Summary
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of sward diversification combined with a reduction of chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizer on the performance of spring-calving grazing dairy cows within a farm systems experiment. Three farmlets were created: a monoculture of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.; PRG) fertilized with 250 kg N/ha (PRG-250N), a PRG-white clover (Trifolium repens L; WC) sward fertilized with 125 kg N/ha (PRGWC-125N), and a multispecies sward (MSS) comprising grasses, legumes, and herbs, also fertilized with 125 kg N/ha (MSS-125N). Each farmlet had its own herd of dairy cows on a total area of 18.7 ha divided into 20 paddocks. Each herd comprised pure Holstein-Friesian (HF) and HF-Jersey crossbred (JFX) animals, and cows were randomly assigned through the 3
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