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

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.


1995 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-90
Author(s):  
D. Wilman ◽  
S. P. Williams ◽  
T. D. A. Brigstocke ◽  
D. H. Baker

SUMMARYThe idea that the addition of compound feed to grass at ensilage can result in adequate preservation of the crop without the need for an acid additive, and that less compound feed would then need to be given when the silage is subsequently fed, was tested with dairy cows. Two diets were compared: (1) a conventional grass silage, to which acid had been added at the time of ensiling, plus concentrates supplied at the time of feeding, and (2) grass silage, to which a compound feed had been added at the time of ensiling, plus a lower rate of concentrates. Each diet was fed to 12 lactating cows for 82 days.The total intake of dry matter was 17·3 kg per cow per day on diet 1 and 18·3 kg on diet 2. Daily milk yields per cow were 24·5 and 26·1 kg, respectively, with similar milk composition. The estimated diet costs per kg of milk were 9·3 p on (1) and 8·3 p on (2). It is concluded that the addition of compound feed to grass at ensilage is worth considering on dairy farms as an alternative to conventional grass silage, but that a more comprehensive study is needed.



1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 1027-1032 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. FISHER ◽  
J. R. LESSARD

Eighteen lactating Holsteins were utilized in a 3 × 3 Latin square (49 d treatment−1) for a comparative estimation of the intake and digestibility of corn, rye and sorghum-sudan grass silages. The dry matter (DM), protein and acid detergent fiber contents were 32.5, 8.0, 27.0; 25.2, 8.7, 45.6 and 22.4, 10.6, 40.7 percent for corn, rye, and sorghum-sudan silages, respectively. Dry matter intake of the silage and milk yield were less (P < 0.05) for cows fed rye silage compared to those fed corn and sorghum-sudan grass silage. Cows lost body weight when fed rye silage but gained weight when fed either corn or sorghum-sudan grass silage. The feeding of rye silage resulted in a decrease (P < 0.05) in milk protein percent compared to the feeding of corn or sorghum-sudan silage and in the percentage of milk lactose compared to the feeding of sorghum-sudan grass silage. Molar proportions of rumen acetate were higher (P < 0.05) when cows were fed either rye or sorghum-sudan silage compared to corn silage. Cows fed rye silage had higher molar proportions of rumen propionate and valerate and lower levels of butyrate (P < 0.05) compared to cows consuming sorghum-sudan silage. The digestibility of total ration DM was lower (P < 0.05) when either rye or sorghum-sudan silage was the forage portion of the ration compared to corn. It was concluded from this trial that sorghum-sudan silage provided a suitable source of forage for lactating dairy cows. However, the DM intake and milk yield of cows fed rye silage was less than satisfactory. Key words: Dairy cattle, rye, sorghum-sudan, silage, intake, digestibility



Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 722
Author(s):  
Jang-Hoon Jo ◽  
Jalil Ghassemi Nejad ◽  
Dong-Qiao Peng ◽  
Hye-Ran Kim ◽  
Sang-Ho Kim ◽  
...  

This study aims to characterize the influence of short-term heat stress (HS; 4 day) in early lactating Holstein dairy cows, in terms of triggering blood metabolomics and parameters, milk yield and composition, and milk microRNA expression. Eight cows (milk yield = 30 ± 1.5 kg/day, parity = 1.09 ± 0.05) were homogeneously housed in environmentally controlled chambers, assigned into two groups with respect to the temperature humidity index (THI) at two distinct levels: approximately ~71 (low-temperature, low-humidity; LTLH) and ~86 (high-temperature, high-humidity; HTHH). Average feed intake (FI) dropped about 10 kg in the HTHH group, compared with the LTLH group (p = 0.001), whereas water intake was only numerically higher (p = 0.183) in the HTHH group than in the LTLH group. Physiological parameters, including rectal temperature (p = 0.001) and heart rate (p = 0.038), were significantly higher in the HTHH group than in the LTLH group. Plasma cortisol and haptoglobin were higher (p < 0.05) in the HTHH group, compared to the LTLH group. Milk yield, milk fat yield, 3.5% fat-corrected milk (FCM), and energy-corrected milk (ECM) were lower (p < 0.05) in the HTHH group than in the LTLH group. Higher relative expression of milk miRNA-216 was observed in the HTHH group (p < 0.05). Valine, isoleucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, lactic acid, 3-phenylpropionic acid, 1,5-anhydro-D-sorbitol, myo-inositol, and urea were decreased (p < 0.05). These results suggest that early lactating cows are more vulnerable to short-term (4 day) high THI levels—that is, HTHH conditions—compared with LTLH, considering the enormous negative effects observed in measured blood metabolomics and parameters, milk yield and compositions, and milk miRNA-216 expression.



Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 104
Author(s):  
Shulin Liang ◽  
Chaoqun Wu ◽  
Wenchao Peng ◽  
Jian-Xin Liu ◽  
Hui-Zeng Sun

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using the dry matter intake of first 2 h after feeding (DMI-2h), body weight (BW), and milk yield to estimate daily DMI in mid and late lactating dairy cows with fed ration three times per day. Our dataset included 2840 individual observations from 76 cows enrolled in two studies, of which 2259 observations served as development dataset (DDS) from 54 cows and 581 observations acted as the validation dataset (VDS) from 22 cows. The descriptive statistics of these variables were 26.0 ± 2.77 kg/day (mean ± standard deviation) of DMI, 14.9 ± 3.68 kg/day of DMI-2h, 35.0 ± 5.48 kg/day of milk yield, and 636 ± 82.6 kg/day of BW in DDS and 23.2 ± 4.72 kg/day of DMI, 12.6 ± 4.08 kg/day of DMI-2h, 30.4 ± 5.85 kg/day of milk yield, and 597 ± 63.7 kg/day of BW in VDS, respectively. A multiple regression analysis was conducted using the REG procedure of SAS to develop the forecasting models for DMI. The proposed prediction equation was: DMI (kg/day) = 8.499 + 0.2725 × DMI-2h (kg/day) + 0.2132 × Milk yield (kg/day) + 0.0095 × BW (kg/day) (R2 = 0.46, mean bias = 0 kg/day, RMSPE = 1.26 kg/day). Moreover, when compared with the prediction equation for DMI in Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle (2001) using the independent dataset (VDS), our proposed model shows higher R2 (0.22 vs. 0.07) and smaller mean bias (−0.10 vs. 1.52 kg/day) and RMSPE (1.77 vs. 2.34 kg/day). Overall, we constructed a feasible forecasting model with better precision and accuracy in predicting daily DMI of dairy cows in mid and late lactation when fed ration three times per day.



1977 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 559-565
Author(s):  
L. J. FISHER

Sixteen Holstein cows in early lactation were assigned to a switch-back experiment consisting of two experimental periods 35 days in length separated by a 7-day changeover period. Treatments consisted of two feeding systems, alfalfa cubes ensiled with corn silage or alfalfa cubes fed with the corn silage. When cows were fed corn–alfalfa cube silage they consumed more forage, 2.26 vs. 2.16% of body weight per cow per day than when they were fed the alfalfa cubes with the silage. Fat-corrected milk yield was somewhat higher, 25.4 vs. 24.0 kg/day; fat percent and fat yield were greater, 3.13 vs. 2.70% and 918 vs. 814 g/day for corn–alfalfa cube silage as compared to cubes added at feeding time. However, milk yield was greater, 29.9 vs. 29.1 kg/day, and milk lactose percent was greater, 5.26 vs. 5.18% for cows fed cubes at feeding time compared to cows fed corn–alfalfa cube silage. There was no difference between feeding systems in blood minerals or metabolites with the exception of plasma urea nitrogen which was higher, 20.2 vs. 17.2 mg %, for the alfalfa cubes fed with the corn silage. Apparent dry matter and protein digestibility for the total ration were 68.1 and 71.6% when corn alfalfa cube silage was fed compared to 65.4 and 68.5% when the cubes were fed with the corn silage (P < 0.05). It was concluded from this study that alfalfa cubes ensiled with corn silage was an effective method of increasing the dry matter and protein content of corn silage and in improving the digestibility of the total ration.



