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

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 378-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Baldinger ◽  
W. Zollitsch ◽  
W.F. Knaus
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Organic Dairy

AbstractDuring the winter feeding period in organic dairy production systems in the alpine and pre-alpine regions of Austria and its neighboring countries, maize silage is an energy-rich forage that is regularly included in grass-silage-based diets to improve the energy supply of the cows. Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorumLam.) is also a high-energy fodder grass popular as forage for dairy cows, but it is rarely cultivated in Austrian organic agriculture. The two crops differ in their cultivation demands and characteristics. Italian ryegrass establishes rapidly and may reduce the risk of soil erosion. Italian ryegrass would be a beneficial addition to crop rotation, which is an essential tool in successful organic farming. In a 15-week feeding trial, Italian ryegrass silage and maize silage were fed to 22 lactating Holstein dairy cows. Organically produced Italian ryegrass silage and maize silage were included at a rate of 40% [of dry matter (DM)] in grass-silage-based mixed basal diets. The mixed basal diets were supplemented with modest amounts of additional concentrates (2.7–3.0 kg DM day−1). Owing to the higher energy content of maize silage as compared to Italian ryegrass silage, the maize diet provided more energy [6.3 MJ net energy for lactation (NEL) kg−1DM] than the ryegrass diet (6.15 MJ NEL kg−1DM). The protein supply of the maize diet and the ryegrass diet was intended to be equal, but in fact the protein content of the maize diet was significantly lower (122 g crude protein kg−1DM) than that of the ryegrass diet (141 g kg−1DM). When the maize diet was fed, feed intake, milk yield and milk protein content were significantly higher as compared to the ryegrass diet. Also, intake of crude protein was significantly lower when feeding the maize diet, and in combination with the higher milk protein yield, this enabled an efficiency of gross nitrogen (N) utilization as high as 0.304. This level of N efficiency can be considered as above average and was significantly and considerably higher than the level of 0.259 observed when the ryegrass diet was fed. Therefore, maize silage upholds its reputation as an ideal energy-rich component in grass-silage-based dairy cow diets.

Acidogenicity of feeds for dairy cows. 2. Production responses

1998 ◽  
Vol 1998 ◽  
pp. 206-206
Author(s):  
R.J. Dewhurst ◽  
D. Wadhwa ◽  
L.P. Borgida ◽  
D.W.R. Davies ◽  
W.J. Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Latin Squares ◽  
Standard Diet ◽  
Lactation Performance ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Friesian Cows

Falling prices for cereals and beneficial effects on milk protein concentrations may promote greater inclusions of rapidly fermented ingredients in dairy rations. There is, however, a limit to the inclusion of these feeds into dairy rations beyond which performance declines due to sub-acidosis and related disorders. The feed compounder will need to be able to set limits on levels of feeding concentrates according to these risks. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of feeds of different acidogenicity (Wadhwa et al., 1998) on lactation performance of dairy cows offered diets based on grass- or maize-silage.Twelve multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows in the third month of lactation were used for this experiment. The experimental design involved adaptation and covariance recording on a standard diet (grass silage and 10 kg concentrates per day), followed by three 21-day experimental periods arranged as four 3x3 Latin Squares. The Latin Squares were constrained to a single forage to avoid difficulties in changeovers between grass silage and maize silage.

Effects of dry period diet on feed intake, body composition and subsequent lactational performance of dairy cows

1996 ◽  
Vol 1996 ◽  
pp. 4-4
Author(s):  
R.J. Dewhurst ◽  
D.W.R. Davies ◽  
W.J. Fisher ◽  
K. Aston
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Access Time ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Lactational Performance ◽  
Forage Intake ◽  
Ad Libitum

Previous studies (Moorbyet al, 1994) have shown that supplementing grass silage with undegradable protein (UDP) during the dry period can lead to increased yields of milk protein and lactose. These studies have often involved restriction of forage intake through limitation of access time and the feeding of straw. This experiment was conducted to assess the effect of UDP supplementation withad libitumaccess to grass silage as well as the effects of restricting forage intakes by including straw in the diets of dry cows.

