Effect of replacing corn silage with annual ryegrass silage on nutrient digestibility,intake, and milk yield for lactating dairy cows

Twenty Holstein cows were used in an 8-wk randomized block design study to determine the effects of replacing corn silage with ryegrass silage on nutrient intake, apparent digestion, milk yield, and milk composition. The 8-wk trial consisted of a 2-wk preliminary period followed by a 6-wk collection period. Experimental diets were formulated to provide 55.5% of the total dry matter (DM) as forage. Ryegrass silage was substituted for 0, 35, 65, and 100% of DM provided by corn silage. Dietary concentrations of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) increased as ryegrass silage replaced corn silage. Intake of DM and crude protein (CP) was similar for all treatments, but intake of NDF and ADF increased linearly as ryegrass silage replaced corn silage. Apparent digestibility of DM declined linearly, whereas digestibility of CP increased linearly as ryegrass silage replaced corn silage. Apparent digestibility of NDF and ADF was highest for the diets in which ryegrass or corn silages provided all of the forage, resulting in a quadratic response. Dry matter intake was not different among treatments. Yield of milk, fat, and protein increased as ryegrass silage replaced corn silage. No differences were observed for body weight change, body condition score, and serum urea nitrogen concentration, but serum glucose concentration increased with increasing dietary proportion of ryegrass silage. These results indicate that substituting ryegrass silage for a portion or all of the corn silage in diets fed to lactating dairy cows can improve yield of milk and components.     

Effects of tallow in diets based on corn silage or alfalfa silage on digestion and nutrient use by lactating dairy cows

Six multiparous Holstein cows (average 31 days in milk; 36.3 kg/d of milk) fitted with ruminal cannulas were used in a 6 x 6 Latin square with 21-d periods to investigate the effects of diets that varied in forage source and amount of supplemental tallow. Isonitrogenous diets in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement were based on either high corn silage (40:10 corn silage to alfalfa silage, % of dry matter) or high alfalfa silage (10:40 corn silage to alfalfa silage, % of dry matter) and contained 0, 2, or 4% tallow. Intakes of dry matter and total fatty acids were lower when cows were fed the high corn silage diet. Tallow supplementation linearly decreased dry matter intake. Milk yield was unaffected by diet; yields of milk fat and 3.5% fat-corrected milk were higher for the high alfalfa silage diet but were unaffected by tallow. Milk fat percentage was higher for the high alfalfa silage and tended to decrease when tallow was added to the high corn silage diet. Contents of trans-C18:1 isomers in milk fat were increased by high corn silage and tallow, and tended to be increased more when tallow was fed in the high corn silage diet. Ruminal pH and acetate:propionate were lower when high corn silage was fed. Ruminal acetate:propionate decreased linearly as tallow increased; the molar proportion of acetate was decreased more when tallow was added to the high corn silage diet. Ruminal liquid dilution rates were higher for the alfalfa silage diet; ruminal volume and solid passage rates were similar among diets. Total tract apparent digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, starch, energy, and total fatty acids were unaffected by diet. Digestibilities of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, hemicellulose, and cellulose were lower when high corn silage was fed. The high alfalfa silage diet increased intakes of metabolizable energy and N, and increased milk energy and productive N. Tallow decreased the amount of N absorbed but had few other effects on utilization of energy or N. Tallow linearly increased concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids and cholesterol in plasma; cholesterol was increased by high alfalfa silage. Overall, forage source had more pronounced effects on production and metabolism than did tallow supplementation. Few interactions between forage source and tallow supplementation were detected except that ruminal fermentation and milk fat content were affected more negatively when tallow was fed in the high corn silage diet.     

Performance of dairy cows fed annual ryegrass silage and corn silage with steam-flaked or ground corn

Twenty-four lactating Holstein cows were used in a 6-wk randomized block design trial with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to determine the effects of feeding ground corn (GC) or steam-flaked corn (SFC) in diets based on either annual ryegrass silage (RS) or a 50:50 blend of annual ryegrass and corn silages (BLEND). Experimental diets contained 49.6% forage and were fed as a total mixed ration once daily for 4 wk after a 2-wk preliminary period. No interactions were observed among treatments. Cows fed BLEND consumed more dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) than those fed RS, but total-tract digestibility of OM, NDF, and ADF was greater for RS than for BLEND. No differences in nutrient intake were observed among treatments during wk 4 when nutrient digestibility was measured, but digestibility of DM and OM was greater for SFC than for GC. Cows fed BLEND tended to produce more energy-corrected milk than those fed RS, resulting in improved efficiency (kg of milk per kg of DM intake). When diets were supplemented with SFC, cows consumed less DM and produced more milk that tended to have lower milk fat percentage. Yield of milk protein and efficiency was greatest with SFC compared with GC. Blood glucose and milk urea nitrogen concentrations were similar among treatments, but blood urea nitrogen was greater for cows fed GC compared with those fed SFC. Results of this trial indicate that feeding a blend of annual ryegrass and corn silage is more desirable than feeding diets based on RS as the sole forage. Supplementing diets with SFC improved performance and efficiency compared with GC across forage sources.     

