Maize silage as an energy supplement in organic dairy cow rations

Abstract

The literature implicates strongly that including energy supplements in dairy rations based on protein-rich forages increases performance and feed efficiency due to an improved and more balanced ruminal energy and protein supply. Therefore, both conventional and organic dairy farms primarily supplement roughages with concentrates, containing high proportions of cereal grains. However, considering the main principles of sustainable agricultural systems and nutrient cycles, the question of alternatives is raised. Therefore, the present study was conducted to compare grain and maize silage as energy sources in organic dairy cow rations. Two grass-clover silage-based diets, offered on an ad libitum basis, were supplemented either with 1 kg grain mixture plus 0.5 kg hay (treatment group G) or 2.1 kg maize silage (treatment group M) on a dry matter (DM) basis. The trial was carried out as a change-over design and lasted for 15 weeks. Intake of concentrates, DM and utilizable crude protein in the duodenum (uCP) were similar in both treatments. However, significant differences between treatments G and M were found for grass-clover silage dry matter intake (DMI) (13.4 versus 12.9 kg), forage DMI (14.6 versus 15.7 kg), crude protein (CP) intake (2885 versus 2801 g), ruminal nitrogen balance (RNB) (40 versus 29 g) and intake of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (7630 versus 7900 g). Milk yield was not affected by treatment, but in treatment M, milk fat content was at 42.4 g kg -1 , significantly higher, and milk urea concentration at 19.7 mg 100 ml -1 , significantly lower, as compared with treatment G. Efficiency of N use (N in milk in % of N intake) tended to be improved in treatment M. Balances of energy and uCP (intake as a percentage of requirements) were unaffected by treatment.

Maize silage as sole forage source for dairy cows in small-scale systems in the highlands of central Mexico

“…In an international context NDF content of maize silages were above than reported by Morgensen et al (2010) in Denmark and Velik et al (2008) in Austria, but similar to values reported by Morrison and Patterson (2007) in Northern Ireland. In terms of ADF, values for the maize silage reported herein were lower than reported by other researchers, whether from Mexico or the international context, indicating that maize silages in the present work had a good digestibility.…”

Maize silage and Italian ryegrass silage as high-energy forages in organic dairy cow diets: Differences in feed intake, milk yield and quality, and nitrogen efficiency

“…The observed feed efficiencies of 1.19–1.23 kg ECM kg −1 intake of DM lie within the range of previous reports about organically managed dairy cows, ranging from 1.11 kg milk kg −1 intake of DM when only 1.3 kg DM of concentrates were supplemented 40 (forage base consisted of grass–clover silage and maize silage) to 1.35–1.37 kg ECM kg −1 intake of DM when 10 kg DM of concentrates were supplemented 41 (forage base grass–clover silage). The gross N efficiency of 0.259 observed when feeding the ryegrass diet is similar to the level of 0.255 observed by Velik et al 42 (forage-base grass–clover silage, supplemented with 3 kg DM of concentrates), but at the lower end of the range of 0.25–0.30 that according to Chase 43 can be considered as average, while the level of 0.304 achieved with the maize diet is already slightly above average. Although the biological potential of cows to convert feed N into milk N is limited, N efficiency can be improved by reducing feed N intake and thereby optimizing the use of microbial protein synthesis in the rumen 44 .…”

“…The gross N efficiency of 0.259 observed when feeding the ryegrass diet is similar to the level of 0.255 observed by Velik et al 42 (forage-base grass-clover silage, supplemented with 3 kg DM of concentrates), but at the lower end of the range of 0.25-0.30 that according to Chase 43 can be considered as average, while the level of 0.304 achieved with the maize diet is already slightly above average. The gross N efficiency of 0.259 observed when feeding the ryegrass diet is similar to the level of 0.255 observed by Velik et al 42 (forage-base grass-clover silage, supplemented with 3 kg DM of concentrates), but at the lower end of the range of 0.25-0.30 that according to Chase 43 can be considered as average, while the level of 0.304 achieved with the maize diet is already slightly above average.…”

Dual-Use Bioenergy-Livestock Feed Potential of Giant Miscanthus, Giant Reed, and Miscane

“…However, the observed IVDMD of giant miscanthus leaves and stems, and giant reed stems, would be among the lowest in a wide range of reported values (280 to 740 g•kg −1 ) for C4 grasses [25] [26]. Like many traditional livestock feeds, green-harvested tissues could be fed fresh-chopped or ensiled [11] [36]. Steer weight gain was adequate when freshchopped sugarcane was fed at 30% -40% of the total diet, but performance decreased when the dietary proportion was >60% [36].…”

“…Like many traditional livestock feeds, green-harvested tissues could be fed fresh-chopped or ensiled [11] [36]. Steer weight gain was adequate when freshchopped sugarcane was fed at 30% -40% of the total diet, but performance decreased when the dietary proportion was >60% [36]. This suggests that sugarcane is similar to other roughage sources (e.g.…”