Production and quality of Jiggs bermudagrass forage on Holstein cow milk production and quality parameters under an intermittent grazing system

Dairy production plays a fundamental role in the Brazilian economy, and high-quality forage is necessary for ruminants to produce satisfactory milk levels, so the aim of the present study was to evaluate the production and quality of Jiggs bermudagrass and its effects on the production and quality parameters of milk from Holstein cows under an intermittent grazing system throughout the year. The experiment was conducted in a randomized design with the four seasons as treatments was replicated five times. The season had a significant effect on the production and nutritional parameters of Jiggs bermudagrass with the highest total dry matter production observed during summer followed by spring and fall. The neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber contents were significantly higher in winter. The In vitro dry matter digestibility was significantly higher in summer, spring and fall. Jiggs bermudagrass is a promising forage for the enhancement of milk production under intermittent stocking. However, its effects vary seasonally that exerts a greater influence during the winter, even with irrigation, because it directly affects milk production and quality. The correlation results demonstrated the importance of better quality forage for increasing milk production without compromising the levels of milk solids.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author