Effect of different forages preserved in silage form on feed intake and milk production of lactating cows

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different forages preserved in silage form on the intake of dry matter, crude protein, organic matter, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, total carbohydrates and non structural carbohydrates, milk composition and milk production. Twelve Holstein lactating cows with average production of 30 kg milk were used. They were fed with three experimental diets composed by a combination of forages plus concentrate: (T1) 50 % of corn silage + 25 % of ryegrass silage + 25% of barley silage; (T2) 50 % of ryegrass silage + 25 % of corn silage + 25 % of barley silage; and (T3) 50 % of barley silage + 25% of corn silage + 25% of ryegrass silage. The experimental design was 3 x 3 Latin squares with extra period in a change over arrangement. The dry matter, organic matter, ether extract and neutral detergent fiber intakes were not influenced by the combinations of the different forage sources in the diets. However, the crude protein intake by the animals was highest for the diet 2 (T2), that contained 50 percent of ryegrass silage +25 % of corn silage + 25 % of barley silage. The corrected milk production, or not, for 3.5 percent of fat, the fat and protein milk content, and the feeding efficiency (kg milk production/kg DM intake) were not influenced by the experimental diets.