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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #261018
Title: Orchardgrass vs. alfalfa for replacing dairy-cow grain

Author
item RAETH-KNIGHT, M - University Of Minnesota
item Jung, Hans Joachim
item PETERSON, P - University Of Minnesota
item LITHERLAND, N - University Of Minnesota
item LINN, J - University Of Minnesota

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/4/2010
Publication Date: 11/17/2010
Citation: Raeth-Knight, M.L., Jung, H.G., Peterson, P.R., Litherland, N.B., Linn, J.G. 2010. Orchardgrass vs. alfalfa for replacing dairy-cow grain [abstract]. In: 2010 Minnesota Forage Research Symposium, November 17-18, 2010, St. Cloud, Minnesota. p. 14.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Alfalfa is currently the predominant forage fed to lactating dairy cows in the Midwestern United States however interest in incorporating grasses into lactating dairy cow diets has recently been rejuvenated. Due to differences in chemical composition and physical characteristics of grasses and legumes, directly comparing the feeding value of alfalfa to grasses in lactating dairy cow diets is challenging. Therefore, the objective of our study was to use linear regression analysis to compare the change in lactating dairy cow performance when increasing amounts of corn grain and soybean meal were replaced with alfalfa or orchardgrass hay in a total mixed ration.