Some attempts to improve the nutritive value of urea for dairy cows

The process of vacuum ensilage of Setaria Sphacelata (cv. Nandi) (33 per cent DM ; 7 per cent soluble carbohydrates; 1.36 per cent M) was studied, and the resultant silage was evaluated chemically, in milk production trials with dairy cows and in digestion trials with dry cows. The silage was well preserved in a chemical sense (pH 4.5; lactic acid 1.7 per cent, volatile acids 1.2 per cent DM ; volatile bases 9.8 per cent total N) but, because of the structural rigidity of the harvested grass, air could not be completely excluded even from the polythene-covered vacuum stack. The temperature reached 43�C in the first week of storage and considerable surface wastage occurred. The silage (DM digestibility 42 per cent, voluntary DM intake 81 g/kg0.75) was of poorer quality than the grass harvested (DM digestibility 54 per cent, voluntary DM intake 84 g/kg0.75) and, even by feeding concentrates, only a low level of milk production could be sustained in (mainly Jersey) cows in the 5th-9th months of lactation. In silage-fed cows given a protein supplement (cottonseed meal) milk production was lower (3.8 kg day-1) but fat content higher (5.4 per cent) than in those given an energy supplement (sorghum grain) or energy plus protein (4.7 kg day-1 and 4.9 per cent fat). When fed lucerne hay and given the same energy plus protein supplement, cows gave significantly more milk (5.7 kg day-1 and 4.6 per cent fat). The poor nutritive value of the silage is attributed to the nature and composition of the material ensiled rather than to any defect in the ensilage process itself, and may be a feature of most silage made from tropical grasses.

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Short Communication: Effects of planting density on nutritive value, dry matter yield, and predicted milk yield of dairy cows from 2 brown midrib forage sorghum hybrids

Applied Animal Science ◽

10.15232/aas.2019-01966 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 36 (3) ◽

pp. 320-328

Author(s):

C.L. McCary ◽

C. Heinzen ◽

E.M. Paula ◽

M.O. Wallau ◽

L.F. Ferraretto

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Short Communication ◽

Planting Density ◽

Brown Midrib ◽

Dry Matter Yield ◽

Forage Sorghum ◽

Communication Effects

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Effect of stage of growth and urea addition on the preservation and nutritive value of whole crop wheat

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) ◽

10.1017/s0308229600021000 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 1991 ◽

pp. 150-150

Author(s):

J. Hill ◽

J.D. Leaver

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Growth Stages ◽

Temperature Changes ◽

Stages Of Growth ◽

Three Stages ◽

Urea Addition ◽

New Crop

Whole crop wheat (WCW) is a relatively new crop as a feed for dairy cows, and little information is available on its dry matter yield and nutritive value relative to stage of growth at harvest. Also, the role of urea (which hydrolyses to ammonia in the crop) addition in reducing fermentation and aerobic spoilage losses has not been investigated.The aim of this experiment was to examine three stages of growth at harvest for WCW, with and without urea.An area of winter wheat (cv Fortress) was cut (5 cm above ground) at three growth stages (GS 49, 71 and 87). The resultant forages were chopped through a precision-chop harvester and stored in air-tight barrels of 0.225 m3 capacity. Urea was added at 0 and 40 g/kgDM at each stage of growth and there were three replicates of each treatment. Thermocouples placed centrally were used to monitor temperature changes. The mini silos held approximately 100 kg of forages and they were opened after 90 days. Vertical cores were taken as samples and the mini silos were left open for a further 18 days to assess aerobic deterioration.