Performance of lactating dairy cows fed ryegrass silage and corn silage with ground corn, steam-flaked corn, or hominy feed

Forty-eight mid-lactation Holstein cows were used in a 6-wk completely randomized block design trial with a 4 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments to determine the effects of feeding different proportions of corn silage and ryegrass silage with supplemental ground corn (GC), steam-flaked corn (SFC), and hominy feed (HF) on the performance of lactating dairy cows. Forage provided 49% of the dietary dry matter in the experimental diets, which were formulated to meet National Research Council requirements. Ryegrass silage provided 100, 75, 50, or 25% of the total forage dry matter, with corn silage supplying the remainder. There were no interactions between the proportion of forage provided by ryegrass silage and energy supplement. Dry matter intake and milk protein percentage decreased linearly with increasing proportions of ryegrass silage, but milk protein yield was similar among forage treatments. There were no differences among forage treatments in milk yield, milk fat percentage and yield, and energy-corrected milk yield. Dry matter intake was higher and there was a tendency for increased milk fat percentage for GC compared with SFC or HF. No other differences were observed in milk yield or composition among energy supplements. Plasma urea nitrogen and glucose concentrations were similar among treatments. Under the conditions of this trial, our results indicate that feeding a combination of corn silage and ryegrass silage is more desirable than feeding ryegrass silage alone, whereas supplementation with GC, SFC, or HF supports similar levels of milk production.     

Effect of corn silage hybrid and metabolizable protein supply on nitrogen metabolism of lactating dairy cows

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of corn silage hybrid and supply of metabolizable protein (MP) on manure excretion and N metabolism by lactating dairy cows. Eight Holstein cows in midlactation (replicated 4 × 4 Latin square with 21-d periods) were fed 1 of 4 treatments, arranged factorially. Diets contained 55% corn silage made from a dual-purpose hybrid or a brown midrib (BMR) hybrid, and 45% concentrate that contained either a low or high concentration of rumen undegradable protein (altered by the addition of fish meal and treated soybean meal). Crude protein averaged 14.0 and 17.5% and supply of MP averaged 2,360 and 2,990 g/d for the low and high MP treatments (not affected by hybrid). Increasing supply of MP greatly increased urine output and tended to increase total manure output, whereas diets with BMR silage tended to reduce manure output. Increased MP supply increased daily excretion of manure N by 25% (465 vs. 374 g/d), fecal N by 27 g, and urinary N by 64 g. When the effect of N intake was removed, cows fed BMR silage excreted about 15 g/d less N via manure than cows fed the other silage. Rumen ammonia, volatile fatty acid concentrations, and pH were not affected by treatment. Dry matter intake (overall mean = 24.9 kg/d) tended to be increased with increased MP but was not affected by hybrid. Milk production for cows fed BMR was higher than for cows fed the dual-purpose hybrid (36.9 vs. 35.3 kg/d), but because of changes in fat concentration, yield of energy-corrected milk was not affected by treatment. The only interaction observed was increased yield of milk protein when BMR silage was combined with increased supply of MP.     

Influence of corn variety and cutting height on nutritive value of silage fed to lactating dairy cows

Two corn varieties predicted to differ in digestibility were harvested at 2 cutting heights (10.2 or 30.5 cm) to determine effects on the nutrient content of the resulting silage, nutrient intake, nutrient digestibility, and production of lactating cows fed such corn silage originally harvested at two-thirds milk line. Acid detergent fiber (ADF) concentration was higher and in vitro true dry matter (DM) digestibility (IVTDMD) was lower for the variety predicted to have average digestibility. An interaction was observed between variety and cutting height because of decreased ADF and increased IVTDMD for the average digestibility variety cut at 30.5 vs. 10.2 cm; no differences were observed for the higher digestibility variety at each cutting height. When silages were fed to 32 Holstein cows in a 5-wk randomized design trial, DM intake, milk yield, and milk composition were similar. There was an interaction between variety and cutting height for DM intake and total tract apparent digestibility of DM, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber because of lower intake and digestibility for the diets containing either the high cut, average quality variety or low cut, higher quality variety. These results suggest that increasing the cutting height to 30.5 cm does not improve silage quality or improve milk yield of cows. Although the 2 varieties selected for this trial were predicted to differ in digestibility, these differences were not great enough to influence milk yield or composition of lactating cows.     

