Abstract
Four different forage feeding systems were compared for milk production efficiency using 40 Holstein cows divided into four equal groups and assigned to the different forage rations for 3 consecutive yr. Two groups grazed on a ladino-timothy pasture for 130 days; for the 235 days of winter season the first group (PH) was fed ad libitum timothy-red clover hay, while the second group (PC) received ad libitum corn silage and 3 kg of hay per cow per day. The other two groups were kept in confinement; one (CA) was fed a mixture of corn silage and alfalfa-timothy silage in a 1:1 ration on a dry matter (DM) basis, the other (CR) was fed a complete ration consisting on a DM basis of 30% corn silage, 30% alfalfa-timothy silage and 40% concentrate. Concentrate was fed to the PH, PC and CA groups according to the level of milk fat production. Daily DM intake and fat-corrected milk (FCM) production were 17.4, 17.2, 14.9, 15.1 kg/cow and 18.2, 19.2, 19.1, 19.1 kg/cow, for groups PH, PC, CA and CR, respectively. Feed to FCM ration was higher (P < 0.05) for PH than PC which was higher (P < 0.05) than CA and CR cow groups. Milk fat production was lower (P < 0.05) for PH than for other systems. Average yearly FCM and hectare required per cow, when allowing for land required for concentrate production, were 3417, 3905, 4403, 3502 kg/ha and 1.45, 1.44, 1.29, 1.64 ha/cow/yr for groups PH, PC, Ca and CR, respectively. Health and breeding status were also recorded for each cow.
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