1976 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. FISHER ◽  
DOROTHY S. WALSH

Sixteen lactating Holstein cows were randomly assigned to treatment sequences in a 4 × 4 changeover experiment. Experimental periods were 28 days in length separated by 7 days for changeover. Cows were fed corn silage free choice and gradually increasing amounts of one of four dairy concentrates containing 0, 11, 22, or 34% rapeseed meal (RSM) of a Canadian, experimental, low glucosinolate–low erucic acid variety. Concentrate intake (kg dry matter/day), milk yield (kg/day) and body weight change (kg/28 days) were 8.45a, 8.71a, 8.37a and 7.17b; 24.40a, 24.03ab, 22.92bc and 21.96c and 7.6b, 22.4b, 13.0ab, and 3.0b for 0, 11, 22 and 34% RSM mixtures, respectively. There was no influence of treatment on milk composition. Ration dry matter (DM) and nitrogen digestibilities declined (P < 0.05) as the RSM in the concentrate mixture increased. The amount of nitrogen excreted in the urine was greatest for cows fed 0% RSM and least for cows fed 34% RSM. Cows fed concentrate mixtures containing 34% RSM had a lower blood thyroxine level than others (P < 0.05), but RSM-containing concentrates had no apparent effect on the conversion of thyroxine to triiodothyronine. Results of the trial indicated that this experimental variety of RSM had no detrimental effect on concentrate intake, DM digestibility, milk composition or thyroid hormone metabolism when included at levels up to 22% in the concentrate mixture. However, milk yield and apparent digestibility of ration nitrogen were decreased (P < 0.05) by the 22% RSM mixture. It was not certain from the current findings whether the depression in digestibility was due largely to the high oil content of the meal or due to the higher fiber content of the RSM-supplemented rations.



1989 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. H. ROBINSON ◽  
J. J. KENNELLY

Three dairy cows with large rumen cannulae were fed totally mixed diets twice daily. Diets contained 49% whole crop oat silage, 38.5% high-moisture barley (HMB), and 12.5% protein-mineral-vitamin supplement on a dry matter (DM) basis. HMB had been ammoniated at target levels of 0, 0.65, 1.30, and 1.95 g per 100 g HMB DM. Actual levels achieved were 0, 0.63, 1.30, and 1.95 g ammonia per 100 g. Apparent digestibility of organic matter (OM), neutral detergent (ND) fiber, starch, and N were not significantly influenced by level of ammoniation of HMB, although there was a trend for increased N digestion. Total rumen pool sizes of wet ingesta and DM were not influenced by ammoniation levels of HMB, although proportion of ND fiber in rumen OM declined as level of ammoniation of HMB increased. Milk yield and production of milk protein and lactose increased as level of ammoniation of HMB increased. Data are interpreted to suggest that rumen digestion of dietary nonfiber components declined as level of ammoniation of HMB increased, although digestion of ND fiber was not influenced. These results support the hypothesis that ammoniation of HMB shifted the site of digestion of a portion of the dietary nonfiber component from the rumen to the intestine without influencing rumen microbial pool sizes or degradative activity. Greater energetic efficiency of intestinal digestion of dietary nonfiber components, as level of ammoniation of HMB increased, may have contributed to the increased milk yield. Key words: Barley (high-moisture), ammoniation, dairy cows, digestion



1987 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 375-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Sutton ◽  
J. A. Bines ◽  
S. V. Morant ◽  
D. J. Napper ◽  
D. J. Givens