Effect of feeding a corn hybrid selected for leafiness as silage or grain to lactating dairy cattle

A leafy corn hybrid was compared to a grain corn hybrid as silage and high moisture grain to evaluate dry matter intake, milk yield, and milk composition. Sixteen multiparous Holstein cows averaging 97 DIM were used in a feeding trial based on 4 x 4 Latin squares with 21-d periods. Each of four diets contained (dry basis) 8% chopped hay, 42% corn silage, 11% high moisture corn grain, 10% whole, fuzzy cottonseed, and 29% protein concentrate. One diet used leafy corn as both high moisture grain and silage. A second diet contained grain corn hybrid (control) as both high moisture grain and silage. A third diet contained leafy corn for high moisture grain and control corn for silage and the fourth diet used control corn for high moisture grain and leafy corn for silage. Cows fed diets containing leafy silage produced more milk and milk protein and ate more DM than cows fed control silage. The corn hybrid used for high moisture grain did not influence milk yield or composition. Dry matter intake was greater for cows fed the diet containing both leafy high moisture grain and leafy silage than for cows fed both control high moisture grain and control silage, but milk yield and composition were not different. When fed as silage, the leafy corn hybrid used in this experiment supported greater DMI as well as higher milk and protein yields when compared to the grain corn hybrid.     

Effect of corn hybrid and chop length of whole-plant corn silage on digestion and intake by dairy cows

The objectives of this experiment were to study the effects of corn hybrid and chop length of whole-plant corn silage (WPCS) on intake, and to quantify ruminal digestive processes that could help to identify factors limiting dry matter intake (DMI). Eight lactating cows and 4 dry cows fitted with a ruminal cannula were randomly assigned to 4 treatments in a 4 x 4 Latin square design with replications for lactating cows and without for ruminally cannulated cows. Treatments were fed in a total mixed ration (TMR) containing 75% WPCS and 25% concentrate. The 4 WPCS differed in the characteristics of 2 conventional hybrids, less degradable vs. more degradable in the rumen and in the chop length, fine vs. coarse. The DMI was measured for all cows, and digestion measurements and chewing activities were recorded with the cannulated cows. With lactating cows, DMI and milk yield varied with corn hybrids but not with chop length. The less degradable hybrid in the rumen was the less ingested. Dry matter intake of dry ears followed the same trend, but the differences between hybrids were lower than that observed with the lactating cows and not significant. Dry matter digestibility in the total tract and rumen fill were not different between hybrids. Ruminal mean retention time was greater for the least degradable hybrid. The rumen fill capacity could explain intake differences between hybrids. Ingestive mastication strongly reduced particle size, and the efficiency of particle size reduction was more important with the coarsely chopped WPCS than the finely chopped ones. The small differences in particle size of material entering the rumen after mastication of WPCS during eating might explain the lack of response for decreasing chop length. Because the rumen fill decreased with the decrease in chop length, rumen fill could not be the only factor responsible for DMI control of WPCS.     

Evaluation of nitrogen utilization and the effects of monensin in dairy cows fed brown midrib corn silage

