The effect of supplementary protein on the performance of dairy cows offered grass silage ad libitum

1979 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Laird ◽  
A. T. Leggate ◽  
M. E. Castle

ABSTRACTSixty-four lactating dairy cows (Ayrshire, British Friesian and Shorthorn × Ayrshire) were offered grass silage with a dry-matter content of 258 g/kg, and containing 75 g/kg digestible crude protein and 64·6% digestible organic matter in the dry matter for an average period of 16·7 weeks. The control and supplemented groups, each of 32 cows, received concentrates containing on a fresh basis 14% and 18% crude protein respectively which were offered at the rate of 0·4 kg/kg milk for yields above 2·3 kg/day. The mean daily yields of milk were 17·4 and 19·5 kg/cow, silage dry-matter intake 8·16 and 9·00 kg/cow per day and concentrate dry-matter intake 5·36 and 5·94 kg/cow per day on the control and supplemented treatments respectively and these differences were highly significant. The treatments had no significant effects on milk yield and composition in the post-experimental grazing period.

1977 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 397-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Castle ◽  
W. C. Retter ◽  
J. D. Metcalfe

SUMMARYGrass silage with a dry-matter content of 20·7%, and containing 18·9% crude protein and 67·0% digestible organic matter in the dry matter was self-fed to 20 lactating dairy cows for 18 weeks. In addition, 9 kg of brewers' grains with a dry-matter content of 28·8% was offered to each cow daily. The two supplement treatments were a barley mix and a groundnut cube containing 11·9 and 33·5% crude protein in the dry matter respectively. The barley was given at the rate of 4 kg/10 kg milk, and the groundnut at 1·5 kg/10 kg milk. The mean daily yields of milk were 18·9 and 19·4 kg/cow on the barley and groundnut treatments respectively and did not differ significantly.


1954 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. L. Dodsworth

1. A feeding trial is described including four groups of cattle fed on silage only, two mixtures of silage and roots, and roots, straw, hay and oats.2. The live-weight gains made are recorded together with the rate of dry-matter intake.3. The efficiency of the dry matter of the diets was calculated.4. Silage fed alone produced a significantly greater rate of fattening than the other three diets.5. Cattle receiving roots in the morning and silage at night consumed 10·78% more dry matter and made greater live-weight gains than cattle fed on silage in the morning and roots at night.6. Calculation of the starch values of the roots and silage showed that these are higher when fed together than when silage is fed alone or when roots are fed with straw, hay and oats.7. An experiment is described designed to determine the effect of the dry-matter percentage of the diet on dry-matter intake in ruminants and of sudden changes in dry-matter content on digestibility.8. Sheep receiving 19·46% dry-matter silage consumed 16·7% more dry matter and 19·8% more starch equivalent than sheep eating 15·85% dry-matter silage.9. When the dry-matter percentage of the silage fell from 19·46 to 15·77 the digestibility of the dry matter fell by over 10%.10. The starch equivalent of the silage when fed alone was determined from the results of a digestibility trial and according to the performance of the cattle in the feeding trial. The values found were 65·88 and 66·15% respectively.11. The losses suffered in silage-making in twentyfive silos are recorded and discussed. The loss of dry matter and crude protein both average approximately 40% of that ensiled. The need for finding methods of reducing these losses is again stressed.


1981 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Laird ◽  
J. D. Leaver ◽  
F. R. Moisey ◽  
M. E. Castle

ABSTRACTNinety-six lactating British Friesian cows were offered ad libitum two grass silages having the following analyses: 181 and 241 g dry matter per kg fresh weight, 108 and 96g digestible crude protein per kg dry matter and 617 and 619 g digestible organic matter per kg dry matter. In addition, four concentrate supplements were offered, containing either 360 g crude protein per kg on an air-dry basis and given at the rate of 015 kg/kg milk or 180 g crude protein per kg given at the rate of 030, 0375 and 0·45 kg/kg milk. Large and highly significant differences were recorded in silage intake, mil yield, milk composition, live weight and condition score during the winter feeding period. These differences in performance were associated more with differences in energy than in protein intake. During the post-experimental grazing period no significant differences between treatments were recorded in milk yield and composition, with the exception of fat concentration, and by midsummer no significant differences were apparent in live weight. The results of the experiment were appraised in economic terms and implications for commercial practice discussed.


