Replacement of corn silage with shredded beet pulp and dietary starch concentration: Effects on performance, milk fat output, and body reserves of mid-lactation dairy cows

Abstract

We aimed to evaluate the interaction between dietary starch concentration, varied by replacing wheat bran with dry ground corn, and replacement of corn silage (CS) with shredded beet pulp (BP) on production, milk fat output, milk fatty acid profile, and body reserves in dairy cows. Sixty-four Holstein dairy cows (140 ± 26 d in milk) were randomly assigned to 8 pens (8 animals per pen). Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with 2 concentrations of starch and 2 sources of fiber and were allotted to 8 pens (2 pens per treatment). Treatments were (1) 15% dry ground corn and 24% CS, (2) 15% dry ground corn and 24% BP replacing CS, (3) 30% dry ground corn and 24% CS, and (4) 30% dry ground corn and 24% BP replacing CS. The trial lasted for 47 d and final 7 d of experimental period was used for data and sample collection. Cows fed the BP-based diets had greater dry matter intake than those offered the CS-based diets, whereas no effects were observed with starch concentration. Milk yield increased by 1.8 kg/d with BP-based diets compared with CS-based diets and by 2.5 kg/d when cows received the high-starch compared with low-starch diets. Interactions between dietary starch concentration and forage substitution were detected for milk fat concentration and yield as BP inclusion lowered milk fat output with high-starch diet. Milk trans-18:1 concentration was lower with 15% dry ground corn and 24% CS compared with other diets. In conclusion, the effects of dietary starch concentration (22 and 32% dry matter) and forage substitution on production responses were independent except for milk fat output and milk trans 18:1 isomers. Substituting CS with BP is effective at increasing milk yield regardless of starch concentration; however, milk fat yield is lower when BP is used with high-starch concentration.