APPARENT DIGESTIBILITY AND NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF UREA OR AMMONIA-SOLUTION-TREATED CORN SILAGES FOR LACTATING HOLSTEIN COWS AND MATURE SHEEP

1983 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 871-884 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. B. BAREEBA ◽  
J. R. INGALLS ◽  
J. A. McKIRDY ◽  
H. R. SHARMA

Corn silages were treated at harvest with 0.5% urea or 1.3–2.2% ammonia-molasses-mineral solution. Apparent recoveries of added nitrogen in the corn silages ranged from 95 to 100% in both experiments. Water-insoluble N and lactic acid contents were increased in the treated silages as compared to the control. Four diets containing either (1) grass-legume (GL) silage (38% DM) + medium grain (MG); (2) 0.5% urea-treated corn (CU) silage (31% DM) + MG; (3) 2.2% ammonia-treated corn (AC) silage (32% DM) + MG; (4) AC silage + low grain (LG) were fed to eight Holstein cows in a latin square design. Silage DM consumption, milk production and milk composition were not different (P > 0.05) among treatments. Reducing the level of grain feeding from 32 to 23% of the diet with ammonia-treated corn silage resulted in a decrease (P < 0.05) in total DM consumption, with no apparent effect on milk production or composition, at the levels of production observed in this study. There were significant (P < 0.05) differences among treatments in molar percentages of acetic, propionic and butyric acids in rumen fluid. However, no differences were observed in milk fat or solid nonfat contents of the cows receiving the four experimental diets. Sheep digestion studies carried out on the above silages indicated apparent digestibilities of DM, CP and energy were lower (P < 0.05) for the GL silage compared with the UC or AC silages (exp. 1), whereas there were no differences in apparent digestibilities of DM and energy of untreated corn silage or NPN-treated silages (exp. 2). However, crude protein digestion coefficient was lower (P < 0.05) for untreated corn silage compared with the three NPN-treated corn silages. The present studies failed to show a beneficial effect of treating corn silage with an ammonia, molasses and mineral solution rather than urea on silage fermentation and animal performance. Key words: Dairy cows, sheep, nitrogen balance, ammonia treatment, corn silage

2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekin Sucu ◽  
Chel Moore ◽  
Matthew J. VanBaale ◽  
Howard Jensen ◽  
Maria V. Sanz-Fernandez ◽  
...  

Two experiments examined the effects of Aspergillus oryzae fermentation product (AO; Amaferm®; BioZyme Inc., St. Joseph, MO, USA) on productive variables in transition dairy cows. In experiment 1, 33 Holstein cows (22 multiparous and 11 primiparous) were enrolled from −21 to 60 days in milk (DIM). Cows were individually fed either a control total mixed ration (TMR) diet consisting of primarily alfalfa hay and steam-flaked corn [62:38 and 59:41, forage:concentrate (F:C) for prepartum and postpartum phases, respectively] or the control diet along with 15 g d−1 of AO. In experiment 2, 455 multiparous Holstein cows were enrolled from −21 to 121 DIM. Cows were group-fed either a control TMR diet (n = 228) consisting primarily of corn silage and rolled corn (44:56, F:C) or the control diet (n = 227) with 15 g d−1 of AO. In experiment 1, cows fed AO had increased (P < 0.05) milk production compared with controls (37.7 vs. 34.6 kg d−1). Milk composition, dry matter intake, body weight (BW), and BW loss both prepartum and postpartum did not differ (P > 0.10) between treatments. Cows fed AO tended to have decreased plasma nonesterified fatty acids levels (14%, P < 0.10), but plasma glucose concentration did not differ (P = 0.89). In experiment 2, cows fed AO had decreased milk yield (43.0 vs. 43.8; P < 0.05), and increased milk fat content (3.50% vs. 3.38%; P < 0.01) but similar quantities of 3.5% fat-corrected milk (42.5 vs. 42.7 kg d−1; P > 0.10). Results suggest that AO has the potential to improve aspects of milk production efficiency, but the percentage and types of forage utilized may influence the response.


1969 ◽  
Vol 84 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 17-28
Author(s):  
Teodoro M. Ruiz ◽  
Jaime Moyá ◽  
Luis Viera