Twenty midlactation Holstein cows (4 ruminally fistulated) averaging 101 ± 34 d in milk and weighing 674 ± 77 kg were used to compare rations with brown midrib corn silage (bm3) to rations with dual-purpose control silage (DP) on N utilization and milk production. The effect of monensin in these rations was also examined. Animals were assigned to one of five 4 × 4 Latin squares with treatments arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial. Cows were fed 1 of 4 treatments during each of the four 28-d periods. Treatments were 1) 0 mg/d monensin and bm3 corn silage, 2) 0 mg/d monensin and DP corn silage, 3) 300 mg/d monensin and bm3 corn silage, and 4) 300 mg/d monensin and DP corn silage. In vitro 30-h neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility was greater for bm3 corn silage (61.0 vs. 49.1 ± 0.62). Dry matter intake (DMI) tended to be greater for cows consuming bm3 corn silage (21.3 vs. 20.2 kg/d). Neither hybrid nor monensin affected milk production, fat, or protein (37.7 kg, 3.60%, or 3.04%). Monensin tended to increase rumen pH (5.89 vs. 5.79 ± 0.07) compared with the control treatment. In addition, bm3 corn silage resulted in a significant decrease in rumen pH (5.72 vs. 5.98 ± 0.07). Supplementing monensin had no effect on molar proportions of acetate, propionate, or butyrate. In contrast, an increase was observed in branched-chain volatile fatty acids. No treatment interactions were observed for rumen pH or molar proportion of propionate but monensin decreased the molar proportion of acetate and increased the molar proportion of butyrate when cattle consumed bm3 silage. Dry matter, N, and acid detergent fiber digestibility were lower for the bm3 ration, whereas NDF digestibility was not different between treatments. There was no effect of hybrid on microbial protein synthesis (1,140 g/d) as estimated by urinary concentration of purine derivatives. Cows consuming bm3 excreted more fecal N than cows consuming DP (38.2 vs. 34.4% N intake); however, based on spot sampling, estimated urinary and manure N were not different between treatments (35.8 and 71.9% N intake). Monensin had no effect on DMI, digestibility of any nutrients, or N metabolism, and there were no hybrid by monensin interactions. Rations including bm3 corn silage tended to increase DMI but did not affect production. The reduction in the digestibility of some nutrients when cows consumed bm3 may have been caused by increased DMI and possible increased digestion in the lower gut. This increase in DMI appeared to also have negatively affected N digestibility but not NDF digestibility. This resulted in a greater amount of N excreted in feces but did not affect total mass of manure N.     

A comparison of processed conventional corn silage to unprocessed and processed brown midrib corn silage on intake, digestion, and milk production by dairy cows

We studied the effects of mechanical processing and type of hybrid on the nutritive value of corn silage for lactating cows. Treatments were brown midrib (BMR) corn silage that was unprocessed (U-BMR), BMR corn silage that was processed (P-BMR), and a conventional corn silage that was processed (P-7511). All silages were harvested at a theoretical chop length of 19 mm. The chemical compositions of the silages were similar among treatments except that BMR silages were lower in lignin and higher in protein than P-7511. Brown midrib silages had greater 30-h in situ and in vitro NDF digestion than did P-7511, and processing had no effect on 30-h in situ and in vitro fiber digestion, but it increased in situ starch digestion after 3 and 12 h of incubation. Both processed silages had a smaller proportion of particles >1.91 cm and fewer whole corn kernels compared with unprocessed silage. Lactating cows were fed a total mixed ration (TMR) consisting of 42% of each silage type, 40% concentrate, 10% alfalfa silage, and 8% alfalfa hay (DM basis). Cows fed TMR containing P-BMR ate more DM and produced more milk than cows fed P-7511. At feeding, the TMR containing U-BMR had a larger proportion of particles >1.91 cm when compared with the TMR of cows fed processed silages, and after 24 h the difference was even greater, indicating that cows fed unprocessed corn silage sorted more. Cows fed TMR with P-7511 and P-BMR had greater total tract digestibility of organic matter, crude protein, and starch compared with cows fed U-BMR. In vivo digestibility of neutral detergent fiber was greatest for cows fed P-BMR when compared with the other treatments.     

The effect of silage cutting height on the nutritive value of a normal corn silage hybrid compared with brown midrib corn silage fed to lactating cows