SummaryTwenty-four Friesian cows were allocated to one of four diets for weeks 3–14 of lactation following 2 weeks on a common diet. The diets (kg air-dry feed/day) were 7–2 kg hay and 10·8 kg either starchy or fibrous concentrates (60S and 60F) or 3·5 kg hay and 14·0 kg either starchy or fibrous concentrates (80S and 80F). Rumen samples were taken by stomach tube in weeks 10 and 12 of lactation and the digestibility of the diets was measured with four cows per treatment during weeks 13 and 14. The digestibility of the same feeds was also measured in sheep at maintenance.The principal carbohydrate constituents of the concentrates were barley, wheat and cassava in the starchy concentrates and citrus pulp, sugar-beet pulp and wheat feed in the fibrous concentrates. The concentrates were designed to have similar concentrations of metabolizable energy (ME) and the diets were planned to provide similar intakes of digestible energy and crude protein.Milk yield and composition were very similar for treatments 60S and 60F. With the higher proportion of starchy concentrates (80S), milk yield was about 20% greater than on 60S, fat concentration fell severely but protein and lactose concentrations were unaffected. With the higher proportion of fibrous concentrates (80F), milk yield and the protein and lactose concentration were similar to values on 60F but fat concentration was lower, though not nearly so low as on 80S. Milk energy yield was reduced by the higher proportion of concentrates but was unaffected by type of carbohydrates. Live-weight changes were small.In both the sheep, consuming at maintenance, and the lactating cows consuming at about 3 times maintenance, digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and energy was higher with the higher concentrate diets but was unaffected by type of concentrate. The digestibility of fibre was greater with the fibrous concentrates but the effect of level of concentrate inclusion was inconsistent. Digestibility coefficients were consistently lower for the lactating cows than for the sheep.The proportion of acetic acid in the rumen volatile fatty acids in the cows was higher and the proportion of propionic acid was lower with the fibrous concentrates. The differences were much greater with the higher proportion of concentrates.During weeks 15–22 of lactation the cows were reallocated to concentrate treatments and given hay ad libitum. Hay intake was about 1 kg/day higher with the fibrous concentrates but the difference was not significant. Hay intake fell by about 0·6 kg/kg concentrate intake for both concentrate types. No significant differences in milk yield or composition were established, probably because of incomplete adaptation even after 8 weeks.It is concluded that at concentrate intakes of about 10 kg/day, the source of carbohydrate in the concentrates has little effect on milk production when the concentrates are of similar ME concentration. However, at higher levels of concentrate inclusion, although the diets may have similar ME concentrations, important differences in the yields of fat, protein and lactose occur due to carbohydrate source and these can be related to differences in rumen fermentation.



2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (9) ◽  
pp. 68-74
Author(s):  
A. V. Golovin ◽  

In a scientific economic experiment conducted in the experimental farm «Klenovo-Chegodaevo» (Moscow) on three groups of Holsteinized black-and-white cows with a milk yield of 7000 kg of milk per lactation, 10 heads in each, it was found that the inclusion in the diet of cows of the experimental groups tested protected fats (hydrogenated and fractionated) in the amount of 300 g per head per day, contributed to the tendency for more intensive metabolic processes in the rumen due to a slight increase in the concentration of volatile fatty acids by 5,6–7,4% and an increase in the mass of microorganisms in the contents of the rumen by 5,4–14,4% (P≥0,05). At the same time, an increase in the concentration of metabolic energy in the dry matter of the cows ration from 10,7 to 11,0 MJ / kg in the period from 21 to 120 days of lactation, due to the inclusion of protected fats in the diet of cows from the experimental groups, contributed to an increase in milk yield 4% fat content for 100 days of the experiment by 9,7% and 11,0% (P≤0,05), compared with the control, as well as the production of milk fat and protein, respectively by 9,6–11,0% (P≤0,05 in the second case) and 7,4–8,3%, feed costs expressed in ME decreased by 4,9–5,2%.



1975 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-9
Author(s):  
S. Tamminga ◽  
C.J. van der Koelen

1. Grass from the same sward was ensiled without additive, with 14.6 g formic acid/100 g crude protein or 10.8 g formic acid and 10.6 g formaldehyde/100 g crude protein. Similar grass was dried and pelleted. Drying or ensiling with the mixture reduced solubility of N in the preserved grass but formic acid increased it, and ensiling without additive increased it even more. Apparent digestibility of N in the rumen of cows tended to decrease with decrease in solubility. Digestibility in vitro of the mixed diet given to the cows, calculated from digestibility of the separate components, agreed well with the values in vivo for diets with silages, but was high for that with dried grass. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)



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