Milk production from diets of silage and dried forage. 1. Effects of methods of processing dried grass and of including barley in the supplementation of grass silage given ad libitum

1976 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Tayler ◽  
K. Aston
Keyword(s):  
Energy Content ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Female Cattle

SUMMARY1. Young adult and adult British Friesian female cattle (heifers and cows) which were lactating were individually fed on diets of grass silage ad libitum with supplements of dried grass, dried grass/barley or barley/groundnut in two randomized block experiments.2. In Experiment I, equal quantities of dry matter (DM) as dried grass in the form of a wafer (W), cob (C) or pellet (P) were given with the silage during weeks 8 to 18 of lactation, to three groups of 12 heifers. Silage DM intakes were respectively 14·2, 14·3 and 15·8 ± 0·43 g/kg live weight per day (P<0·05). Milk yields were 14·0, 15·6, 16·7 ± 0·35 kg/day (P< 0·001). Milk composition and live-weight change did not differ significantly.3. In Experiment II, five treatment groups of heifers and cows were offered silage with equal amounts of a supplement of either dried grass pellets (treatment 1) or dried grass/barley in the ratios of 2: 1 (treatment 2), 1: 2 (treatment 3), or a barley/groundnut supplement (treatment 4). In treatment 5 the cattle received the same supplement as in treatment 4, but at a 10% higher level. Silage DM intakes for treatments 1 to 5 during lactation weeks 6 to 22 were 8·64, 8·94, 7·96, 6·96, 7·63 kg/day (1, 2>4, P<0·01; 2>5, P<0·05). The intake of digestible organic matter, milk yields and live-weight changes over the whole experimental period were not influenced significantly by treatments 1 to 4, but in treatment 5 the milk was significantly higher in fat, protein and energy content than in treatments 1 to 4. Blood composition was normal and did not differ markedly between treatments.

Milk production from diets of silage and dried forage. 2. Effect of ensiling ryegrass cut at two levels of digestibility and given ad libitum with supplements of dried grass pellets

1976 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Tayler ◽  
K. Aston
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Total Acid ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Female Cattle

SUMMARY1. Young adult and adult British Friesian female cattle (heifers and cows) which were lactating were individually fed ad libitum on ryegrass silage of high (HS) or low (LS) digestibility with one of two levels of a supplement of pellets of dried grass (H or L) in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment with three heifer and seven cow replicates.2. The percentages of digestible organic matters in the dry matter (DM) in vitro were respectively 64·4, 57·5 and 69·0 for forages HS, LS and and the dried grass. The HS crop, however, was significantly lower in DM content, and after ensiling with formic acid additive had a higher lactic and total acid content than the LS crop.3. The dry-matter intake of the less acid silage LS was greater than that of HS (P<0·05) although the dry-matter digestibility of the LS diets was on average 6 units lower than the HS diets. The intakes of digestible dry matter (DDM) and digestible organic matter were greater (P<0·05) in mid lactation when HS was fed. DM and DDM intakes were significantly increased by the higher level of feeding of the dried grass supplement.4. The yield, composition and energy content of milk did not differ between silages but the yield and protein content of the milk increased significantly at the higher level of supplement feeding. The milk yields were respectively 19·35, 17·54, 19·49 and 17·97 ± 0·505 kg/head per day for treatments HSH, HSL, LSH and LSL on these all-grass diets over lactation weeks 4 to 20. Live-weight loss was greater (P<0·01) on the LS diets. Blood composition was normal and did not differ markedly between treatments.

The effects of concentrate supplements on the performance of dairy cows offered grass silage ad libitum

1981 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Laird ◽  
J. D. Leaver ◽  
F. R. Moisey ◽  
M. E. Castle
Keyword(s):  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Commercial Practice ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Digestible Crude Protein ◽  
Grazing Period ◽  
Ad Libitum

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.

