Corn Silage Partially Replacing Short Alfalfa Hay to Optimize Forage Use in Total Mixed Rations for Lactating Cows

Abstract

We theorized that adding corn silage to a total mixed ration with alfalfa hay as the sole dietary forage would improve nutrient intake and chewing activity and thereby improve rumen fermentation and milk production. The objective of this research was to determine the effects of partial replacement of short alfalfa [physically effective (pe) neutral detergent fiber (NDF) >1.18 mm (peNDF(>1.18)) = 33.2%] with corn silage (CS, peNDF(>1.18) = 51.9%) in yellow grease-supplemented total mixed rations on feed intake, chewing behavior, rumen fermentation, and lactation performance by dairy cows. Four multiparous (138 +/- 3 d in milk) and 4 primiparous (115 +/- 10 d in milk) Holstein cows were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design experiment with four 21-d periods. Each period had 14 d of adaptation and 7 d of sampling, and parity was the square. Treatments were diets [dry matter (DM) basis] with 1) 40% alfalfa hay (ALF), 2) 24% alfalfa hay + 16% CS (CS40), 3) 20% alfalfa hay + 20% CS (CS50), and 4) 16% alfalfa hay + 24% CS (CS60). Diets had a forage-to-concentrate ratio of 40:60 on a DM basis. Cows had greater intake of DM and thus greater intakes of net energy for lactation, NDF, and peNDF when CS partially replaced alfalfa hay. Replacing alfalfa hay with CS increased daily eating and chewing times in all cows, and increased rumen pH at 4 h postfeeding in multiparous cows. Apparent total-tract digestibility coefficients for crude protein (CP) and NDF were not different among cows fed ALF, CS40, and CS50, but were lower for CS60 than for ALF. Energy-corrected milk yield was greater for CS40 and CS60 than for ALF. Milk protein yield was increased when CS replaced 40, 50, and 60% of alfalfa hay. Milk lactose was greater only for CS60, but milk lactose yield was greater for CS50 and CS60 than for ALF. Milk percentage and yield of fat did not differ among treatments. Therefore, CS partially replacing short alfalfa hay increased DM intake, consequently increased net energy for lactation and physically effective fiber intakes, and thus, improved milk and milk protein and lactose yields.

A meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of forage particle size, level, source, and preservation method on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, and performance in dairy cows

“…A better uniformity of the diet results in greater intake and better distribution of fiber, which is needed for formation of rumen mat and promotion of degradation in total digestive tract, as well as rumen heath and functioning , which are of key importance for nutrients to be digested appropriately in each segment of the digestive tract. In agreement with our findings, Kowsar et al (2008) reported an increased in DM digestibility when fine particle of alfalfa hay was added to corn silagebased diet. The improvement in milk production with decreasing FPS in our study is interesting because previous research studies (Kononoff and Heinrichs, 2003a;Teimouri Yansari et al, 2004;Alamouti et al, 2009) and review articles , as well as meta-analyses (Zebeli et al, 2006;Tafaj et al, 2007), uniformly indicated no significant effect of FPS on milk production, although DMI was mostly improved in all these studies.…”

The effects of wilting, molasses and inoculants on the fermentation quality and nutritive value of lucerne silage

“…Nitrogenous forages such as lucerne require unique preservation strategies, because of they are deficient in readily-fermentable carbohydrates and contain high concentrations of degradable protein (Beever, 1993;NRC, 2001). Although ensiling reduces plant and nutrient wastage and ensures the continuous supply of palatable forage fibre for livestock production (Muck & Pitt, 1993;Kowsar et al, 2008), the process solubilizes proteins and challenges an efficient microbial assimilation of nitrogenous compounds, high-energy phosphate bounds and carbon skeletons into a microbial mass. Hence, the altered lucerne fermentation characteristics during ensilage will have a high impact in the rumen on the synchrony of energy and N release, ammonia production and absorption, and fibre digestion (NRC, 2001).…”

Lactational performance and milk fatty acid profile of Holstein cows in response to dietary fat supplements and forage:Concentrate ratio

“…Rumen fluid sampling and analyzing of VFA were done according to Kowsar et al (2008). Briefly, at the end of each experimental period, rumen fluid from the ventral sac was sampled using the rumenocentesis technique.…”