EVALUATION OF WHOLE CROP OAT SILAGE AS A BASAL FORAGE FOR LACTATING COWS

1974 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. FISHER ◽  
J. R. LESSARD ◽  
G. A. LODGE
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
Dietary Energy ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Molar Percent ◽  
Dough Stage

Corn silage ensiled at 33% dry matter (DM) (Treatment CS); oats harvested at the milk stage of maturity and ensiled with oat grain (Treatment OG); oats harvested at the milk stage of maturity and wilted prior to ensiling (Treatment OM) and oats harvested at the soft dough stage of maturity and ensiled (Treatment OSD) were fed to each of 16 lactating cows during four successive 49-day periods, according to a switchback design. The silages as fed contained 34.5, 34.2, 31.9 and 36.6% dry matter (DM) and 8.6, 14.0, 14.4 and 10.5% protein for Treatments CS, OG, OM, and OSD, respectively. Forage dry matter (DM) intake was significantly greater (P < 0.01) on Treatment OG than on CS, and significantly less (P < 0.01) on Treatment OM than on either CS, OG or OSD. Milk yield was significantly higher (P < 0.05) on Treatment OG than on OM. Milk protein percent was higher (P < 0.05) on Treatment CS than on OSD, and lactose percent was lower (P < 0.01) on Treatment CS than on OG. There was no significant effect (P > 0.05) of treatment on the acetate:propionate ratio in the rumen fluid. However, molar percent of rumen butyrate was significantly (P < 0.05) lower on Treatment OM than on either CS or OG. The apparent digestibilities of silage DM were 58.6, 58.0, 60.8, and 52.9, and of silage crude protein were 43.3, 65.3, 63.8, and 55.0 for Treatments CS, OG, OM, and OSD, respectively. Efficiencies of conversion of dietary energy and protein to milk energy and protein were also calculated.

scholarly journals AN EVALUATION OF STEAM-TREATED ASPEN AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CORN SILAGE IN THE RATIONS OF LACTATING COWS

1980 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 379-384
Author(s):  
L. J. FISHER
Keyword(s):  
Acetic Acid ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Latin Square ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Milk Protein Content ◽  
Forage Mixtures

Fifteen lactating Holsteins were used to test processed aspen added to corn silage at the levels of 0, 10 and 20% (dry matter basis). The experiment was designed as a latin square with three experimental periods each 42 days in length. The forage mixtures were fed free choice to the cows, which were housed in a free-stall barn, and their individual feed intakes were recorded by using electronic doors. The processed aspen contained 45.4% dry matter, 73.7% acid detergent fiber and 0.54% protein. There was no evidence of heating or mold growth in the aspen during the 5 mo of the trial. Silage dry matter intake and milk yield were 11.8, 13.4 and 13.4 and 25.7, 27.0 and 26.8 kg per day, respectively, for the silage mixtures containing 0, 10 and 20% processed aspen. Fat test was decreased slightly and milk protein content significantly (P < 0.05) depressed by the addition of 20% processed aspen chips to the corn silage. Efficiency of milk yield was not significantly influenced (P > 0.05) by the inclusion of aspen chips in the silage. Neither the molar proportion of acetic acid nor the ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid in the rumen fluid was changed when the cows were fed silage containing processed aspen chips. The apparent digestibilities of total ration dry matter and protein were lowered significantly by the addition of 10% aspen chips to the forage mixture. It was concluded from the results of this trial that steam-processed aspen chips had little nutritive value when fed to lactating cows as a partial substitute for corn silage.

WHOLE CROP BARLEY AS CONSERVED FORAGE FOR LACTATING COWS

1972 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. FISHER ◽  
J. R. LESSARD ◽  
G. A. LODGE
Keyword(s):  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
The Other ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Body Weight Change ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Milk Protein Content ◽  
Three Stages

Whole crop barley harvested as hay at the milk stage and at three stages of maturity as silage was fed to each of 16 lactating cows, over successive periods of 49 days each, according to a simple changeover design. The barley hay and barley silages contained 86.2, 26.1, 33.4, and 47.9% dry matter (DM), 14.2, 12.5, 11.1, and 9.2% crude protein, and 31.1, 34.1, 29.2, and 28.0% crude fiber for the hay, milk, soft dough, and firm dough stages of maturity, respectively. Forage DM intake was significantly lower (P < 0.05) for hay than for any of the silages and for the milk stage silage than for the more mature silages. There were no significant effects of diet on milk yield, but milk protein content was significantly lower (P < 0.05) and lactose content significantly higher (P < 0.05) when milk stage silage was fed compared with hay or the other silages. The ratio of acetate to propionate in the rumen fluid was significantly greater (P < 0.05) for cows fed hay than when fed silage. The apparent digestibilities of forage DM were 59.2, 59.4, 59.0, and 55.9% and the efficiencies of digestible energy utilization of complete rations corrected for body weight change were 49.1, 43.9, 42.2, and 42.3% for barley hay, and silages at the milk, soft dough, and firm dough stages of maturity, respectively.