A brown midrib (BMR) hybrid and a silage-specific non-BMR (7511FQ) hybrid were harvested at a normal cut height leaving 10 to 15 cm of stalk in the field. The non-BMR hybrid was also cut at a greater height leaving 45 to 50 cm of stalk. Cutting high increased the concentrations of dry matter (+4%), crude protein (+5%), net energy for lactation (+3%), and starch (+7%), but decreased the concentrations of acid detergent fiber (−9%), neutral detergent fiber (−8%), and acid detergent lignin (−13%) for 7511FQ. As expected, the BMR corn silage was 30% lower in lignin concentration than 7511FQ. After 30 h of in vitro ruminal fermentation, the digestibility of neutral detergent fiber for normal cut 7511FQ, the same hybrid cut high, and the normal cut BMR hybrid were 51.7, 51.4, and 63.5%, respectively. Twenty-seven multiparous lactating cows were fed a total mixed ration composed of the respective silages (45% of dry matter) with alfalfa haylage (5%), alfalfa hay (5%), and concentrate (45%) (to make the TMR isocaloric and isonitrogenous) in a study with a 3 × 3 Latin square design with 21-d periods. Milk production was greater for cows fed the BMR hybrid (48.8 kg/d) compared with those fed the normal cut 7511FQ (46.8 kg/d) or cut high (47.7 kg/d). Dry matter intake was not affected by treatment. Feed efficiency for cows fed the BMR silage (1.83) was greater than for those fed high-cut 7511FQ (1.75), but was not different from cows fed the normal cut 7511FQ (1.77). Cows fed the BMR silage had milk with greater concentrations of lactose but lower milk urea nitrogen than cows on other treatments. Harvesting a silage-specific, non-BMR corn hybrid at a high harvest height improved its nutritive content, but the improvement in feeding value was not equivalent to that found when cows were fed BMR corn silage.     

Effect of reduced ferulate-mediated lignin/arabinoxylan cross-linking in corn silage on feed intake, digestibility, and milk production

Cross-linking of lignin to arabinoxylan by ferulates limits in vitro rumen digestibility of grass cell walls. The effect of ferulate cross-linking on dry matter intake (DMI), milk production, and in vivo digestibility was investigated in ad libitum and restricted-intake digestion trials with lambs, and in a dairy cow performance trial using the low-ferulate sfe corn mutant. Silages of 5 inbred corn lines were fed: W23, 2 W23sfe lines (M04-4 and M04-21), B73, and B73bm3. As expected, the W23sfe silages contained fewer ferulate ether cross-links and B73bm3 silage had a lower lignin concentration than the respective genetic controls. Silages were fed as the sole ingredient to 4 lambs per silage treatment. Lambs were confined to metabolism crates and fed ad libitum for a 12-d adaptation period followed by a 5-d collection period of feed refusals and feces. Immediately following the ad libitum feeding trial, silage offered was limited to 2% of body weight. After a 2-d adaptation to restricted feeding, feed refusals and feces were collected for 5 d. Seventy Holstein cows were blocked by lactation, days in milk, body weight, and milk production and assigned to total mixed ration diets based on the 5 corn silages. Diets were fed for 28 d and data were collected on weekly DMI and milk production and composition. Fecal grab samples were collected during the last week of the lactation trial for estimation of feed digestibility using acid-insoluble ash as a marker. Silage, total mixed ration, feed refusals, and fecal samples were analyzed for crude protein, starch, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), cell wall polysaccharides, and lignin. The W23sfe silages resulted in lower DMI in the ad libitum trial than the W23 silage, but DMI did not differ in the restricted trial. No differences were observed for NDF or cell wall polysaccharide digestibility by lambs with restricted feeding, but the amount of NDF digested daily increased for lambs fed the M04-21 W23sfe silage ad libitum. Lambs were less selective against NDF and lignin when offered W23sfe silages. The B73bm3 silage did not affect DMI or digestibility of cell walls at the restricted feeding level, but total daily NDF digested was greater at ad libitum intake. Intake, milk production, and cell wall digestibility were greater for cows fed diets containing W23sfe silages than for those fed W23 silage. Although milk production was greater for the B73bm3 diet, DMI and cell wall digestibility were not altered. Cows were less selective against cell wall material when fed both W23sfe and B73bm3 silages. Reduced ferulate cross-linking in sfe corn silage is a new genetic mechanism for improving milk production.     

Effects of feeding diets based on silage from corn hybrids that differed in concentration and in vitro digestibility of neutral detergent fiber to dairy cows

