Timothy grass or alfalfa silage for cows in midlactation: effect of supplementary barley.

Twenty-four multiparous Holstein cows averaging 104 d of lactation were used in a trial with a split-plot design to evaluate the nutritive value of two silages, timothy grass or alfalfa, both treated with formic acid and stored in plastic bag silos. Silages were offered for ad libitum intake either alone or with 17 or 34% (dry matter basis) dry-rolled barley. Both silages contained similar amounts of acid detergent fiber (ADF) (27.5 and 26.7% for timothy grass and alfalfa, respectively). After 110 d of storage, alfalfa silage contained higher amounts of organic acids and NH3 N but had lower soluble N. Total dry matter intake (DMI) and silage DMI were similar between cows fed both silages. Increased barley proportion decreased silage DMI (19.2 to 14.2 kg/d). Apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter was unaffected by treatment. The digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and ADF was higher for the timothy grass silage than for alfalfa silage and was unaffected by the barley percentage added to either silage. Milk yield was lower (23.9 to 22.6 kg/d) for cows fed the highest proportion of barley. The 4% fat-corrected milk yield was unaffected by treatment. Percentages of fat, protein, and total solids in milk were higher for cows fed diets with the higher barley content. Milk fat and protein yields were similar among treatments. Urea in blood was lower for cows fed timothy grass silage than for cows fed alfalfa silage (4.68 vs. 6.23 mg/100 ml). These results suggest that timothy grass silage and alfalfa silage, when stored at a similar ADF content, have comparable nutritive value for midlactation cows.

Juice-extracted grass pellets and sodium bicarbonate for cows fed timothy silage of two chop lengths.

Eighteen multiparous Holstein cows in midlactation were used in a switchback design trial to evaluate the effect of chop length (3 or 30 mm) of timothy grass silage, containing less than 30% ADF and treated with formic acid, on DMI and cow performance. Within chop length, addition of NaHCO3 (2% of DMI) or the replacement of 30% of silage DM with juice-extracted grass pellets was also evaluated. Cows were fed a TMR composed of 90% silage and 10% concentrate. Silage preservation characteristics were not different between chop lengths. The DMI and apparent digestibility were similar among treatments. Yields of 4% FCM (24.9 vs. 22.7 kg/d), fat (1.03 vs. .93 kg/d), and protein (.83 vs .77 kg/d) were higher with the short chopped silage. Milk protein, milk NPN content, and serum urea were higher for cows fed long chopped silage. Yields of milk and milk constituents were not affected by the addition of juice-extracted grass pellets or NaHCO3. Fat percentage and fatty acid composition of milk remained unchanged by treatments. Reduction of particle size, from 30 to 3 mm, of timothy grass, treated with formic acid at harvest and using compaction at ensiling in bag silos, did not affect silage conservation characteristics but did improve milk, fat, and protein yields when cows were fed high silage diets.

Juice-extracted grass pellets and sodium bicarbonate for cows in midlactation fed timothy grass silage.

Eighteen midlactation Holstein cows, averaging 80 to 125 d of lactation, were used in a trial of switchback design to evaluate two timothy silages, wilted or direct-cut and treated with formic acid, and three treatments, control, NaHCO3 added at 2% of DM, or juice-extracted grass pellets replacing 30% silage DM. Cows fed direct-cut silage that had been treated with formic acid consumed more DM (19.8 vs. 18.6 kg/d) than those fed wilted silage. The DMI was also increased with NaHCO3 and grass pellet treatments. However, NaHCO3 reduced digestibility of most nutrients without affecting pH of rumen fluid or degradation of DM and NDF. Compared with wilted silage, direct-cut silage that had been treated with formic acid contained more degradable NDF (86 vs. 84.5%). Milk yield (24.9 vs. 23.6 kg/d) was higher for cows fed direct-cut than wilted silage, but 4% FCM yield remained unchanged. Addition of NaHCO3 tended to increase yields of milk and 4% FCM. Treatments did not affect milk composition. Serum urea N was higher for cows fed the direct-cut silage than for cows fed wilted silage. Silage type had more impact on feed intake and performance than did NaHCO3 or juice-extracted grass pellets.