INTAKE AND DIGESTIBILITY OF CORN, RYE AND SORGHUM-SUDAN GRASS SILAGES BY LACTATING COWS

1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 1027-1032 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. FISHER ◽  
J. R. LESSARD
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Latin Square ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
Acid Detergent Fiber ◽  
Sudan Grass ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows

Eighteen lactating Holsteins were utilized in a 3 × 3 Latin square (49 d treatment−1) for a comparative estimation of the intake and digestibility of corn, rye and sorghum-sudan grass silages. The dry matter (DM), protein and acid detergent fiber contents were 32.5, 8.0, 27.0; 25.2, 8.7, 45.6 and 22.4, 10.6, 40.7 percent for corn, rye, and sorghum-sudan silages, respectively. Dry matter intake of the silage and milk yield were less (P < 0.05) for cows fed rye silage compared to those fed corn and sorghum-sudan grass silage. Cows lost body weight when fed rye silage but gained weight when fed either corn or sorghum-sudan grass silage. The feeding of rye silage resulted in a decrease (P < 0.05) in milk protein percent compared to the feeding of corn or sorghum-sudan silage and in the percentage of milk lactose compared to the feeding of sorghum-sudan grass silage. Molar proportions of rumen acetate were higher (P < 0.05) when cows were fed either rye or sorghum-sudan silage compared to corn silage. Cows fed rye silage had higher molar proportions of rumen propionate and valerate and lower levels of butyrate (P < 0.05) compared to cows consuming sorghum-sudan silage. The digestibility of total ration DM was lower (P < 0.05) when either rye or sorghum-sudan silage was the forage portion of the ration compared to corn. It was concluded from this trial that sorghum-sudan silage provided a suitable source of forage for lactating dairy cows. However, the DM intake and milk yield of cows fed rye silage was less than satisfactory. Key words: Dairy cattle, rye, sorghum-sudan, silage, intake, digestibility

A COMPARISON OF TWO METHODS OF COMBINING ALFALFA CUBES WITH CORN SILAGE FED TO LACTATING COWS

1977 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 559-565
Author(s):  
L. J. FISHER
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Protein Digestibility ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
Feeding Time ◽  
Plasma Urea ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Fat Yield ◽  
Changeover Period ◽  
Feeding Systems

Sixteen Holstein cows in early lactation were assigned to a switch-back experiment consisting of two experimental periods 35 days in length separated by a 7-day changeover period. Treatments consisted of two feeding systems, alfalfa cubes ensiled with corn silage or alfalfa cubes fed with the corn silage. When cows were fed corn–alfalfa cube silage they consumed more forage, 2.26 vs. 2.16% of body weight per cow per day than when they were fed the alfalfa cubes with the silage. Fat-corrected milk yield was somewhat higher, 25.4 vs. 24.0 kg/day; fat percent and fat yield were greater, 3.13 vs. 2.70% and 918 vs. 814 g/day for corn–alfalfa cube silage as compared to cubes added at feeding time. However, milk yield was greater, 29.9 vs. 29.1 kg/day, and milk lactose percent was greater, 5.26 vs. 5.18% for cows fed cubes at feeding time compared to cows fed corn–alfalfa cube silage. There was no difference between feeding systems in blood minerals or metabolites with the exception of plasma urea nitrogen which was higher, 20.2 vs. 17.2 mg %, for the alfalfa cubes fed with the corn silage. Apparent dry matter and protein digestibility for the total ration were 68.1 and 71.6% when corn alfalfa cube silage was fed compared to 65.4 and 68.5% when the cubes were fed with the corn silage (P < 0.05). It was concluded from this study that alfalfa cubes ensiled with corn silage was an effective method of increasing the dry matter and protein content of corn silage and in improving the digestibility of the total ration.

