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Title: EVALUATION OF WHITE LUPIN (LUPINUS ALBUS L.), TEMPERATE CORN (ZEA MAYS L.), TROPICAL CORN (ZEA MAYS L.), OR HYBRID PEARL MILLET (PENNISETUM GLAUCUM [L] R. BR.) SILAGE FOR LACTATING COWS

Author
item KOCHAPAKDEE, S - SONGKLA UNIVERSITY
item MOSS, B - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item LIN, J - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item Reeves, Donald
item MASK, P - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item VAN SANTEN, E - AUBURN UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Lupin International Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/2003
Publication Date: 6/24/2003
Citation: Kochapakdee, S., Moss, B.R., Lin, J., Reeves, D.W., Mask, P., Van Santen, E. 2003. Evaluation of white lupin (lupinus albus l.), temperate corn (zea mays l.), tropical corn (zea mays l.), or hybrid pearl millet (pennisetum glaucum [l] r. br.) silage for lactating cows. In: Proceedings ot the 10th Lupin Conference - Wild and Coultivated Lupins from the Tropics to the Poles, June 19-24, 2002, Laugarvatn, Iceland. p. 300-307.

Interpretive Summary: Alternative forages for silage may enhance profitability of dairy producers. Working with Auburn University cooperators, we helped evaluate the use of three alternative forage species for silage: white lupin, tropical corn, and hybrid pearl millet, for use in feeding dairy cattle. Cattle ate less of the three alternative silages than traditional temperate corn silage and produced slightly less milk with the alternative silages. Results indicate that lupin, tropical corn and pearl millet can be ensiled and used in dairy rations, but milk production may be depressed. The information can be used by animal scientists to answer questions that producers may have in relation to potential use of these three alternative silages.

Technical Abstract: Temperate corn (TC) silage is unexcelled as a forage but ensiling unconventional crops may be profitable in specific situations. White lupin (L), tropical corn (TrC), hybrid pearl millet (PM) and three TC silages were evaluated with 54 Holsteins in a 91-d lactation-digestion study and with six ruminally cannulated cows in an in situ study. Dry matter (DM %) of TC, TrC, PM and L silages were 38-47, 30, 30 and 26, respectively. Corresponding nutrient values (% DM) were: acid detergent fiber (ADF): 19-24(TC), 32(TrC), 30(PM) and 41(L); neutral detergent fiber (NDF): 19-24(TC), 57(TrC), 52(PM) and 55(L); crude protein (CP), 7-8(TC), 9(TrC), 12(PM), and 14(L). Diets were supplemented so as to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous; the four silages composed 41-52, 36, 36 and 34 % of dietary DM. Intake (DM, kg-d) was greater for cows on TC (22.7) than for those on TrC (19.8), PM (17.2) or L (19.6) diets. Milk yield (kg-d) was greater for cows fed TC (30.8) than those fed TrC (26.8), or PM (26.3), and tended to be greater (P<0.06) than for cows on L diet (28.5). Milk fat (%) was similar for all diets whereas milk protein (%) was lower for cows fed PM than if fed TC. Apparent digestibilities of organic matter, CP, DM, ADF and NDF were highest for L (81-88%), followed by TrC and PM (68-78%) and TC (38-72%), respectively. In situ potentially digestible DM, ADF, and NDF were greater for unconventional silage diets than for TC silage diets. Degradation rate of DM and ADF for L diet was also higher than for temperate corn silage diets. Results indicate that lupin, tropical corn and pearl millet can be ensiled and used in dairy rations, but milk production may be depressed with the latter two crops.