Three stargrass silage (SGS)-based diets formulated to contain 20, 26 and 32% neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were compared as to their effect on dry matter intake (DMI) and milk production. Twelve lactating Holstein cows averaging 110 days in milk were arranged in four replications of a 3 x 3 Latin Square design. Treatments did not affect DMI or DMI as percentage of body weight (BW); mean values for these parameters were 15.4 kg/cow/day and 3.06%, respectively. However, cows consuming 32% NDF diet had a tendency toward lower (8.6%) intake of organic matter (OM) as percentage of BW than cows on the 20% NDF diet. Intake of NDF as a percentage of BW increased (P < 0.01) linearly (0.62 to 0.93%) as dietary NDF concentration increased. Milk production averaged 21.0 kg/cow/day and was not affected by dietary treatment. Reducing dietary NDF from 32 to 20% resulted in a reduction (P < 0.01) in milk fat from 3.09 to 2.66%.This reduction resulted in a 1.3 kg/cow/day increase (P < 0.05) in 3.25% fat-corrected milk (3.25% FCM) as the percentage of dietary NDF increased. Gross efficiency of energy (NEL) use for milk production and 3.25% FCM increased linearly with dietary NDF by 9.7 and 17.3%, respectively. Results point out that for mid-lactation cows at the observed level of production, diets lower than 32% NDF will not result in higher DMI and milk production, and will be less efficient in the use of energy for milk production.


2018 ◽  
Vol 156 (7) ◽  
pp. 900-913
Author(s):  
F. P. Campos ◽  
M. R. G. Conceição ◽  
P. Sarmento ◽  
D. R. O. Nicácio ◽  
C. G. Lima ◽  
...  

AbstractThe objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of sugarcane and maize silage mixturev.maize silage in diets of Holstein cows and investigate performance under two environmental conditions. The cows were placed in freestalls, with individuals and stalls assigned to one of four treatments according to a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 20-day periods divided into 11 days of adaptation (wash-out period) and 9 days of collection. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design: total diets (maize silage (MS-based diet), the roughage mixture (RM-based diet, sugarcane : maize silage, 500 : 500 g/kg DM) plus concentrate); environmental conditions (with (W) and without (Wo) fan and nebulizers); and measurement times (09.40 and 14.00 h). The temperature and relative humidity was higher at 14.00 h and contributed to increased temperature-humidity index (76.6, Wv.75.9, Wo). Feed dry matter intake (DMI) was similar between diets (20.2 kg/day), but milk production and feed efficiency were lower with RM. Under W conditions, higher fat content and total solids of milk were observed with the RM-based diet, while crude protein and lactose were higher with MS. The Wo conditions increased body surface temperature (BS) in cows fed MS. The rectal temperature (RT) was higher with RM. The BS, RT and respiratory rate were higher at 14.00 h (34.9, 38.6 °C and 58.2 breaths/min) than at 09.40 h. The RM-based diet maintained DMI and milk composition, but not milk production. The use of the cooling system led to higher DMI and feed N efficiency use.


1980 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 945-952 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. LESSARD ◽  
L. J. FISHER

Alfalfa was conserved as formic-acid-treated silage, dehydrated and pelleted forage and as field-cured hay, and used with and without corn silage for a digestibility trial with sheep. Digestibility of dry matter (DM) was higher for hay than for dehydrated forage but not higher than for silage. Crude protein digestibility was higher for silage and for hay than for dehydrated alfalfa. Acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibility was lowest on dehydrated forage while hemicellulose digestibility was highest. The inclusion of corn silage in the diets increased digestibilities of DM, energy, hemicellulose and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) but decreased crude protein, and ADF digestibilities. A feeding trial using 20 lactating cows in a four-period changeover design compared silage, hay and dehydrated alfalfa, each in combination with corn silage as forage sources. A corn silage control was also used. Concentrate was fed at a ratio of 1 kg for each 4 kg of milk produced. Cows fed hay or pellets consumed more forage DM than cows fed only silages, but milk production was the same for the three alfalfa sources. Milk fat content was depressed by 0.5 percentage units in the milk of cows fed pellets. Efficiency of utilization of digestible energy (DE) and protein for milk production was higher for the alfalfa silage treatment than for hay or pellets. A lower acetic acid and a higher propionic acid concentration was measured in the rumen fluid of cows fed pellets than for cows.


2011 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiano Côrtes ◽  
Ricardo Kazama ◽  
Daniele da Silva-Kazama ◽  
Chaouki Benchaar ◽  
Lucia M Zeoula ◽  
...  