RESPONSE OF LACTATING DAIRY COWS TO FORMALDEHYDE-TREATED SOYBEAN MEAL WHEN FED WITH CONTROL OR UREA-TREATED CORN SILAGE

1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. ERFLE ◽  
F. D. SAUER ◽  
S. MAHADEVAN ◽  
R. M. TEATHER
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Soybean Meal ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Amino Acid Content ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
Corn Silage

In two experiments, lactating cows (26 in exp. 1; 32 in exp. 2) were fed an 11.3% crude protein (CP) diet, a 14.7% CP diet containing untreated soybean meal (SBM) or a 14.6% CP diet containing formaldehyde-treated SBM (FSBM), all three fed as a complete blended diet with control corn silage (CCS) (exp. 1); a 12% CP diet, a 13.4% CP diet containing SBM or a 13.3% CP diet containing FSBM, all fed as a complete blended diet with urea-treated corn silage (UCS) (exp. 2). In both experiments concentrates and CCS or UCS were mixed (50:50 dry matter) daily and fed ad lib for a 16-wk period. The increase of CP over the low CP negative control by addition of untreated SBM resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) increase in milk production in both experiments. The addition of FSBM had no significant effect. When comparing solids-corrected milk (SCM), addition of SBM, whether treated or not, significantly increased SCM in both experiments. In neither experiment did FSBM improve milk production over untreated SBM. All animals fed CCS lost body weight but there was no difference between treatments. For animals fed UCS the low CP group lost significantly (P < 0.05) more body weight than did the group fed FSBM. Dry matter (DM) intake was significantly (P < 0.05) lower for the FSBM fed group than for the group fed untreated SBM in exp. 1 (CCS). DM intake was significantly (P < 0.05) increased by either FSBM or SBM over the low CP control fed UCS. Milk protein was the only component significantly (P < 0.05) decreased by FSBM in exp. 1. Isobutyric and isovaleric acids were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in rumen fluid of animals on FSBM plus CCS. Rumen microbial protein content seemed to be more adversely affected by FSBM with CCS than UCS. Amino acid content of FSBM and SBM demonstrated that lysine and tyrosine were lost from SBM after treatment with formaldehyde. The lack of a response in milk production to FSBM is discussed in terms of a lysine and tyrosine deficiency for milk protein synthesis and the adverse effect that formaldehyde protection of SBM may have on the rumen microbial population. Key words: Lactation, dairy cows, urea, corn silage, soybean meal, formaldehyde treatment

Effect of Body Condition at Calving and Dietary Energy Supply on Milk Yield, Milk Quality and Dry-Matter Intake in Lactating Cows

1988 ◽  
Vol 1988 ◽  
pp. 111-111
Author(s):  
G.P. Jones ◽  
P.C. Garnsworthy
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Dietary Energy ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Fat Reserves ◽  
Voluntary Feed Intake ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows

Recent work concluded that when lactating dairy cows are fed a relatively high energy diet (Garnsworthy and Jones, 1987), increasing the dietary undegradable protein (UDP) supply to those which are fat at calving leads to increased mobilisation of body fat reserves; however, increasing the UDP supply to those which are thin at calving results in reduction of voluntary feed intake, but does not affect the change in condition or milk yield. Little difference was found in yields of cows fat at calving receiving a relatively high UDP diet post calving, and cows thin at calving receiving a high or low UDP diet. Similar results were obtained with diets of lower energy and protein content (Jones and Garnsworthy, 1987). The investigation reported here aimed to examine the effect of body condition at calving on the response to energy level in the diet.

EFFECTS OF VARIOUS ROUGHAGE SOURCES IN COMPLETE FEEDS ON MILK PRODUCTION, COMPOSITION AND RUMEN METABOLISM OF DAIRY COWS

1971 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 669-680 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. IBRAHIM ◽  
J. R. INGALLS
Keyword(s):  
Milk Fat ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
Molar Ratios ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Daily Milk Yield

Twenty lactating cows were used over two growing seasons to compare three complete feeds containing corn silage, alfalfa grass silage or ground hay, with long hay as the control. The roughage to concentrate ratio was 6:4 in experiment 1, and 4:6 in experiment 2. There were no significant (P < 0.05) differences m dry matter and total digestible nutrient (TDN) intake among roughage sources except for corn silage in experiment 1. The molar percentage of acetic, butyric, valeric, isobutyric and isovaleric and the molar proportion of acetic to propionic were not affected (P < 0.05) by different sources of roughage. In experiment 1, TDN, dry matter, crude protein and nitrogen-free extract (NFE) digestibility was lower (P < 0.05) for the corn silage diet. However, in experiment 2 there were no significant differences (P < 0.05) in TDN, dry matter, crude protein and NFE digestibility among the experimental treatments. Blood glucose and urea concentrations were not affected by roughage sources. The mean daily (experiment 1) milk yields of cows fed long and ground hay mixtures were greater (P < 0.05) than those of cows fed the alfalfa grass silage mixture; however, the mean daily fat-corrected milk (FCM) yield was not affected (P < 0.05) by the source of roughage (experiment 1). The mean daily milk yield and FCM yield were not affected significantly (P < 0.05) by roughage source (experiment 2). The percentage of milk fat, and solids-not-fat, were not influenced (P < 0.05) by roughage source (experiments 1 and 2). Roughage source appeared to have little effect on molar ratios of fatty acids found in the milk fat.