Systems of concentrate allocation for dairy cattle 1. A comparison of three patterns of allocation for autumn-calving cows and heifers offered grass silage ad libitum

1984 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Taylor ◽  
J. D. Leaver
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Fixed Rate ◽  
Flat Rate ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ad Libitum

ABSTRACTHigh quality grass silage (10·5 MJ metabolizable energy per kg dry matter (DM)) was offered ad libitum to three groups of autumn-calving dairy cattle, each group containing eight cows and eight heifers. In a 20-week period commencing at week 3 post partum each group received, on average, 1260 kg fresh weight of a concentrate containing 180 g crude protein per kg. Animals in treatment F each received a flat-rate of 9 kg concentrates per day throughout. In treatment D, a declining rate of 11, 10, 9, 8 and 7 kg/day was given in successive 4-week periods. Animals in treatment Y were each offered a fixed rate of concentrates (range 7 to 12 kg/day) based on their milk yield at 2 weeks post partum with a mean intake of 9 kg/day for the group. For treatments F, D and Y respectively, the mean daily milk yields were, 26·2, 26·7 and 26·9 kg for cows, and 19·5, 19·1 and 18·8 kg for heifers; mean live-weight gains were, 0·28, 0·30 and 0·22 kg/day for cows, and 0·41, 0·54 and 0·38 kg/day for heifers; and intakes of silage were, 10·1, 10·6 and 10·7 kg DM per day for cows, and 7·8, 7·7 and 7·3 kg DM per day for heifers. The differences between treatments were not significant but there were significant differences between cows and heifers. No significant differences were found between treatments in milk composition although heifers produced milk with significantly higher milk protein concentration (P < 0·05) and significantly greater milk lactose concentration (P < 0·01) than did cows. During the residual period (4 weeks indoors and 16 weeks grazing) all animals were treated as a single group and there were no significant differences in performance. The 305-day milk yields were not significantly different between treatments and averaged 6587 kg for cows, and 5124 kg for heifers.

Effects of ardacin supplementation on food intake and growth rate of growing and finishing steers

1995 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 409-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. Keane ◽  
M. P. Read ◽  
A. P. Moloney
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Initial Weight ◽  
Grazing Season ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Finishing Steers ◽  
Ad Libitum

AbstractArdacin is an antibacterial glycopeptide with ruminal activity. The objective of this study was to measure its effects on food intake and growth rate of growing and finishing steers. Two experiments were carried out simultaneously using the same foods and the same ardacin supplementation levels. In experiment 1, 72 growing steers (8 months old and 240 kg initial weight) in four treatment groups were individually offered a basal diet of grass silage ad libitum. In experiment 2, 44 finishing steers (19 months old and 463 kg initial weight), also in four treatment groups were individually offered a basal diet of grass silage ad libitum plus 3 kg (5 kg for the final 28 days) concentrates per head daily. The four treatments were 0, 50, 125 and 210 mg ardacin per head daily incorporated into 1 kg ground barley. This was offered in addition to the basal diet. The duration of the experimental period was 154 days after which 48 of the growing steers were put to pasture for a 196-day grazing season. The finishing steers were slaughtered following a withdrawal period of 7 days. Mean daily silage dry-matter intakes, and mean daily total metabolizable energy intakes for the treatments as listed above were 4·91, 5·15, 5·10 and 5·03 (s.e. 0·083) kg and 63, 66, 65 and 65 (s.e. 0·7) MJ (experiment 1), and 5·63, 5·62, 5·51 and 5·54 (s.e. 0·059) kg and 108, 108, 107 and 107 (s.e. 0·4) MJ (experiment 2), respectively. In the same order, mean daily live-weight gains during the treatment period were 612, 758, 784 and 798 (s.e. 25·2) g (experiment 1) and 911, 942, 851 and 860 (s.e. 40·0) g (experiment 2). In the growing steers proportionately 0·64 of the weight response to ardacin was retained to the end of the following grazing season. It is concluded that ardacin supplementation increased live-weight gain and improved the efficiency of conversion of food to live weight in growing steers but had no significant effect on finishing steers in this study.

A note on the use of kale as a replacement for cereal-based concentrates for milk production

1976 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-128
Author(s):  
F. J. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Weight Change ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Block Experiment

SUMMARYTwenty-four lactating cows were used in a 6-week randomized block experiment to assess the effect of replacing 2·4 kg of cereal-based concentrate dry matter by either 2·6 or 3·2 kg of kale dry matter for cows with ad libitum access to grass silage. Milk yield, milk composition and live-weight change were not affected by the inclusion of kale. Silage dry-matter intake was significantly lower on the kale treatments than with concentrate, being 8·51, 7·89 and 7·95 kg per day for the concentrate, low-kale and high-kale supplements respectively. Energy digestibilities were 68·1, 74·4 and 76·4% and nitrogen digestibilities 67·1, 74·9 and 78·8% for the three treatments respectively.

