Author
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MOREIRA, VINICIUS - UNIV FED DE VICOSA BRAZIL |
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CRAGNOLINO, CARLA - UNIV CATOLICA ARGENTINA |
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Satter, Larry |
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Submitted to: Journal Dairy Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 6/23/1999 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Twenty mature (126DIM) and 4 primiparous (160DIM) Holstein cows were assigned in a 4x4 Latin square (2ld/period) to evaluate different proportions of corn silage (CS), alfalfa silage (AS) or low quality alfalfa hay (AH; CP = 16%; NDF = 55%; ADF = 45%) as forage sources for early lactation cows. The treatments were: all corn silage; 3/4CS 1/4AH; 3/4CS 1/4AS; and 1/2CS 1/2AS. Cows were fed a TMR (50:50 forage:concentrate) twice daily. The concentrate fraction contained high moisture shelled corn (HMSC), soybean meal, roasted soybeans, soybean hulls, blood meal, limestone, mineral and yeast. All components of the concentrate were fixed, except soybean meal and HMSC, which were used to make isonitrogenous rations. Four of the mature cows were rumen fistulated and rumen fluid samples were taken for analysis. Rumen fluid pH was higher with the 3/4CS 1/4AS treatment (6.07) than for the all corn silage (5.98; P < .146), 3/4CS S1/4AH (5.98; P < .134), or 1/2CS 1/2AS (5.95; P < .069) treatments. There was no difference among treatments for ammonia or total amino acids in rumen fluid. Feed intake and milk production were greater with the mixtures of corn silage and alfalfa silage than for the all corn silage diets. Poor quality alfalfa hay did not seem to be as effective as high quality alfalfa silage in mixtures with corn silage. 3/4CS 3/4CS 1/2CS SEM All CS 1/4AH 1/4AS 1/2AS SEM P < DMI, kg/d 23.3**b 21.4**c 24.6**a 24.2**a 0.45 .005 Milk, kg/d 39.6**b 39.l**b 40 0**ab 41.0**a 1.06 .149 Milk fat, % 3 00**b 3.l0**ab 3.19**a 3.12**ab 0.13 .078 Milk CP, % 3.34**a 3.28**ab 3.29**ab 3.25**b 0.06 .048 |