Effect of maize silage quality in a mixed forage diet and the crude protein level in the concentrate supplement on milk production of dairy cows

1998 ◽  
Vol 1998 ◽  
pp. 149-149
Author(s):  
J.J. Fitzgerald ◽  
J.J. Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Starch Content ◽  
Protein Supplementation ◽  
Optimum Level ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
High Starch Content ◽  
Additional Protein

Good quality maize silage with a high starch content and DM digestibility when fed to dairy cows increased forage intake, milk production and milk protein concentration compared with grass silage or low starch maize silage (Fitzgerald, 1997). Due to the low crude protein (CP) content of maize silage compared with grass silage, additional protein supplementation is required in the concentrate. The optimum level of protein in the concentrate for maize silage based forages differing in starch content was investigated in this study.Three forages consisting of either all grass silage (GS) or mixed forages of grass silage and maize silage (40:60 DM mix) which contained either a low (LSM) or a high (HSM) starch content were offered ad libitum to individually fed dairy cows in early lactation (12 cows/forage). Each forage was supplemented with concentrates (6 kg/day) containing 180, 230 or 280 g CP/kg according to a change over design (3 periods of 3 weeks/period).

Effect of replacing soyabean meal with maize distillers grains on feed intake and milk yield of lactating dairy cows

2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 ◽  
pp. 181-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. Phipps ◽  
J. D. Sutton ◽  
A. K. Jones ◽  
J. G. Perrott ◽  
M. Witt
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Distillers Grains ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Soyabean Meal ◽  
Metabolisable Energy

Maize distillers grains (MDG) is a high quality by-product feed containing 317 g crude protein (CP)/kg DM and 13.5 MJ metabolisable energy/kg DM, and as such is a valuable traceable feed resource. An earlier study conducted at the Centre for Dairy Research (Suttonet al.2000) with cows in late lactation using a total mixed ration (TMR) based on maize silage, compared the protein value of MDG with that of soyabean meal (SB). The study showed that MDG could be used to replace SB on a total nitrogen (TN) basis without effecting feed intake or nutrient digestion in the rumen, or flow of non-ammonia nitrogen to the duodenum. The aim of the current study was to determine the effect of replacing SB with MDG on a TN basis, on DM intake and milk production in high yielding lactating dairy cows.

Effects of mixtures of red clover and maize silages on milk production and Nitrogen utilisation by dairy cows

2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 ◽  
pp. 23-23
Author(s):  
R. J. Dewhurst ◽  
R. J. Merry ◽  
L. J. Davies
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Starch Content ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
High Intake ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Oil Resources ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
N Use

Legumes are important to sustainable agriculture because of their N fixing ability and consequent reduced reliance on increasingly scarce oil resources. Our previous studies showed consistently higher intakes and milk yields when red clover silage replaced grass silage in dairy cow diets (Dewhurst et al., 2003). However, the increased intakes of a forage which contains higher levels of N led to a reduction in the efficiency of conversion of feed N into milk N (g/g) from around 0.25 to 0.20 or less. Maize silage has similar high intake characteristics, but its low N content and considerable starch content suggest that it would be highly complementary to red clover silage in terms of N-use efficiency. This study evaluated production and efficiency responses to mixtures of red clover and maize silages in comparison with perennial ryegrass silage.

Limitations in digestible methionine in the intestine (MetDI) for milk protein secretion in dairy cows fed a ration based on grass silage

1995 ◽  
Vol 1995 ◽  
pp. 158-158
Author(s):  
Y. Chilliard ◽  
J. Rouel ◽  
A. Ollier ◽  
J. Bony ◽  
K. Tanan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Small Intestine ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Protein Secretion ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Microbial Protein ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Microbial Protein Synthesis ◽  
Grass Silage

The interest for increasing post-ruminal methionine supplies for dairy cows fed maize silage based rations has been clearly demonstrated (Sloan 1992). Theoretically grass silage based rations are also deficient in methionine in most dietary situations. Expressed as a percentage of PDIE (protein digestible in the small intestine when energy is limiting microbial protein synthesis in the rumen) the metDI value for grass silage approximates 1.95 compared to 1.97 for maize silage.This trial was conducted, to verify, if in practice, methionine alone could limit milk protein secretion in dairy cows fed grass silage based rations.

