The influence of feeding strategy on growth and rejection of herbage around dung pats and their decomposition

摘要: SUMMARY Fresh cattle dung from four farms with different feeding strategies was used to create artificial pats in a continuously grazed pasture order compare the rejection of herbage growing around pats, effect on undisturbed growth under cages and pat decomposition. The first farm an extensive organic (ORGE) young steers grazing biodiverse sward. second intensive (ORGI) dairy grass/clover sward during day fed low-protein forages indoors. third integrated (INT), where strategy aiming for high quality by including straw diet. fourth examined conventional (CONV) milk production per cow, fertilized grass main component A human smell test performed rank odour dungs. After 6 weeks continuous cattle, yield INT tended be lowest, whilst caged highest (P<0 . 05). Therefore, it could concluded that lowest INT. CONV gave However, showed no significant correlation both contents total-N sugar rejected herbage. had decomposition cages. weeks, most liquid least fibrous 05), solid lowest. relationship found between pats. When combining number parameters determined experiment comparing them using index figures terms rejection, decomposition, ORGI (102) especially (113) were above average (100), while those ORGE (94) (90) below average. difference might explained addition diet latter. study there are possibilities improve altering strategy.