The effect of wilting and additive type on energy utilization of grass silage by growing cattle

1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 ◽  
pp. 35-35
Author(s):  
T. Yan ◽  
F. J. Gordon ◽  
L. E. R. Dawson ◽  
C. P. Ferris ◽  
R. W. J. Steen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Formic Acid ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Additive Type ◽  
Growing Cattle ◽  
Secondary Objective ◽  
Metabolisable Energy

Wilting of grass prior to ensiling generally produces positive responses in dry matter (DM) intake of cattle, but the responses in animal performance are often small, or even negative. The primary objective of the present study was to compare energy utilization from heavily wilted and unwilted silages by growing cattle when given at equal metabolisable energy (ME) intakes. A secondary objective was to evaluate effects of silage additive type (inoculant v. formic acid) on energy utilization.Four silages were produced from unwilted and wilted grasses (DM 193 and 450 g/kg) obtained from a perennial ryegrass sward. The wilted grass was dried in the field for 26 hours using rapid wilting techniques involving crop conditioning and spreading. At ensiling both the unwilted and wilted grasses were each treated with two additives, a bacterial inoculant (Ecosyl, Zeneca Bioproducts Limited) and a formic acid additive (ADD-F, BP Chemicals Ltd.).

The effect of a bacterial inoculant on the digestibility of grass silage and energy intake by young growing cattle

1990 ◽  
Vol 1990 ◽  
pp. 64-64
Author(s):  
T. W. J. Ready ◽  
R. W. J. Steen
Keyword(s):  
Formic Acid ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Design Experiment ◽  
Nitrogen Application ◽  
Single Strain ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Permanent Pasture ◽  
Growing Cattle ◽  
Entire Male

In a series of studies undertaken at Hillsborough involving both small scale and production experiments with growing cattle and dairy cattle, an inoculant based on a single strain of Lactobacillus plantarum (Ecosyl), has produced considerable benefits in terms of silage intake and animal performance. The present studies were designed to evaluate the same inoculant using difficult to ensile herbage due to the use of high rates of nitrogen application and the use of permanent pasture.Nine silages were harvested using double chop forage harvesters from the second regrowth of three swards, namely permanent pasture which had received 100 kg N/ha (PP) and perennial ryegrass which had received either 100 (100) or 150 (150) kg N/ha. Herbages from each sward were treated with either no additive (C), formic acid (F) (2.5 1/t) (850 g/kg Add-F) or the inoculant (I) (3 1/t) (Ecosyl) (10-6C.F.U/g grass) and were ensiled in 126 mini silos of 0.7 t capacity. The silages were offered to 36 three month old Friesian entire male calves (mean initial liveweight 130 kg) in a change-over design experiment consisting of three 3 week periods.

Supplementation of grazing dairy cows with a brewers grains/treated straw mixture

1990 ◽  
Vol 1990 ◽  
pp. 46-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.D. Leaver ◽  
R.C. Campling
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows ◽  
Similar Cost ◽  
Friesian Cows

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.

UTILIZATION OF GRASS SILAGE BY CATTLE: EFFECT OF BARLEY AND FISHMEAL SUPPLEMENTS

1985 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 897-903 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. VEIRA ◽  
M. IVAN ◽  
G. BUTLER ◽  
J. G. PROULX
Keyword(s):  
Formic Acid ◽  
Nitrogen Content ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Beef Steers ◽  
Large Reduction ◽  
High Nitrogen Content ◽  
High Nitrogen ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Ad Libitum

Following weaning at 6–7 mo of age, 36 beef steers were used to determine production responses when grass silage was supplemented with barley or fishmeal. The silage was made from direct-cut, formic- acid-treated grass harvested from a mixed sward and had a high nitrogen content but poor fermentation characteristics. The silage was fed ad libitum for 98 days either alone or supplemented with 500 g fishmeal or 500 g barley per day. Both fishmeal and barley increased total dry matter intake (P < 0.01) by an amount equivalent to the quantity of supplement offered but had no effect on silage intake (P > 0.05). Steers fed the fishmeal grew substantially faster than either the barley (0.53 kg/day) or unsupplemented (0.54 kg/day) groups (P < 0.01). Fishmeal supplementation resulted in a large reduction (35%) in the amount of feed required per kilogram of gain. Key words: Cattle, grass silage, fishmeal, growth

A comparison of silages made from red clover/grass, white clover/grass and high nitrogen grass swards for beef production

1985 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. Stewart ◽  
I. I. McCullough
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Grass Sward