Author(s):  
O D Davies ◽  
V J Theobald

When autumn calving dairy cows are offered low levels of compound supplement, milk production and subsequent profitability depends not only on silage quality but also the quantity of silage consumed. Silage quality and palatability are undoubtably related but when grass silage contributes in excess of 75% of total dry matter intake, some silages which, to date, would be defined as being of good quality, appear comparatively less palatable than their chemical analyses would initially suggest, To enable accurate ration formulation in dairy feeding systems based on ad libitum grass silage, a prediction of silage dry matter intake is essential. In this experiment nine silages, all with a high digestibility and crude protein content, but varying in their fermentation characteristics, were offered ad libitum to individually fed October calving dairy cows receiving 3 kg of a 160 g/kg crude protein cereal based compound supplement daily.


1984 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Gordon

SummaryA total of 140 British Friesian cows in their second or later lactation and with a mean calving date of 27 October (s.D. 18 days) were used in a randomized-block experiment over a 3-year period. The experiment was designed to examine the effects of level of concentrate given during the winter period, in addition to ad libitum access to grass silage, on total lactation performance. The silage had a mean dry-matter content and digestible organic matter in the dry matter of 206 and 698 g/kg respectively and the mean inputs of concentrates on the five treatments were 0–64, 0–89, 1–14, 1–38 and 1·59 t/cow (treatments 1–5 respectively). Sixteen replicates per treatment were housed in individual stalls during the winter period in order to facilitate the measurement of silage intake and the remaining animals in each year were maintained as a single group.All animals in each year grazed together as a single group at pasture at a mean stocking rate of 6–0 cows/ha and without supplementary concentrates.Level of concentrate supplementation had a significant linear effect on the intake of silage dry matter with the relationship between total intake of silage dry matter over the winter period (kg, y) and concentrate dry matter input (kg, x) being described by equation (1)


Author(s):  
J.D. Leaver ◽  
R.C. Campling

Supplementary feeding of grazing dairy cows is often uneconomic, and whilst supplementation with silage (buffer feeding) can be worthwhile, this often leads to a depletion of winter forage stores. In this study, a mixture of brewers grains and treated straw was used as a supplement. Offered as a 1:1 mixture in the dry matter (DM), it is a purchased substitute for grass silage, having a similar cost, and similar metabolisable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) contents. The high seasonality adjustments to milk price in mid-late season make supplementation potentially worthwhile.Experiments were carried out from April to September in 1988 and 1989, which had moderate and very low rainfall respectively. Each year 20 British Friesian cows which calved December to March (1988 experiment) and February-April (1989) were allocated at random to either treatment B or C. In B, the cows were offered a 1:1 mixture (DM basis) of brewers grains and NaOH treated chopped barley straw for 60 minutes after morning milking. In C, the cows received no supplement. Both groups were fed 1.0 kg/day of concentrates in the milking parlour. Due to the severe drought in 1989, concentrate feeding was increased to 5.0 kg/day for all cows during the last 4 weeks of the experiment. Also, urea-treated whole crop wheat was fed at a level of 2.5 kg DM/day during the last 7 days.


1970 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Mudd

SUMMARYGroups of lactating dairy cows were fed on grass which had received various amounts of nitrogen and potash fertilizers. In the early part of the season not only was the herbage concentration of calcium and phosphorus lower in grass which had received potash fertilizer but in addition the ‘availability’ of the calcium to cows was depressed. Grass which had received large amounts of nitrogen fertilizer had a comparatively low dry-matter content in the autumn. Cows fed such grass were in negative balance for calcium at this time. As expected high dietary potassium gave rise to high excretion of potassium in the urine which in turn was correlated with high excretion of magnesium. These various factors are likely to affect the incidence of metabolic disease.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Violeta Mandic ◽  
Zorica Bijelic ◽  
Vesna Krnjaja ◽  
Aleksandar Simic ◽  
Maja Petricevic ◽  
...  

Maize is the very important silage source in the world. Timely harvesting ensure high maize forage yield and quality. Therefore, the study focused on the effects of four harvesting times (starting at the 12 August every 7 days) on yield and qualitative parameters of forage green mass of maize hybrid ZP 677. The experiment was set in Vojvodina Province, Serbia, during the 2013 and 2014 growing seasons. Plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves per plant, ear percentage, forage yield, dry matter content and crude protein content were higher, while stem percentage was lower in 2014 with favorable climatic condition. Forage yield, crude protein content, ADF and NDF decreased, while dry matter content significantly increased with delay in harvesting. The maize hybrid should be harvested when the milk line is three-quarter of the way down the grain that is in the third decade of August.


