Nutritional factors related to farm milk protein content - an observational study

Nutritional management of dairy farms that achieved high milk protein content was contrasted with management of farms that achieved a low milk protein content. The comparison was performed in two separate studies. In one study, data were collected in the housing period of 1989 and the second study in the grazing period of 1989. The final model for the housing period contained two nutritional factors: energy density of the grass silage and the feeding of a protein rich supplement. In the final model for the grazing period both nutritional factors were grazing factors: stocking rate and grazing more days than expected in paddocks with long initial sward height. In contrast to findings of experimental studies, some factors were apparantly not associated with milk protein level under the study conditions.