A dual-purpose hybrid and a hybrid selected for high neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration were harvested as corn silage. The dual-purpose silage (DPCS) had 42% NDF and 35.4% in vitro (30 h) NDF digestibility and the high fiber silage (HFCS) had 49% NDF and 40.1% in vitro NDF digestibility. Two diets (dry matter basis) had 45% DPCS or HFCS and 46% corn grain-based concentrate (dietary NDF was 29 and 32%, respectively), a third diet had 33% HFCS and 58% corn-based concentrate (27% dietary NDF), and a fourth diet had 33% DPCS and 58% concentrate that contained soybean hulls (32% dietary NDF). All diets contained 9% alfalfa silage. Diets were fed to eight midlactation Holstein cows in a 4 x 4 Latin square with 28 d periods. No differences among treatments were observed for milk yield (34.1 kg/d), dry matter intake (23.7 kg/d), and yield and concentration of milk protein. Cows fed the diet with 33% HFCS tended to have lower milk fat percentage than cows fed the 45% DPCS diet. Total digestible nutrients (measured using total collection) tended to be lower for the 33% DPCS diet than for the 45% DPCS diet. In vivo digestibility of NDF tended to be lower for the 33% HFCS diet than the 45% DPCS diet, but digestibility of starch in the two diets with HFCS was higher than the 45% DPCS diet. The lack of any substantial differences in responses suggest that the HFCS was equal to the DPCS when fed at 45% of the diet dry matter (53.5% total forage). When HFCS replaced DPCS so that NDF was similar between diets, milk fat percentage was reduced and ruminal propionate was increased. Increasing dietary NDF by adding soybean hulls to a diet based on DPCS reduced digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and protein, and resulted in lower energy balance than the 45% DPCS diet.     

Processing and chop length effects in brown-midrib corn silage on intake, digestion, and milk production by dairy cows

In this experiment, we evaluated the influence of increasing chop length and mechanical processing of whole-plant brown-midrib corn silage on intake, digestion, and milk production by dairy cows. Corn silage treatments were harvested at three-quarter milk line stage of maturity at 13- and 19-mm theoretical chop length without processing, or at 19- and 32-mm theoretical chop length with processing at a 2-mm roll clearance. Twenty-four multiparous Holstein cows that averaged 102 +/- 17 d in milk at trial initiation were randomly assigned to treatments in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design with 28-d periods. Preplanned orthogonal contrasts were used to evaluate effects of processing (19 processed vs. 19 mm unprocessed) and chop length (13 vs. 19 mm unprocessed and 19 vs. 32 mm processed). Treatments were fed in total mixed rations containing 60% forage (67% corn silage and 33% alfalfa silage) and 40% shelled corn and soybean meal-based concentrate (dry matter basis). Milk yield was unaffected by treatment. Dry matter intake was unaffected by corn silage processing, but increasing corn silage chop length reduced dry matter intake in unprocessed (26.6 vs. 25.5 kg/d) and processed (25.9 vs. 25.1 kg/d) chop length contrasts. Processing reduced milk fat content (3.36 vs. 3.11%) and yield (1.43 vs. 1.35 kg/d), increased total-tract starch digestion (92.9 vs. 97.4%), and decreased total-tract neutral detergent fiber digestion (51.0 vs. 41.8%). Total chewing time (min/d) was unaffected by treatment. Masticate mean particle length was unaffected by chop length in unprocessed and processed corn silage treatments. In this study with brown-midrib corn silage fed to dairy cows producing 43 kg/d of milk, there were no benefits from crop processing or increasing chop length on lactation performance.     

Comparison of feeding corn silages from leafy or conventional corn hybrids to lactating dairy cows

Three corn hybrids (Pioneer 36F30, Mycogen TMF2450, and Mycogen TMF2404) were compared for yield and quality traits, and lactation performance and apparent digestibility by Holstein cows. The three corn silages were harvested at a target of 33 to 35% dry matter. Before harvest, six corn plants were randomly selected for plant fractionation. Grain-to-stover ratios were 0.92, 0.70, and 0.95 for the 36F30, TMF2450, and TMF2404 corn plants, respectively. Fifty-two multiparous Holstein cows were placed on a 120-d lactation trial after a 21-d covariate diet. Cows were blocked by calving date and randomly assigned within block to one of three dietary treatments, containing approximately 40% (dry matter basis) corn silage. Milk yield, milk components, and dry matter intake did not differ among dietary treatments. In vitro true and neutral detergent fiber digestibilities were numerically higher for TMF2404 than the other corn silage hybrids. Apparent total-tract crude protein and neutral detergent fiber digestibilities, as measured by acid insoluble ash, were higher for TMF2450 than the other two hybrids, but starch digestibility was not different between the corn silage dietary treatments. Although small differences in nutrient content and digestibility existed among corn silage hybrids, inclusion of these leafy hybrids in lactating cow diets at 40% of the dietary dry matter did not have a significant impact on lactation performance of dairy cattle.     

