The typical Nordic milk production systems are based on indoor management of dairy cows and the forage mostly consists of grass silage. However, current Swedish regulations on animal welfare requires a partial outdoor management of the cows during the summer period. In addition, grazing contributes to lowering feed costs, improve health and welfare of cows, increase biodiversity, and improve the public image of dairy production. Knowledge about the nutritional and metabolic impact of moving cows to pasture in Sweden and the other Nordic countries is scarce. The current knowledge of cattle nutrition under grazing shows that milk production may be compromised due to nutritional and metabolic unbalances. Thus, knowledge on how moving cows from an indoor feeding system to a part-time grazing system impacts the nutritional and metabolic balance of the animals would be useful to develop nutritional tools applicable to adjust the cows’ diet and avoid a drop in milk production.
The first objective of this project is to investigate the effect of moving Nordic high-yielding dairy cows from a complete indoor feeding system to a part-time grazing feeding system on feed intake, milk production and composition, blood metabolites, and efficiency of nitrogen utilization. The second objective is to test different adjustments in the indoor diet that can optimize pasture utilisation and milk production in part-time grazing systems to improve the economical sustainability of the system.
We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with a doctoral degree in animal science. The candidate should have documented experience in research related to ruminants.