scholarly journals Need for protein supplementation in the diet of growing dairy bulls fed total mixed ration based on moderate digestible grass silage and barley

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 109 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. HUUSKONEN ◽  
H. KHALILI ◽  
E. JOKI-TOKOLA
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Protein Supplementation ◽  
Total Mixed Ration ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
Dairy Bulls ◽  
Barley Protein

The objective of the present experiment was to study the need for the protein supplementation in the diet of growing dairy bulls (initial live weight 272 ± 28.5 kg and final live weight 666 ± 31.2 kg, on average) fed total mixed ration based on moderate digestible grass silage and barley. The experiment comprised 24 Finnish Ayrshire bulls and 8 Holstein-Friesian bulls and included four treatments. The control diet (C) consisted of moderate digestible (653 g digestible organic matter in dry matter (DM) grass silage (450 g kg-1 DM), barley grain (275) and barley fibre (275) without protein supplementation. Three isonitrogenous experimental diets included also extra protein, i.e. (1) rapeseed meal (RSM) (supplementation 530 g DM per animal day-1), (2) wet distillers’ solubles (WDS) (600 g) and (3) a mixture of barley protein (90% of fresh weight) and wet distillers’ solubles (10) (BPWDS) (480 g). In all isonitrogenous diets the crude protein content of concentrate increased from 137 to 150 g kg-1 DM (9%) compared with the C diet. All bulls were fed total mixed ration ad libitum. The energy content of all diets was 11.6 MJ kg-1 DM. The live weight gain of the bulls tended to be higher with the BPWDS diet than with the C diet (C 1214 vs. BPWDS 1301 g d-1; p = 0.10), but the treatments had no significant effect on carcass gain, feed conversion or slaughter parameters. Only the BPWDS diet differed significantly from the C diet in DM (C 9.69 vs. BPWDS 10.38 kg DM d-1; p < 0.01) and energy intake (C 112.4 vs. BPWDS 120.3 MJ d-1; p < 0.05). The apparent organic matter digestibility (OMD) was 5% higher in the BPWDS diet than in the C diet (p < 0.001), but the RSM and WDS diets did not differ from the C diet in OMD. The results indicate that the supply of protein in dairy bulls is most probably adequate with moderate digestible, well-preserved grass silage and barley-based concentrates when intake of digestible organic matter is high enough to support microbial protein synthesis in the rumen.;

Influence of feeding pattern on the biological efficiency of high-yielding dairy cows

1983 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Biological Efficiency ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Fixed Amount

SUMMARYAn experiment has been made to study the effect of the pattern of distribution of a fixed amount of production compound on milk yield, milk composition and live-weight change in the first 20 weeks of lactation and any carry-over effects on performance in the remaining part. Adult British Friesian cows of predicted high yield potential were randomly allocated to a graded (G) or flat-rate (F) system of feeding.There was no significant effect of treatment on milk yield, milk composition or yield of milk constituents in the experimental period or in the whole lactation.Live-weight changes were not significantly different between treatments at any stage of lactation. Calculated energy balances showed losses until the 4th week of lactation. Thereafter positive balances occurred but it was not until the 9th week for treatment G and the 15th week for treatment F that the original zero balance was restored. The total balance was in good agreement with live-weight gain for treatment F but not for treatment G.Calculated efficiencies of utilization of metabolizable energy for milk production (Klo) were variable throughout lactation and lower than the currently accepted standards.

The feeding value of mixtures of alkali-treated straw and grass silage

1975 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 373-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Terry ◽  
M. C. Spooner ◽  
D. F. Osbourn
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Alkaline Ph ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Acid Ph ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
Feeding Value ◽  
Ad Libitum

SUMMARYThe digestibility and intake by sheep of a neutral mixture of alkali-treated straw and grass silage was compared with an all-silage diet, mixtures of treated straw and silage adjusted to pH of 4 and 10 and with mixtures of untreated straw and silage. Treatment of the straw with alkali increased the digestibility of the organic matter from 46% to 68%. The daily intake of dry matter and digestible organic matter of the neutral, treated-straw/silage mixture was 24·1 and 15·0 compared with 14·7 and 8·8 g/kg live weight for the untreated straw/silage mixture. The sheep when fed ad libitum ate more of the neutral mixture than they did of the mixtures made acid (pH 4·0) and alkaline (pH 10·0) or of the grass silage although the differences were not significant. Calves were fed similar diets of grass silage, a neutral mixture of treated straw and silage and treated straw and grass silage offered without premixing. The calves offered the neutral mixture ate 16·0% more dry matter and 14·5% more organic matter than did the calves offered either silage alone or the unmixed diet and gained live weight at the rate of 0·42 kg/head/day compared with 0·44 for the silage alone and 0·37 for the unmixed diet.