Influence of corn silage hybrid type on lactation performance by Holstein dairy cows

The primary objective of this study was to determine lactation performance by dairy cows fed nutridense (ND), dual-purpose (DP), or brown midrib (BM) corn silage hybrids at the same concentration in the diets. A secondary objective was to determine lactation performance by dairy cows fed NutriDense corn silage at a higher concentration in the diet. One hundred twenty-eight Holstein and Holstein × Jersey cows (105 ± 38 d in milk) were stratified by breed and parity and randomly assigned to 16 pens of 8 cows each. Pens were then randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments. Three treatment total mixed rations (TMR; DP40, BM40, and ND40) contained 40% of dry matter (DM) from the respective corn silage hybrid and 20% of DM from alfalfa silage. The fourth treatment TMR had ND corn silage as the sole forage at 65% of DM (ND65). A 2-wk covariate adjustment period preceded the treatment period, with all pens receiving a TMR with equal proportions of DP40, BM40, and ND40. Following the covariate period, cows were fed their assigned treatment diets for 11 wk. nutridense corn silage had greater starch and lower neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content than DP or BM, resulting in ND40 having greater energy content (73.2% of total digestible nutrients, TDN) than DP40 or BM40 (71.9 and 71.4% TDN, respectively). Cows fed BM40 had greater milk yield than DP40, whereas ND40 tended to have greater milk yield and had greater protein and lactose yields compared with DP40. No differences in intake, component-corrected milk yields, or feed efficiency were detected between DP40, BM40, and ND40. Milk yield differences may be due to increased starch intake for ND40 and increased digestible NDF intake for BM40 compared with DP40. Intake and milk yield and composition were similar for ND40 compared with BM40, possibly due to counteracting effects of higher starch intake for ND40 and higher digestible NDF intake for BM40. Feeding ND65 reduced intake, and thus milk and component yields, compared with ND40 due to either increased ruminal starch digestibility or increased rumen fill for ND65. Nutridense corn silage was a viable alternative to both DP and BM at 40% of diet DM; however, lactation performance was reduced when nutridense corn silage was fed at 65% of DM.     

Effect of supplemental tallow on performance of dairy cows fed diets with different corn silage:alfalfa silage ratios

A study was conducted to investigate the response to supplemental tallow of lactating cows fed basal diets with different alfalfa silage:corn silage ratios. We postulated that supplemental tallow will have decreasing negative effects on rumen fermentation, dry matter intake (DMI), and milk fat percentage as the dietary ratio of alfalfa silage:corn silage is increased. Eighteen Holstein cows averaging 134 +/- 14 d in milk were used in a replicated 6 x 6 Latin square design with 21-d periods. Treatments were arranged as a 2 x 3 factorial with 0 or 2% tallow (DM basis) and three forage treatments: 1) 50% of diet DM as corn silage, 2) 37.5% corn silage and 12.5% alfalfa silage, and 3) 25% corn silage and 25% alfalfa silage. Cows were allowed ad libitum consumption of a total mixed ration. Diets were formulated to contain 18% crude protein and 32% neutral detergent fiber. No fat x forage treatment interactions were observed. Fat supplemented cows had lower DMI and produced more milk with less milk fat content relative to non-supplemented cows. Concentration of trans-octadecenoic acids was higher in milk fat of tallow-supplemented cows. Tallow supplementation had no effect on ruminal pH and acetate:propionate ratio, but tended to decrease total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration in the rumen. Increasing the proportion of alfalfa silage increased DMI, milk fat percentage, and milk fat yield regardless of the fat content of the diet. Total VFA concentration and acetate:propionate ratio in the rumen were increased in response to higher levels of alfalfa in the diets. These results suggest that replacing corn silage with alfalfa silage did not alleviate the negative response of dairy cows to tallow supplementation at 2% of diet DM.     

Effects of corn silage hybrid and dietary concentration of forage NDF on digestibility and performance by dairy cows

