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Dairy Cow Nutrition and Feed Evaluation
Milk production is one of Swiss agriculture's most important production sectors. The work of the ‘Dairy-Cow Nutrition and Feed Evaluation' Research Group helps ensure that cows are fed according to their needs and that the natural resources of Switzerland such as grass are utilised as efficiently as possible, thereby preserving dairy-cow health and the productivity of the system. In addition, strategic feeding reduces costs for the farmer and enables optimum utilisation of nutrients, which in turn minimises environmental impact.
Aims
The evaluation of revision measures with respect to the recommendations for carbohydrate and energy supply for dairy cows as well as for the carbohydrate and energy assessment of feedstuffs has concluded, and implementation has begun.
The metabolism, rumen fermentation, well-being, eating pattern and forage-selection behaviour of cows on a diet of grass and grass products (especially as grazing) under conventional and organic farming conditions were investigated.
The development of analytics for mono- and oligosaccharides as well as fructans has concluded.
Cl, S, I, Cu, Co, Fe, Mn, Zn and Se content of various types of roughage has been recorded in the forage database and the necessity of the absorption of further trace elements clarified. The elaboration of knowledge on mineral interactions and the revision of quantity and trace-element recommendations for dairy cows are underway.
The digestibility coefficients as well as the ruminal degradability of the main nutrients in whole-plant silage from triticale, oats and peas are known.
ALP's potential contribution to the reduction of ammonia emissions from dairy cows via feeding has been explored and ways and means of implementation decided on.
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