ACID-TREATED HIGH MOISTURE BARLEY FOR DAIRY COWS
Twelve dairy cows in early lactation were assigned to four dairy concentrates (dry barley, dry barley treated with propionic and acetic acids, high moisture barley treated with propionic and acetic acids and high moisture barley ensiled) in a changeover design. All cows received whole plant barley silage at about 40% of the total dry matter (DM) intake. The dairy concentrates were mixed with the silage at the time of feeding and the mixtures fed ad libitum. Silage intakes appeared to be lower for cows receiving high moisture barley; however, total intake was not different (P > 0.05) among treatments. Milk yield was lower (P < 0.05) for cows receiving the high moisture acid-treated grain compared to those receiving the dry untreated grain. Yield of fat corrected milk (FCM), % butterfat (BF) and % solids not fat (SNF) were not different (P > 0.05) among treatments. In this study there did not appear to be any fat depression with the high moisture grains even though, on average, DM intake by the cows on this diet contained a lower proportion of silage.