Evaluation of blood metabolites in dairy cows grazing under two pasture allowances and supplemented with corn silage under restricted grazing conditions

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of management tools - daily pasture allowance and corn silage supplementation - during periods of forage shortage on the metabolism of dairy cows grazing low-mass pasture in temperate regions. Forty lactating Holstein cows were used during an experimental period of seventy days (April 15 to June 23, 2012). Blood metabolites and milk production were determined in fall-calving dairy cows grazing under two daily pasture allowances (PA) (moderate, 17 kg vs. high, 25 kg dry matter (DM)) and supplemented with corn silage (CS) (low, 4.5 kg v...