Systems of concentrate allocation for dairy cattle 3. A comparison of two flat-rate feeding systems at two amounts of concentrates

1985 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. Moisey ◽  
J. D. Leaver
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Weight Changes ◽  
Flat Rate ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Period 2 ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Feeding Systems

ABSTRACTIn a 20-week experiment beginning at week 3 post partum, autumn-calving dairy cows were offered either a flat rate of concentrates in which all the cows received the same daily amount throughout the experiment (G). or a flat rate based on their individual milk yield at 2 weeks post partum (I). Two amounts of concentrates were compared and grass silage was available ad libitum. The amounts of concentrate were 6 kg/day (6) and 12 kg/day (12). In the I treatments the ranges of individual inputs were 4 to 8 and 9 to 15 kg/day for the 6 and 12 kg/day treatments respectively. For treatments 6G, 61, 12G, and 121 respectively, mean milk yields were 25·5, 25·7, 28·9 and 27·6 kg/day; mean live-weight changes +0·05, +0·04, +0·19 and +0·27 kg/day; and mean silage dry-matter intakes 11·1, 11·2, 8·1 and 7·5 kg/day. The differences between systems of allocation were not significant, but differences between amounts of concentrate offered were significant. The system of allocation had no significant effect on milk composition. In the residual period (2 weeks indoors and 19 weeks grazing) there were no significant effects on performance. The mean 305-day milk yields for 6G, 61, 12G and 121 respectively were 6376, 6422, 6720 and 6597 kg.

Effect of age, abomasal cannulation and rumen catheterization on intake and site of digestion by early-weaned lambs

1990 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. Cruickshank ◽  
D. P. Poppi ◽  
A. R. Sykes ◽  
A. S. Familton
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Nutrient Digestion ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
Outflow Rate ◽  
Ram Lambs ◽  
Effect Of Age ◽  
Cumulative Intake

SUMMARYThe voluntary food intake, in vivo digestibility and site of nutrient digestion was measured in 12 Polled Dorset ram lambs, from 6 to 24 weeks of age, offered clover hay. Lambs were weaned at 6 weeks of age. Six were fitted with a permanent T-shaped cannula in the abomasum and a temporary rumen catheter during the periods of digesta flow measurement.Surgical modification of lambs did not influence intake (g/kg live weight (W) per day), in vivo digestibility or marker retention time in the rumen. However, intact lambs grew significantly faster than cannulated lambs (139 v. 109g/day, P < 0·05) apparently because of an overall higher cumulative intake over the whole experimental period rather than any change in efficiency of use of nutrients or maintenance requirement.Relative to live weight, intake increased rapidly until c. 10 weeks of age and remained relatively constant at c. 37 g DM/kg W per day for the remainder of the experiment. Age had no effect on in vivo digestibility of organic matter (OM) or neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (average 0·69).The proportion of digestible organic matter apparently digested in the rumen (DOMADR) decreased from 0·63 to 0·47 between 8 and 24 weeks of age whilst intake between these measurement periods increased. Nonammonia N (NAN) flow past the abomasum was similar at all ages in relation to digestible organic matter intake (55·1 g NAN/kg DOMI) but was higher at 16 and 24 weeks of age than at 8 and 12 weeks of age, respectively, in relation to organic matter apparently digested in the rumen (OMADR) (116 and 85 g NAN/kg OMADR, respectively, P < 0·05).Fractional outflow rate of digesta markers from the rumen, when estimated from abomasal digesta, was significantly higher than when estimated from faeces (103Ru-p 0·121 v. 0·09; 51Cr-EDTA 0·169 v. 0·111/h; P > 0·05).It was concluded that cannulation did not affect intake and digestion characteristics in these young lambs. The changes in the site of nutrient digestion as the animals aged may have been due to agerelated changes in digestive function but appeared to be associated with the increase in intake that occurred between measurement periods of the cannulated lambs.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document