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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #113057
Title: EFFECT OF NDF FROM CORN SILAGE IN DIETS OF LACTATING DAIRY COWS

Author
item ALLEN, DANA - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item KUEHN, CARLA - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item LINN, JAMES - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item HANSEN, WILLIAM - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item Jung, Hans Joachim
item ENDRES, MARCIA - MYCOGEN SEEDS

Submitted to: American Dairy Science Association Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/25/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Two studies evaluated the effect of NDF from corn silage on milk production. In year 1, 51 Holstein cows were assigned to five levels (18, 20, 22, 24, and 26% of DM) of forage NDF (NDFF). Source of NDFF was corn silage and alfalfa hay, with hay constant at 13% of the diet DM. Rumen inert fat was fed to maintain isocaloric diets. Cows received a standardized diet (22% NDFF) from calving until 20 to 26 d post calving when dietary treatments were initiated and remained on their respective diets for 17 wk. Intake by mature cows decreased as NDFF increased, except at 26% NDFF. Dietary treatment did not affect milk production, BW, BCS, or DM digestibility. Time spent chewing tended to increase with NDFF in the diet. Year 2, 74 Holstein cows were assigned to one of six dietary treatments, three dietary levels of NDFF (17, 20, and 22.5% of DM) with either an undegradable protein supplement (U; RUP 48.6% of CP) or a degradable protein supplement (D; RUP 32.5% of CP) were fed. Dietary NDFF was varied as in year 1 except alfalfa hay was held constant at 10% of DM. All cows were fed the 20% NDFF; D diet from calving until 20 to 26 d post- calving and then switched to their respective dietary treatment for 21 wk. There was a numerical trend for decreasing DM intake as NDFF increased for both protein supplements. Milk yield was not different across treatments. Various levels of NDFF from corn silage can be fed as a total mixed ration when good feeding management practices are implemented without adverse health effects or compromising milk yield.