Effects of protein concentration in the diet on milk yield, change in body composition and the efficiency of utilization of body tissue for milk production in ewes

1981 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. T. Cowan ◽  
J. J. Robinson ◽  
I. McHattie ◽  
K. Pennie
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Protein Concentration ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
The Body ◽  
Low Protein ◽  
Dietary Concentration

ABSTRACTTwenty-five mature Finnish Landrace × Dorset Horn ewes, each suckling two lambs, were used to measure the effects of dietary concentration of crude protein on food intake, milk yield and changes in body composition during the first 6 weeks of lactation. Diets were complete mixes of milled hay and concentrates, and the amounts of barley and fish meal were altered to give crude protein concentrations of 116 and 143g/kg dry matter. Ten ewes were slaughtered at 5 to 7 days of lactation and the remaining ewes were slaughtered at 40 to 43 days of lactation.The higher concentration of crude protein in the diet did not alter food intake or digestion. Milk yield was not altered in the first 3 weeks of lactation but was increased in weeks 4 and 5 (P<0·05). Production of milk protein was increased by a higher protein concentration in the diet (P<0·01) and this effect was evident from the 2nd week of lactation. Weight of chemically determined fat in the body decreased from 179 to 13-0kg from 6 to 42 days of lactation (P<0·001) for ewes on diets of both concentrations of crude protein.It was concluded that the higher level of protein intake during early lactation increased yields of milk and milk protein. The data suggest that the energy lost from the body was used more efficiently by ewes given the diet of high, rather than low, protein content.

THE DRY MATTER INTAKE AND DIGESTIBILITY OF WINTER WHEAT HARVESTED AS WHOLE CROP SILAGE

1977 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. FISHER ◽  
J. R. LESSARD
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Protein Content ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Crude Fiber Content ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Dough Stage

Wheat was harvested for silage at the milk, the soft dough and the firm dough stages of maturity and fed to lactating cows in a comparison with corn silage harvested at 30% dry matter. The protein content of the four silages ranged from 7 to 8.3%. The crude fiber content of the corn silage (22%) was lower than that of the three wheat silages ranging from 27.4% at the firm dough stage to 34.5% at the milk stage. Silage dry matter intake was highest for the firm dough wheat silage and lowest for the corn silage. However, there was no significant difference in milk yield or milk composition among the four silages. The higher intake of the firm dough silage compared to corn silage was compensated for by the tendency of higher digestibility of the corn silage. The rumen acetate content of the cows fed soft dough wheat silage was higher than for those fed corn silage and milk stage wheat silage, while the reverse was true for rumen propionate.

THE INVESTIGATION OF SODIUM BICARBONATE OR BENTONITE AS SUPPLEMENTS IN SILAGES FED TO LACTATING COWS

1983 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 939-947 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. FISHER ◽  
V. G. MACKAY
Keyword(s):  
Sodium Bicarbonate ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Latin Square ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Lactating Cows

Two experiments with lactating Holsteins were carried out to determine the effectiveness of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) or bentonite, added to silage prior to feeding, as a means of increasing dry matter intake. In the first trials the feed, consisting of 10% grain mixture, 45% grass silage and 45% corn silage, was supplemented with 0, 0.6 or 1.2% bentonite in a 3 × 3 latin square utilizing 12 cows and 28-day test periods. Neither level of bentonite improved dry matter intake or milk yield. Milk composition, molar proportions of rumen volatile fatty acids, plasma calcium and phosphorus were not influenced by additions of bentonite. Apparent dry matter digestibility was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) by the addition of bentonite at the 0.6 and 1.2% levels compared to the cows fed the unsupplemented ration. The digestibility of acid detergent fiber was lower (P < 0.05) for cows fed the silage mixture supplemented with 1.2% bentonite than for the controls. In the second trial a silage mixture consisting of approximately 30% grass silage and 70% corn silage was supplemented with either 0.8% NaHCO3, 2.1% bentonite or neither and fed in a 3 × 3 latin square utilizing 15 cows and 28-day treatment periods. Compared to control cows, neither NaHCO3 nor bentonite had any significant (P > 0.05) influence on dry matter intake, milk yield or rumen fermentation. However, the addition of NaHCO3 to the silage improved milk yield and feed conversion (P < 0.05) when compared to cows fed the silage supplemented with bentonite. It was concluded from these trials that bentonite should not be used as a supplement to silage diets fed to lactating cows. The results suggested that NaHCO3 supplementation had little if any beneficial effect when grass silage made up approximately 30% of the total diet. Key words: NaHCO3, bentonite, lactating cows, silage intake, digestibility

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