Flax hull, a co-product obtained from flax processing, is a rich source of n-3 fatty acids (FA) but there is little information on digestion of flax hull based diets and nutritive value of flax hull for dairy production. Flax oil is rich in α-linolenic acid (LNA) and rumen bypass of flax oil contributes to increase n-3 FA proportions in milk. Therefore, the main objective of the experiment was to determine the effects of abomasal infusion of increasing amounts of flax oil on apparent digestibility, dry matter (DM) intake, milk production, milk composition, and milk FA profile with emphasis on the proportion of LNA when cows were supplemented or not with another source of LNA such as flax hull. Six multiparous Holstein cows averaging 650±36 kg body weight and 95±20 d in milk were assigned to a 6×6 Latin square design (21-d experimental periods) with a 2×3 factorial arrangement of treatments. Treatments were: 1) control, neither flax hull nor flax oil (CON), 2) diet containing (DM basis) 15·9% flaxseed hull (FHU); 3) CON with abomasal infusion of 250 g/d flax oil; 4) CON with abomasal infusion of 500 g/d flax oil; 5) FHU with abomasal infusion of 250 g/d flax oil; 6) FHU with abomasal infusion of 500 g/d flax oil. Infusion of flax oil in the abomasum resulted in a more pronounce decrease in DM intake for cows fed the CON diets than for those fed the FHU diets. Abomasal infusion of flax oil had little effect on digestibility and FHU supplementation increased digestibility of DM and crude protein. Milk yield was not changed by abomasal infusion of flax oil where it was decreased with FHU supplementation. Cows fed FHU had higher proportions of 18:0, cis9-18:1, trans dienes, trans monoenes and total trans in milk fat than those fed CON. Proportion of LNA was similar in milk fat of cows infused with 250 and 500 g/d flax oil in the abomasum. Independently of the basal diet, abomasal infusion of flax oil resulted in the lowest n-6:n-3 FA ratio in milk fat, suggesting that the most important factor for modification of milk FA profile was the amount of n-3 FA bypassing the rumen and not the amount of flax hull fed to dairy cows. Moreover, these data suggest that there is no advantage to supply more than 250 g/d of flax oil in the abomasum to increase the proportion of LNA in milk fat.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Luís Carlos Vinhas Ítavo ◽  
Noemila Débora Kozerski ◽  
Camila Celeste Brandão Ferreira Ítavo ◽  
Alexandre Menezes Dias ◽  
Hélène Veronique Petit ◽  
...  

Abstract We aimed to evaluate the effect of replacing corn silage by orange peel silage on nutrient intake, ruminal parameters and milk production of multiparous lactating Holstein cows. Eight fistulated Holstein cows averaging 587.5 ± 39.6 kg and 111 ± 22 d in milking were randomly assigned to a double 4 × 4 Latin square design carried out two times to determine the effects of feeding with orange peel silage (OPS) in substitution of whole plant corn silage (WPCS). The treatments were a control diet with WPCS only or diets with OPS replacing WPCS in the total mixed diet (250, 500, or 750 g/kg DM). All cows were fed the same 750 : 250 g/kg roughage : concentrate ratio. The DM intake and milk production were reduced with the OPS inclusion, with decreases in consumption of neutral detergent fibre and increased consumption of non-fibrous carbohydrates. Diets with 250 and 500 g/kg OPS showed similar milk production and protein content in milk to the standard WCPS diet, whilst 750 g/kg orange peel silage as roughage increased fat and protein contents significantly. The orange peel silage as a substitute for corn silage for feeding dairy cows did not show adverse changes in the rumen environment and showed promising results in the increase of fat in milk of Holstein cows.


2009 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 475-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hélène V Petit ◽  
Cristiano Côrtes ◽  
Daniele da Silva ◽  
Ricardo Kazama ◽  
Nathalie Gagnon ◽  
...  

Four ruminally fistulated multiparous Holstein cows were assigned to a 4×4 Latin square design with a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments to study the effects of dietary supplementation of monensin and flaxseed hulls on ruminal and milk concentration of the mammalian lignan enterolactone (EL) and ruminal and faecal activity of β-glucuronidase. The hypothesis was that monensin supplementation has no effect on the incorporation of EL into milk when cows are fed flaxseed hulls. Treatments were: 1) control, neither flaxseed hulls nor monensin (CO); 2) diet containing (dry matter basis) 20% flaxseed hulls (FH); 3) diet with monensin (16 mg/kg of dry matter; MO); 4) diet containing 20% (dry matter basis) flaxseed hulls and 16 mg/kg monensin (HM). Intake of dry matter was higher for CO and MO than for FH and HM and monensin had no effect. Milk production decreased in cows fed flaxseed hulls while monensin had no effect. Production of 4% fat-corrected milk and concentrations of milk fat, lactose, urea N, and total solids were similar among treatments. Although there was a decrease in ruminal activity of β-glucuronidase when feeding flaxseed hulls, the metabolism of plant into mammalian lignans may be increased as shown by enhanced concentration of EL in the rumen and milk. Supplementation with flaxseed hulls then may contribute to favourably change milk composition for better human health by enhancing mammalian lignan EL concentration.