ABSTRACTSilage cut twice annually (June and August) from a tetraploid red clover/grass sward and three times annually (May, July and September) from a low nitrogen (N) and high N perennial ryegrass/white clover sward was fed in proportion to dry-matter yield from each cut, over a 10-week period, each winter for 3 years to castrated male cattle of initial live weight 401 kg in year 1 and 425 kg in years 2 and 3. The silages were supplemented with 0, 1, 2 and 3 kg concentrate per head daily.Total dry-matter yield from the red clover/grass sward was similar to that from the perennial ryegrass/white clover sward (high N grass) receiving 360 kg N per ha but the digestibility, particularly of first cut material was much lower. Dry-matter production of the low N grass/white clover sward was 0·73 of high N grass sward and produced silages of similar digestibility and fermentation.Dry-matter intakes by the cattle were higher on the legume-based silages in years when clover made a worthwhile contribution to total yield, but this did not significantly improve utilization or animal performance compared with high N grass silage. Mean daily carcass gain per head on red clover/grass silage was 0·41 kg which was significantly less than the 0·61 kg on white clover/grass silage and 0·59 on high N grass (P < 0·001). Carcass output from red clover/grass silage was 618 kg/ha and 629 kg/ha from white clover/grass, both of which were significantly less than the 863 kg/ha from the high N grass silage (P < 0·001). Dressing proportion was also significantly poorer in animals fed red clover/grass silage compared with the other silage types.

Molasses and fish meal for growing cattle

1989 ◽  
Vol 1989 ◽  
pp. 130-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Thomas ◽  
A Mahmud
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Supplements ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Fish Meal ◽  
List Type ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Growing Cattle ◽  
Ad Libitum

There is evidence that silage may be utilised more effectively when supplemented with sugar rather than starch (Thomas and Rae, 1988). A trial was made to measure the effect of supplementing silage with a sugar-based feed (molasses) or a starch-based feed (barley), in combination with fish meal, on the performance of young growing cattle.Sixty four castrated male calves (Limousin x Friesian and Hereford x Friesian) initially weighing 129 kg were offered grass silage (DM, 200 g/kg; ME, 10.4 MJ/kg DM; CP, 144 g/kg DM) ad libitum with four dietary supplements.Daily supplementation was as follows:1.0.25 kg white-fish meal2.0.25 kg fish meal plus 0.4 kg molasses3.0.25 kg fish meal plus 0.8 kg molasses4.0.25 kg fish meal plus 0.75 kg bruised barleyThe levels of molasses and barley in Treatments 3 and 4 supplied the same amount of dry matter.

UTILIZATION OF FORMIC ACID TREATED SORGHUM-SUDAN SILAGE BY DAIRY COWS

1971 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 371-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. FISHER ◽  
J. R. LESSARD ◽  
G. A. LODGE
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Formic Acid ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Average Moisture Content ◽  
Sudan Grass ◽  
Lactating Cows

Four methods of ensiling sorghum-sudan grass were compared: A, field wilted to an average moisture content of 69% prior to chopping; B, direct cut and chopped; C, direct cut and chopped with 0.5% w/w of 90% formic acid added at time of ensiling; and D, direct cut and chopped with 1.5% w/w molasses added during the ensiling process. The four silages were fed successively to each of 16 lactating cows over periods of 56 days according to a changeover design. Mean silage dry matter intakes (kg/day) were 10.0a, 9.1b, 9.2b and 9.5ab, and mean milk yields (kg/day) were 16.2a, 16.5a, 17.2b and 16.4a for treatments A, B, C, and D, respectively (where means followed by the same letter were not significantly different; P < 0.05). Digestibilities of dry matter, fiber and energy were significantly lower (P < 0.05) for the formic acid-treated than for the wilted silage. The efficiency of energy utilization for milk yield plus body gain was greater (P < 0.05) for formic acid silage than for any other treatment.

The effect of oestradiol-17 β implantation on the response in voluntary intake, live-weight gain and body composition, to fishmeal supplementation of silage offered to growing calves

1987 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Gill ◽  
D. E. Beever ◽  
P. J. Buttery ◽  
P. England ◽  
M. J. Gibb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Gross Efficiency ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Voluntary Intake