Eight intact multiparous cows and four ruminally and duodenally cannulated primiparous cows were fed four diets in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design: 1) 17% forage neutral detergent fiber (NDF) with brown midrib corn silage (BMRCS), 2) 21% forage NDF with BMRCS, 3) 17% forage NDF with conventional corn silage (CCS), and 4) 21% forage NDF with CCS. Diets contained 17.4% crude protein and 38.5% NDF. Each period consisted of 4 wk for intact cows and 2 wk for cannulated cows. For intact cows, DM intake was higher for BMRCS than CCS, and milk urea N was higher for 21 than 17% forage NDF. Milk protein yield tended to be higher and milk urea N lower for cows fed BMRCS than those fed CCS. Milk yield and milk protein percentage were similar among treatments. For the cannulated cows, ruminal mat consistency was similar among treatments. Based on a 72 h in situ incubation, BMRCS was lower in indigestible NDF than CCS. The BMRCS resulted in a higher proportion of ruminal propionate than CCS. Cows fed 21% forage NDF had a higher proportion of acetate and a lower proportion of propionate than cows fed 17% forage NDF. The total tract digestibility of nutrients and efficiency of bacterial N synthesis were similar among treatments, except that BMRCS resulted in lower intestinal fatty acid digestibility than CCS, and 17% forage NDF tended to result in higher total tract fatty acid digestibility than 21% forage NDF. Ruminal NDF digestibility was similar among dietary treatments. The increased milk production observed from feeding BMRCS in some studies may be explained by higher DM intake rather than increased total tract digestibility of the diets.     

Effect of length of cut and kernel processing on use of corn silage by lactating dairy cows

Forty Holstein cows were used in an 8-wk randomized block design trial to determine the effects of theoretical length of cut (TLC) and kernel processing (KP) of whole plant corn silage on nutrient intake and digestibility, milk yield, and milk composition. Corn was harvested at three-quarters milk line stage of maturity at TLC of 1.90 or 2.54 cm. At each TLC, corn was KP at either 2 or 8 mm roll clearance. The control was harvested at 1.90 cm without KP. Corn silage provided 38% of the dietary dry matter (DM) in the experimental diets. Intake of DM and nutrients was similar among treatments. Apparent digestibility of DM and acid detergent fiber (ADF) increased with increasing TLC. Fiber digestibility was improved by KP compared with unprocessed corn silage. Starch digestibility was greater for corn silage KP at 2 vs. 8 mm. Apparent digestibility of DM, crude protein, and ADF was lowest for the diet containing silage harvested at 2.54 cm TLC and KP at 8 mm, resulting in an interaction of TLC and KP. No differences were observed in DM intake (DMI) among treatments. An interaction of TLC and KP was observed, however, for yield of milk protein and energy-corrected milk (ECM) and efficiency of converting DMI to ECM because of lower yield for diets containing silage harvested at 2.54 cm TLC and KP at 8 mm. Results of this trial indicate that as TLC increases, aggressive KP is necessary to maintain nutrient digestibility and performance of lactating dairy cows.     

Comparison of a corn silage hybrid with high cell-wall content and digestibility with a hybrid of lower cell-wall content on performance of Holstein cows

We hypothesized that substituting a corn hybrid with high cell-wall content and high neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility (HCW) for a hybrid with lower cell-wall content and lower NDF digestibility (LCW) would improve feed intake and milk production in lactating Holstein cows. There was a 3.6 percentage unit difference in NDF content and a 4.1 percentage unit difference in 30-h in vitro NDF digestion between the 2 corn hybrids. In trial 1, 40 cows (12 primiparous) ranging in milk production from 24.1 to 44.0 kg/d, following a 2-wk preliminary period, were used in a crossover design with 2-wk periods. Diets consisted of 45% corn silage (HCW or LCW), 10% alfalfa hay, and 45% concentrates. The DMI (25.4 vs. 24.2 kg/d) and 4% FCM yield (34.3 vs. 31.7 kg/d) were higher for cows fed the HCW diet compared with the LCW diet. When HCW was substituted for LCW on a DM basis, there was no relationship between pretrial milk yield (preliminary period) and subsequent response to HCW silage. In trial 2, 40 cows (8 primiparous) ranging in milk production from 20.6 to 49.0 kg/d, following a 2-wk preliminary period, were used in a crossover design with 2-wk periods. Diets consisted of the same LCW diet as trial 1 and a diet containing HCW at a concentration (40% of DM) that resulted in equal NDF content (30.8%) between the 2 diets (HCWN). The DMI (26.8 kg/d) was unaffected by diet, although there was a trend for greater DMI (% of BW) for cows fed the HCWN diet compared with LCW silage (4.24 vs. 4.12). Milk fat (3.91 vs. 3.79%) and 4% FCM yield (34.9 vs. 33.4 kg/d) were greater for cows fed HCWN vs. LCW diet. When HCW was substituted for LCW silage on an NDF basis, cows with greater milk production during the preliminary period had a greater milk response to HCW than lower-producing cows. Results of these trials supported our hypothesis that HCW corn silage results in greater DMI and milk yield than LCW silage, whether substitution occurs on a DM or NDF basis.