Good rumen function, which is largely influenced by the diet of the cow, is essential to optimise animal performance. This study, conducted over the course of a full lactation in a spring-calving milk production system, compared the rumen function and milk production of cows offered one of three dietary treatments: (1) Cows grazing grass-only swards receiving 250 kg nitrogen (N)/ha/year (Grass), (2) Cows grazing grass-white clover swards receiving 250 kg N/ha/year (Grass-Clover), and (3) Cows offered a total mixed ration diet and housed indoors (TMR). Treatment significantly affected milk production; milk yield and milk solids yield were generally highest on the TMR treatment. There was no effect of treatment on rumen pH. However, treatment significantly altered the rumen volatile fatty acid (VFA), and ammonia and lactic acid profiles. Clover inclusion in the sward led to higher (p < 0.05) total VFA and ammonia concentrations compared to the Grass and TMR treatments. The increased rumen ammonia concentration was associated with a significantly greater milk urea nitrogen (MUN) content in the milk from cows fed on Grass-Clover, indicating a greater excess of dietary protein in that treatment. It was concluded that a clover-based dairy cow feeding system could significantly alter rumen function, milk composition and milk yield.
Keywords: ammonia; clover; dairy cows; milk urea nitrogen; rumen; volatile fatty acid.