SummaryThe effect of oestradiol-17β on the response to fishmeal supplementation of grass silage was studied in young growing cattle. Voluntary intake and live-weight gain were recorded over 63 days with 36 British Friesian male castrates (initial live weight (LW) 119 kg) offered silage alone (C) or with 50 (FM1), 100 (FM2), or 150 (FM3) g fishmeal/kg silage dry matter. Twelve calves were allocated to each of treatments C and FM3 and six to treatments FM1 and FM2. Half of the calves on each treatment were ear-implanted with oestradiol-17β (Compudose 365) at the start of the experiment. The calves on treatments C and FM3 were slaughtered after 75 days and chemical analysis conducted on half of each carcass. The silage had an organic-matter digestibility in vivo of 0·794 and was well-fermented, with a pH of 3·7. Intake averaged 24·2±0·42 g D.M./kg LW over all the treatments and live-weight gain was 0·77 kg/day on the silage alone. There was a significant (P < 0·05) interaction between fishmeal and oestradiol-17β, such that response to the hormone was observed only in the presence of fishmeal at 100 or 150 g/kg silage D.M. A similar interaction was apparent between fishmeal at 150 g/kg silage D.M. and oestradiol-17β in the final weights of empty body and carcass. This level of fishmeal also increased protein gain from 96 to 147 g/day and this was further increased to 179 g/day in the implanted animals receiving fishmeal. However, the overall effect of oestradiol-17β on protein gain was not significant. Gross efficiency of energy utilization was significantly (P < 0·01) increased by fishmeal supplementation suggesting an improved balance of nutrients compared with the silage alone diet.

Milk production from grass silage diets: effects of silage characteristics and the amount of supplementary concentrate

1994 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Aston ◽  
C. Thomas ◽  
S. R. Daley ◽  
J. D. Sutton ◽  
M. S. Dhanoa
Keyword(s):  
Formic Acid ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Protein Concentration ◽  
Latin Square ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
Concentrate Level ◽  
Design Experiments

AbstractHigh digestibility ryegrass was ensiled using either good methods including formic acid application (HDG) or poor methods without formic acid (HDP). Low digestibility ryegrass (LDG) and lucerne (LUC) were ensiled using similar methods to HDG. Digestible organic matter in the dry matter (DM) in vivo (DOMD) for HDG, HDP, LDG and LUC were 0·756, 0·774, 0·645 and 0·562 respectively. Silages were offered ad libitum to 40 HolsteinFriesian cows in two Latin-square design experiments during weeks 8 to 22 of lactation either alone (experiment 1) or with 3, 6, 9 or 12 kg concentrate DM per day (experiment 2). Relative intakes of silage given alone were respectively 1·00, 0·44, 0·98 and 0·79. Low intake of HDP could not be predicted from silage analysis. In experiment 2, DM intake increased by 0·11 kg and milk yield by 0·24 kg for each 0·010 change in grass silage DOMD. Intake of HDG, LDG and LUC declined linearly with increasing concentrate, on HDP the effect was non-linear and intake increased up to the 6 kg level.In experiment 1, milk and protein yields were greatest on HDG, protein yield was higher on LDG than LUC and fat concentration higher on HDP and LUC. With supplementation milk yield was greatest on HDG up to the 6 kg level, at higher levels differences between silages were not significant. Fat concentration was highest on LDG and protein highest on HDG and lowest on LUC. On all silages giving the highest concentrate level reduced the concentration and yield of fat. Protein concentration increased up to the 9 kg level. Fat plus protein yields reached a maximum on HDG with 6 kg concentrate DM per day and with 9 kg on the remaining silages.

scholarly journals Mineral and trace element supply of sheep on grass silage based feeding

1981 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 302-306
Author(s):  
Liisa Syrjälä-Qvist
Keyword(s):  
Hydrochloric Acid ◽  
Formic Acid ◽  
Trace Element ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Mineral Contents ◽  
Mineral Supply ◽  
Mineral Balance ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Balance Trials

Balance trials were made with adult Finnsheep rams to obtain more information on the mineral supply when the animals arc fed on grass silage based diets. The experimental silages were prepared with three different preservatives: 1) AIV I solution (25% formic acid and 20 % hydrochloric acid), 2) formic acid and 3) Viher solution (26 % formic acid and 70 % formalin). Together with the silage the animals received sucrose, starch and cellulose supplements at the levels of 0 %, 15 % or 30 % of the dry matter of the daily rations, representing 0, 2 ½ and 5 g/kg animal liveweight per day. Data were obtained on the Ca, P Mg, K, Na, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn intake by the animals and on the excretion of these minerals in the faeces and urine. The levels of these minerals in the blood were also determined. The mineral contents of the silage were sufficient for animals fed at the maintenance level, except in the case of Na and P. Suckling ewes and growing lambs on silage based feeding may suffer from a deficiency of Ca as well as Na and P. The silage preservatives did not differ in their effect on the mineral balance. The mineral balances of the animals receiving the various carbohydrate supplements were also fairly similar to those of animals on pure silage diets.

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