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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Dairy Forage Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #264730
Title: Milk production response to feeding alfalfa silage inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum

Author
item Muck, Richard
item Broderick, Glen
item ANTONIO, FACIOLA - University Of Wisconsin
item Hymes Fecht, Ursula

Submitted to: Joint Meeting of the ADSA, AMSA, ASAS and PSA
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/24/2011
Publication Date: 7/10/2011
Citation: Muck, R.E., Broderick, G.A., Antonio, F.P., Hymes Fecht, U.C. 2011. Milk production response to feeding alfalfa silage inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum. Journal of Dairy Science 94(E-Supplement 1):546 (Abstract).

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In mini-silo trials, silages treated with a Lactobacillus plantarum silage inoculant (Ecosyl, Yorkshire, UK) had increased in vitro rumen microbial biomass production compared to untreated. Our objective was to determine if alfalfa silage treated with this inoculant could produce a milk production response commensurate with the in vitro responses. Alfalfa (240 g CP/kg DM, 300 g NDF/kg DM, 500 g DM/kg) was ensiled with (LP) and without (C) Ecosyl inoculant. Twenty eight multiparous Holstein cows in early lactation were blocked by DIM and randomly assigned to two diets (C or LP-treated silage) in a double crossover design with four 28-d periods. Diets were formulated to contain 162 g CP and 280 g NDF/kg DM, and the diets fed consisted of (g/kg DM): alfalfa silage (509), corn silage (206), high moisture corn (214), soy hulls (47) and vitamin/mineral mix (25). Milk production (2X) and DM intake were recorded for the last 14 d of each period. Milk samples were collected from each cow at both milkings on days 20, 21, 27 and 28 for analysis of milk composition. The LP diet increased milk production (40.4 vs. 39.6 kg/d, P=0.05) but did not affect DM intake or milk/DM intake. Milk composition and production of milk components were largely unaffected by diet with the following exceptions. LP reduced milk protein (2.78 vs. 2.81%, P=0.07) and milk urea N (11.6 vs. 12.7 mg/dL, P<0.01)) and increased milk lactose (4.89 vs. 4.82%, P<0.01). The increased milk production and reduced MUN in the current study support the hypothesis that the inoculated silage is producing more rumen microbial biomass. Omasal samples taken during this study and to be reported in the future will confirm if this is correct.