA, Holmes, CW, Davis, SR, Wilson, GF, Brookes, IM & Thom, ER 2006 Responses to supplementation by diary cows given low pasture allowances in different season 1. Pasture intake and substitution. Animal Science 82 661670CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peyraud, JL, Delaby, L & Delagarde, R 1998 Quantitative approach of dairy cows nutrition at grazing: some recent developments. In Proc. Workshop Pasture Ecology and Animal intake, Dublin, Ireland 57–75Google Scholar
Peyraud, JL & Delaby, L 2001 Ideal concentrate feed for grazing dairy cows-Responses to supplementation in interaction with grazing management and grass quality. In Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition. PC, Garnsworthy & J, Wiseman Eds, Nottingham University Press, Nottingham, UK203220Google Scholar
Peyraud, JL & Delaby, L 2005 Combining the optimal management of grazing and the performances of dairy cows: issue and tools. INRA Productions Animales 18 231240CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Poznanski, E, Cavazza, A, Cappa, F & Cocconcelli, PS 2004 Indigenous raw milk microbiota influences the bacterial development in traditional cheese from an alpine natural park. International Journal of food Microbiology 92 141151CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schlich, P 1993 Risk table for discrimination tests. Food Quality and Preferences 4 141151CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schutz, MM 1994 Genetic evaluation of somatic cell scores for United States dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 77 2113CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
SPSS 1989–1997 SPSS for Windows, version 7.5.21. SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IllinoisGoogle Scholar
StatSoft 1996 Statistica for Windows. Release 5.1. StatSoft, Tulsa, OK, USAGoogle Scholar
Vermorel, M 1988 Nutrition energetique in Alimentation des Bovins, Ovins, Caprins. Institut National Recherche Agronomique, Paris, France 57–74Google Scholar
Zemp, M, Leuenberger, H, Künzi, N & Blum, W 1989 Influence of high altitude grazing on productive and physiological traits of dairy cows. 1: Influence on milk production and body weight. Journal Animal Breeding and Genetics 106 278288CrossRefGoogle Scholar