1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 181-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. R. SHARMA ◽  
J. R. INGALLS ◽  
W. GUENTER

Two experiments were conducted involving a total of 24 Holstein cows to evaluate steam-treated (ST) wheat straw as a roughage source in mixed dairy rations. Diets containing ST straw (exp. 1) at 20 and 30% of the ration dry matter (DM) were consumed in amounts similar to a 30% ground alfalfa hay diet and in greater amounts than a mixed diet with 20% untreated (UT) wheat straw. Cows receiving the diet containing 30% alfalfa hay produced more (P < 0.05) milk per day than the group fed a mixed diet with 20% UT straw, but similar amounts to those cows fed the two ST straw diets. Milk fat (%) was not different (P > 0.05) among the four treatments. Cows fed the diet containing 30% ST straw had a lower (P < 0.05) ruminal fluid acetate: propionate ratio compared with a 20% UT straw mixed diet. In the second experiment, cows receiving a diet containing 30% ST straw plus 30% rolled barley in place of 60% corn silage consumed less (P < 0.05) total DM and produced less 4% fat-corrected milk per day with a depressed (P < 0.05) fat test. Propionic acid level in rumen fluid was elevated (P < 0.05), which lowered the acetate: propionate ratio in ruminal fluid of cows receiving the diet containing 30% ST straw compared to cows receiving the corn silage diet. Data from these studies suggest that up to 20% steam-treated wheat straw (DM basis) could be included in total mixed dairy rations without any appreciable influence on animal performance. However, at higher levels ST wheat straw is a less "effective" fiber or roughage source in dairy rations. Key words: steam-treated, wheat straw, Holstein cows, fat depression, feed consumption, effective fiber


1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 357-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. McQueen ◽  
P. H. Robinson

Late lactation dairy cows were fed high fiber diets differing in the extent of 24 h in sacco NDF digestion to determine milk production and kinetic fiber digestion responses to fiber fermentability. Three TMR with 24 h in sacco NDF digestibilities of 30.7, 35.9 and 39.9% were formulated using two alfalfa silages (60% of diet DM) that differed in NDF content by only 2 percentage units and 24 h in sacco digestibilities of NDF by 15 percentage units. Other roughages were timothy hay and beet pulp which comprised 20% of the TMR and a barley–corn based concentrate which made up the balance. Five multiparous cows were used in an incomplete 3 × 3 Latin square design experiment with four 28-d periods. Intake and whole-tract digestibilities of DM, NDF and fiber constitutents were not affected by fermentability of dietary NDF. While eating behavior was in general not altered by diet NDF fermentability, cows ate the TMR with the more fermentable fiber faster. Time spent ruminating and chews per unit of DM or NDF were not related to NDF fermentability. Concentrations of soluble N compounds and VFA in rumen fluid were similar among diets although small increases in pH and propionate were observed in cows fed the TMR with the more fermentable NDF. Rumen pool sizes of DM, NDF and ammonia N did not differ with dietary NDF fermentability although the rumen load of indigestible NDF was inversely related to NDF fermentability. Milk yield (23.1 kg d−1) and milk composition (4.15% fat, 3.37% protein) was not altered by diet NDF fermentability, although BW gain increased linearly with increased diet NDF fermentability. Late lactation dairy cows derived more energy from diets containing more rapidly fermentable NDF, but it was metabolized for body gain rather than milk components. Quality of alfalfa NDF, as measured by 24 h in sacco fermentability, was not a useful measure to predict DM or NDF intake, but was related to total net energy for cows in late lactation. Key words: Dairy cows, neutral detergent fiber, fibre, digestion


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 919
Author(s):  
Verónica M. Merino ◽  
Lorena Leichtle ◽  
Oscar A. Balocchi ◽  
Francisco Lanuza ◽  
Julián Parga ◽  
...  

The aim was to determine the effect of the herbage allowance (HA) and supplement type (ST) on dry matter intake (DMI), milk production and composition, grazing behavior, rumen function, and blood metabolites of grazing dairy cows in the spring season. Experiment I: 64 Holstein Friesian dairy cows were distributed in a factorial design that tested two levels of daily HA (20 and 30 kg of dry matter (DM) per cow) and two ST (high moisture maize (HMM) and cracked wheat (CW)) distributed in two daily rations (3.5 kg DM/cow/day). Experiment II: four mid-lactation rumen cannulated cows, supplemented with either HMM or CW and managed with the two HAs, were distributed in a Latin square design of 4 × 4, for four 14-d periods to assess ruminal fermentation parameters. HA had no effect on milk production (averaging 23.6 kg/day) or milk fat and protein production (823 g/day and 800 g/day, respectively). Cows supplemented with CW had greater protein concentration (+1.2 g/kg). Herbage DMI averaged 14.17 kg DM/cow.day and total DMI averaged 17.67 kg DM/cow.day and did not differ between treatments. Grazing behavior activities (grazing, rumination, and idling times) and body condition score (BCS) were not affected by HA or ST. Milk and plasma urea concentration increased under the high HA (+0.68 mmol/L and +0.90 mmol/L, respectively). Cows supplemented with HMM had lower milk and plasma urea concentrations (0.72 mmol/L and 0.76 mmol/L less, respectively) and tended (p = 0.054) to have higher plasma β-hydroxybutyrate. Ruminal parameters did not differ between treatments.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document