Effect of Grass Silage on Milk Flavors and Blood and Milk Acetone Bodies1,2

Abstract

Summary Acetone bodies were measured in the blood and milk of ten Holstein cows at intervals over a 5-mo. winter feeding period. Acetone body concentrations also were measured in the grass-legume silage which was fed as a part of the cows' ration. Milk produced by the cows was scored for type and intensity of flavor present. An interrelationship existed between the levels of acetone bodies in the silage, blood, and milk. Silage acetone bodies increased considerably in January and February, in relation to the other sampling periods, which extended from December to April. There was no apparent relationship between the levels of acetone bodies in the individual cows' milk and the flavors of the milk, as measured in this study. The most prominent off-flavors in the milk resulted from feeding the grass silage 2 hr. prior to milking.