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 mi lk protein content. The comparison was performed in two separate studi es. In one study, data were collected in the housing period of 1989 an d the second study in the grazing period of 1989. The final model for the housing period contained two nutritional factors: energy density o f the grass silage and the feeding of a protein rich supplement. In th e final model for the grazing period both nutritional factors were gra zing factors: stocking rate and grazing more days than expected in pad docks with long initial sward height. In contrast to findings of exper imental studies, some factors were apparantly not associated with milk protein level under the study conditions.