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556. The use of seaweed meals in concentrate mixtures for dairy cows

Journal of Dairy Research ◽

10.1017/s0022029900007366 ◽

1954 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. 299-304 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

A. W. A. Burt ◽

S. Bartlett ◽

S. J. Rowland

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Ascophyllum Nodosum ◽

Fat Content ◽

Salt Mixture ◽

Fat Percentage ◽

Basal Ration

The relative effects upon milk yield and composition of three concentrate mixtures containing 10% of two types of seaweed meal (Ascophyllum nodosum and Laminaria cloustoni) and an oatfeed-salt mixture, have been observed.Each cow received daily a basal ration of 30 lb. marrowstem kale and 18 lb. hay for maintenance and the first 1½ gal. of milk and 31½ lb. concentrates for each gallon thereafter.No significant effects of treatment upon milk yield or fat percentage were observed.The milk produced on the oatfeed-salt mixture had a slightly but significantly higher solids-not-fat content than that on the mixtures containing seaweed meals.The results showed that seaweed meals have a nutritive value no greater than that of a mixture of 7 parts oatfeed and 1 part salt, which had an estimated starch equivalent of only 39.In view of the relatively high cost, low palatability and low nutritive value of seaweed meals, their possible use in the feeding of dairy cows appears very limited.

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COMPARISON OF MALE STERILE CORN AND REGULAR CORN AS SILAGE FOR DAIRY COWS

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas84-048 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 64 (2) ◽

pp. 427-434 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

P. L. BURGESS ◽

J. W. G. NICHOLSON

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Dry Matter Intake ◽

Soluble Carbohydrate ◽

Male Sterile ◽

Relative Nutritive Value ◽

Corn Hybrid

The relative nutritive value of male sterile corn silage (23.7% dry matter) and regular corn silage (26.5% dry matter) was determined with lactating dairy cows during three consecutive crop years. The regular corn hybrid had 25% of the kernels removed by black birds prior to harvesting. Grain was fed according to milk production (1 kg/2.75 kg milk) and silage was offered ad libitum as the only forage. Dry matter, soluble carbohydrate and insoluble nitrogen percentages were lower while crude protein and acid detergent fiber levels were higher in the male sterile corn silage. Apparent digestibilities of dry matter, nitrogen and energy determined with sheep were not different between silages. Silage dry matter intake and total dry matter intake were higher (P < 0.05) for cows fed regular corn silage in only one of the three trials. Actual milk, 4% fat-corrected milk yields and milk fat and protein percentages were not affected by silage treatment. Key words: Male sterile corn, silage, dairy cows

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Nutritive value of peas for lactating dairy cattle

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/a01-019 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 81 (4) ◽

pp. 541-551 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

G. R. Khorasani ◽

E. K. Okine ◽

R. R. Corbett ◽

J. J. Kennelly

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Starch Content ◽

Latin Square ◽

Barley Grain ◽

Linear Increase ◽

Ruminal Fermentation ◽

Total N ◽

Ad Libitum Intake ◽

Dietary Treatments

The objective of this study was to determine the nutritive value for lactating dairy cows of peas relative to soybean meal (SBM) and barley. Four Holstein cows (200 ± 23 d in milk), fitted with rumen and duodenal cannulae were assigned to four dietary treatments in an experiment designed as a 4 × 4 Latin square with 21 d in each of the four periods. Cows were fed a diet for ad libitum intake with a 50:50 forage:concentrate ratio (DM basis). Peas replaced SBM at the levels of 0, 33.3, 66.7%, and 100% of the concentrate portion in the four test diets. In the 100% pea-based diet, barley was replaced (at 72.35%) to obtain a similar starch content as the SBM-based concentrate. The forage components of the diets consisted of 25% alfalfa silage and 25% bromegrass silage. Dry matter intake (21.6 ± 0.4 kg d–1) and milk yield were not affected by substitution of peas for SBM and barley. Mean rumen pH decreased linearly (P < 0.01) with increasing level of peas in the diet. Substitution of peas for SBM and barley resulted in a linear increase in the concentration of rumen acetate, butyrate, isovalerate, and valerate (P < 0.01), and had a quadratic effect on caproate. Rumen bacterial yield and duodenal flow of total N were not affected by treatment. Ruminal fermentation characteristics and digestibility of nutrients suggest that the substitution of SBM and barley grain with peas may alter the site and end-products of digestion; however, the substitution had no significant effects on production parameters. Key words: Peas, digestion, rumen fermentation, dairy cows

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