A comparison of a dairy cow compound feed with and without cassava given with grass silage

1981 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. D. A. Brigstocke ◽  
N. H. Cuthbert ◽  
W. S. Thickett ◽  
M. A. Lindeman ◽  
P. N. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Fat Level ◽  
Daily Intakes ◽  
Friesian Cows

ABSTRACTCassava is increasingly available in the United Kingdom for use in compound feeds. The trial reported here was a 2 × 4 factorial and compared dairy cow compound feeds containing nil or 400 g of cassava per kg, and crude protein levels of 100, 120, 140 and 160 g/kg, given in conjunction with grass silage.Forty-eight Friesian cows were used in a change-over design with four periods each of 4 weeks. The trial, therefore, compared six blocks of four cows on each of the non-cassava and cassava treatments, with each cow in a block receiving a different protein level. Compound feeds without cassava had a mean barley content of 600g/kg whereas feeds with cassava had a mean barley content of 103g/kg.There were no significant differences in milk yield (21 14 and 22·27 kg/day) or milk fat level (41·4 and 40·4g/kg milk) on the non-cassava and cassava treatments respectively (P ≤ 0·05). Differences in solids-not-fat concentration were also not significant.Average intakes of silage were similar on each type of diet. Daily intakes of the compound feed per cow varied from 6·95kg on the non-cassava treatment to 7·08kg on the cassava treatment. This difference in compound intake was not significant. The results indicated that compound feed containing 400 g of cassava per kg perform as well as cereal-based feeds and, therefore, cassava can be considered as a satisfactory replacement for cereals up to a level of 400 g/kg in compound feeds for dairy cows.

Acidogenicity of feeds for dairy cows. 2. Production responses

1998 ◽  
Vol 1998 ◽  
pp. 206-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.J. Dewhurst ◽  
D. Wadhwa ◽  
L.P. Borgida ◽  
D.W.R. Davies ◽  
W.J. Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Latin Squares ◽  
Standard Diet ◽  
Lactation Performance ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Friesian Cows

Falling prices for cereals and beneficial effects on milk protein concentrations may promote greater inclusions of rapidly fermented ingredients in dairy rations. There is, however, a limit to the inclusion of these feeds into dairy rations beyond which performance declines due to sub-acidosis and related disorders. The feed compounder will need to be able to set limits on levels of feeding concentrates according to these risks. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of feeds of different acidogenicity (Wadhwaet al., 1998) on lactation performance of dairy cows offered diets based on grass- or maize-silage.Twelve multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows in the third month of lactation were used for this experiment. The experimental design involved adaptation and covariance recording on a standard diet (grass silage and 10 kg concentrates per day), followed by three 21-day experimental periods arranged as four 3x3 Latin Squares. The Latin Squares were constrained to a single forage to avoid difficulties in changeovers between grass silage and maize silage.

Maize silage as an energy supplement in organic dairy cow rations

2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margit Velik ◽  
Roswitha Baumung ◽  
Wilhelm F. Knaus
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Organic Dairy ◽  
Sustainable Agricultural Systems ◽  
Organic Dairy Farms

AbstractThe 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.

scholarly journals The Order of Grass and Maize Silage Supplementation Modifies Milk Yield, Grazing Behavior and Nitrogen Partitioning of Lactating Dairy Cows

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignacio E. Beltrán ◽  
Omar Al-Marashdeh ◽  
Ana R. Burgos ◽  
Pablo Gregorini ◽  
Oscar A. Balocchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Nitrogen Partitioning ◽  
Maize Silage ◽  
Grazing Behavior ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Holstein Friesian

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the order of grass silage (GS) and maize silage (MS) supplementation on milk yield, grazing behavior and nitrogen (N) partitioning of lactating dairy cows during autumn. Thirty-six Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were randomly assigned to one of three treatments, and cows remained on these treatments for a 62 days period: (1) MIX; cows supplemented with 3 kg of dry matter (DM) of silage containing 1.5 kg DM of MS and 1.5 kg DM of GS in both the morning and afternoon; (2) GS-MS; cows supplemented with 3 kg DM of GS in the morning and 3 kg DM of MS in the afternoon; (3) MS-GS; cows supplemented with 3 kg DM of MS in the morning and 3 kg DM of GS in the afternoon. All cows received a pasture allowance of 17 kg DM/cow/d and 3 kg DM of concentrate. Grazing time and pasture intake were unaffected by treatment; however, milk production was greater for MS-GS, while milk protein was greater for GS-MS. Urinary N excretion was greater for MS-GS than MIX. In conclusion, MS-GS resulted in high milk yield but also high urinary N excretion, while MIX resulted in low urinary N excretion but also decreased milk yield.

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