Comparison of Brown Midrib Sorghum-Sudangrass with Corn Silage on Lactational Performance and Nutrient Digestibility in Holstein Dairy Cows

Abstract

Total mixed rations containing brown midrib sorghum-sudangrass silage (bmrSS) or corn silage (CS) at either 35 or 45% of dietary dry matter were fed to Holstein dairy cows to determine the effect on lactational performance and nutrient digestibility. Twelve cows were assigned to 1 of 4 diets in replicated 4 x 4 Latin squares with 21-d periods. In vitro 30-h neutral detergent fiber digestion, measured before the start of the trial, was 46.0% for CS and 58.3% for bmrSS. Dry matter intake was greatest when cows were fed the 35% CS (23.4 kg/d) and 45% CS (23.2 kg/d) diets, was least when cows were fed the 45% bmrSS diet (17.6 kg/d), and was intermediate when cows were fed the 35% bmrSS diet (20.1 kg/d). The bmrSS diets resulted in greater body weight gain per 21-d period but similar body condition scores compared with the CS diets. Yield of solids-corrected milk (SCM) was similar among the diets. Efficiency (SCM:dry matter intake) was 28% greater for cows fed the bmrSS than those fed the CS diets. In vivo digestibilities of organic matter and crude protein were greater for the CS diets than the bmrSS diets, but total tract digestibilities of neutral detergent fiber and starch were similar among diets. Ruminal pH was greater when cows were fed the 45% bmrSS diet (6.58), was least when cows were fed the 35% CS (6.10) and 45% CS diets (6.13), and was intermediate when cows were fed the 35% bmrSS diet (6.42). The ratio of acetate to propionate was greater for the bmrSS diets (2.77) than for the CS diets (2.41), with no difference among diets in total volatile fatty acid concentrations (122 mM). In conclusion, cows fed bmrSS had greater efficiency of SCM production, higher ruminal pH, and greater acetate to propionate ratios than cows fed CS. With these diets fed in a short-term study, bmrSS appeared to be an effective alternative to the CS hybrid when fed at either 35 or 45% of dietary dry matter.

Nutrient Changes and in Vitro Digestibility in Generative Stage of M10-BMR Sorghum Mutant Lines

“…The lignin content of the maize plant is less than that of forage sorghums, so it also limits the consumption of sorghum by ruminants (Dann et al, 2008). This condition is caused by the reality that the sorghum used as forage is conventional varieties that are not designed to be used as a feed.…”

“…Mutation can expand plant genetic diversity to produce several sorghum mutant lines which designed for feed as brown midrib sorghum mutant lines (BMR). BMR usually has lower lignin content (Dann et al, 2008;Astigarraga et al, 2014). A structure modification in cell wall during mutation process decreases lignin content and increases cellulose content, fiber content in forage (cellulose and hemicellulose) as energy sources for livestock.…”

Meta-analysis of factors that affect the utilization efficiency of phosphorus in lactating dairy cows

“…This database subset comprised data from lactating dairy cows from 25 studies (Martz et al, 1990;Morse et al, 1992;Spiekers et al, 1993;Delaquis and Block, 1995;Khorasani et al, 1997;Knowlton et al, 2001Wu et al, 2001Wu et al, , 2003Knowlton and Herbein, 2002;Guyton et al, 2003;Kebreab et al, 2005;Kincaid et al, 2005;Shore et al, 2005;Wu, 2005;Ekelund et al, 2006;Kamiya et al, 2006a;Knowlton et al, 2007;Dann et al, 2008;Moreira et al, 2009;Myers and Beede, 2009;Taylor et al, 2009;Van Straalen et al, 2009;Herrera et al, 2010;Puggaard et al, 2011) and included 130 treatment means. The response variable of interest was P excretion in the feces, both in grams per day and as a fraction of P intake.…”

“…This database subset contained 94 treatment means from 19 studies (Martz et al, 1990;Spiekers et al, 1993;Delaquis and Block, 1995;Knowlton et al, 2001Knowlton and Herbein, 2002;Valk et al, 2002;Guyton et al, 2003;Borucki Castro et al, 2004;Kincaid et al, 2005;Peterson et al, 2005;Roche et al, 2005;Shore et al, 2005;Kamiya et al, 2006b;Odongo et al, 2007;Dann et al, 2008; Table 2.…”

Productivity and Nutrient Quality of Some Sorghum Mutant Lines at Different Cutting Ages

“…Currently in Indonesia there are many sorghum mutant lines that are being developed. These sorghums are resulted from mutation breeding technique and have low lignin trait genotype and high dry matter digestibility (Dann et al, 2008). In the future, it is expected that these sorghums can be more superior both in terms of productivity and nutritional value.…”