Author(s):  
Rafaela Machado dos Santos ◽  
José Victor Pronievks Barreto ◽  
Mateus Ludovico Zamboti ◽  
Camila Cano Serafim ◽  
Kivia Cardoso Oliveira ◽  
...  

A estrutura da pastagem é uma característica determinante tanto da dinâmica de crescimento da planta quanto do comportamento ingestivo dos animais. O objetivo do trabalho foi descrever a densidade da forragem e a proporção dos componentes morfológicos da planta, nos estratos verticais de pastagens de capim Marandu, submetido ao pastejo em diferentes alturas. O delineamento utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado e as análises de variância e de regressão. Durante o experimento, as alturas médias dos seis piquetes utilizados foram de 10, 17, 18, 29, 32 e 50 cm. O material coletado foi separado, em lâmina foliar, colmo verde e material morto, que foram analisados quanto ao teor de matéria seca, proteína bruta e fibra em detergente neutro. Os estratos verticais apresentaram diferentes composições em relação aos componentes morfológicos de acordo com a altura do pasto. Os estratos próximos ao solo apresentaram maior densidade de forragem com valores de 370 a 543 kg/ha.cm, maior proporção de colmos verdes (30 a 53%) e material morto (25 a 52%) e menor de lâminas foliares (10 a 35%). Independente da altura do pasto, os estratos superiores são mais sensíveis aos efeitos do animal e do ambiente, e apresentaram maiores teores de PB e FDN para lâminas foliares e colmos. Nos estratos acima de 15 cm, os valores de PB e FDN das lâminas foliares verdes variaram entre 10,3 e 13,6% e 49,3 e 54,2%, respectivamente. O manejo em diferentes alturas altera as características dos estratos verticais do pasto, principalmente, nos estratos acima de 15 cm.   Palavras-chave: Altura do Pasto. Densidade Forrageira. Colmos Verdes. Material Morto. Lâmina Foliar.   Abstract The pasture structure is a determining characteristic of both the plant growth dynamics and the animals ingestive behavior. The objective of the work was to describe the density and the proportion of the plant’morphological components, in the pastures vertical strata of Marandu grass, subjected to grazing at different heights. The design used was completely randomized and the analysis of variance and regression.  During the experiment, the average heights of  six paddocks used were 10, 17, 18, 29, 32 and 50 cm. The collected material was separated into leaf blade, green stem and dead material, which were analyzed as to the dry matter content, crude protein and fiber in neutral detergent. The vertical strata presented different compositions in relation to the morphological components according to the height of the pasture.  The near-soil strata showed higher forage density with values from 370 to 543 kg/ha.cm, higher proportion of green stems (30 to 53%) and dead material (25 to 52%) and smaller number of leaf blades (10 to 35%). Regardless of the height of the pasture, the upper strata are more sensitive to the animal and the environment effects, and presented higher levels of CP and NDF for leaf blades and stems.  In the strata above 15 cm, the values of PB and NDF of the green leaf blades varied between 10.3 and 13.6% and 49.3 and 54.2%, respectively. The management of different heights change the characteristics of the pasturevertical strata, mainly in the strata above 15 cm.   Keywords: Height of the Pasture. Forage Density. Green Stems. Dead Material. Leaf Laminas.  


2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-28
Author(s):  
T. N. Mandal ◽  
T. P. Gautam

Altogether 19 fodder climbers were collected with local information for their quality, feeding season and preference by livestock from Sunsari district, Nepal. Fodder climbers were distributed under 15 angiospermic families. Among them, 6 climber species were analyzed for dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, N-free extract, total ash and mineral contents (K, Ca, and P). Dry matter content ranged from 24.12 to 45.43%. Crude protein content showed slight variation. Ether extract ranged from 2.13- 4.23%, while Crude fiber content ranged between 18.62 and 22.52%. N-free extract showed narrow variation in the content while Total ash content exhibited a wide variation ranging from 5.67 to 11.52%. Among the minerals, Phosphorus showed distinct variation in the content from 0.19 to 0.46%. Fodder quality assessed by local people was compared with the result of chemical composition. On the basis of local information and chemical composition, Hedera nepalensis and Hedyotis scandens were considered as very good fodder climbers.


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