Effect Of Silage Type Research Articles

Effects of Silage Type and Feeding Intensity on Carcass Traits and Meat Quality of Finishing Holstein-Friesian Bulls.

The study aimed at evaluating the influence of silage type (grass silage-GS, and maize silage-MS) and energy level in the feed portion on animals' performance, carcass value and the quality of Holstein-Friesian bull meat. The animals were reared using intensive (I) feeding, 1.02 feed units for meat production (UFV)/kg dry matter (DM), and semi-intensive (SI) feeding, 0.94 UFV/kg DM. Thirty-two HF bulls with an average live weight of 530 kg were assigned to four feeding groups. The proportions (g/kg DM) of feed in the diets were as follows: group GS-I, GS 500, concentrate 500; group GS-SI, GS 700, concentrate 300; group MS-I, MS 500, concentrate 500; and group MS-SI, MS 700, concentrate 300. After 4 months of the finishing phase, bulls were slaughtered and samples of the longissimus lumborum muscle were collected. The silage type did not affect performance, carcass value or meat quality. However, in the intensive feeding, a 33% increase (p < 0.01) in daily weight gain and a reduction in the feed conversion ratio compared to semi-intensive feeding were noted. The carcasses of bulls fed intensively received higher scores for conformation and fatness than the carcasses of bulls fed semi-intensively. The meat of I group bulls had a higher intramuscular fat content and received higher juiciness, tenderness, taste and overall acceptability scores.

Determination of the Eff ects of Silage Type, Silage Consumption, Birth Type and Birth Weight on Fattening Final Live Weight in Kıvırcık Lambs with MARS and Bagging MARS Algorithms

Determination of the Eff ects of Silage Type, Silage Consumption, Birth Type and Birth Weight on Fattening Final Live Weight in Kıvırcık Lambs with MARS and Bagging MARS Algorithms

Effects of silage type and inclusion level on ruminal characteristics and feeding behavior of steers fed finishing diets.

Crossbred beef steers fitted with a ruminal cannula were used to study the effects of silage type (BH 8895 corn or AF7401 sorghum) and level of inclusion (10 or 20%) in beef cattle finishing diets on digestibility of nutrients, ruminal kinetics, in vitro methane production, and feeding behavior. A 4 × 6 unbalanced Latin square design was used (6 steers; 363 ± 23 kg; 4 diets: corn silage [CS] or sorghum silage [SS], both at 10 or 20% inclusion, DM basis). Each period consisted of 14 d of adaptation and 7 d of collection. Steers were fed once daily at 1000 h. An additional study evaluated the ruminal degradability of intact ensiled sorghum grain ruminally incubated in 3 steers (547 ± 56 kg BW), using the same hybrids from the main study from 10 laboratory experimental silos. The GLIMMIX procedures of SAS were used for statistical analyses. Steers fed SS had greater NDF intake ( < 0.01) compared with the ones fed CS. The magnitude of the NDF intake change depended on the level of inclusion ( < 0.01), which was 6 and 16% for 10 and 20% inclusion, respectively. Regardless the level of inclusion, CS diets promoted greater ( ≤ 0.01) apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients evaluated (DM, OM, NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, and starch) compared with SS diets. Steers fed SS diets tended to chew 1.1 h/d more ( = 0.07) than steers fed CS diets. The level of inclusion increased ( = 0.02) the chewing time per day by 1.3 h. No major differences were observed in any of the ruminal pH and in vitro gas production variables evaluated for silage type and inclusion level ( ≥ 0.09). The CS-fed steers had 12% greater total VFA concentration and an 18.5% lower ( < 0.01) acetate-to-propionate ratio compared with SS-fed steers. The acetate-to-propionate ratio was 16% greater ( < 0.01) when steers were fed SS compared with when steers were fed CS. The CS samples were more extensively ruminally degraded ( < 0.01) than the SS samples. Greater ( < 0.01) NDF ruminal disappearance was observed in ruminal environments containing 20% silage compared with those containing 10% silage. After 96 h inside the rumen, intact ensiled sorghum grain degradability of DM reached only 51.7%. Replacing CS with SS in beef finishing diets (low roughage inclusion) requires adjustments to balance dietary energy. Sorghum material induced a desirable roughage effect in feeding behavior but also offered the potential for improved regarding fiber digestibility and intact grain ruminal degradability.

1495 Effects of silage type and inclusion level on ruminal characteristics and feeding behavior of feedlot steers

1495 Effects of silage type and inclusion level on ruminal characteristics and feeding behavior of feedlot steers

Effects of silage type and proportion in the diet on the growth and carcass characteristics of finishing lambs

Effects of silage type and proportion in the diet on the growth and carcass characteristics of finishing lambs

Effects of Clover-Grass Silages and Concentrate Supplementation on the Content of Phytoestrogens in Dairy Cow Milk

A 2 × 2 factorial continuous experiment was conducted with 28 Norwegian Red dairy cows in early lactation to compare milk content of phytoestrogens when feeding ad libitum white clover (WCS) or red clover (RCS) grass silages prepared from the second and third cut without and with 10kg/d supplementation of a standard concentrate. The cows were offered either RCS or WCS for 88 d (period 1) and thereafter a mixed red clover-white clover-grass silage for 48 d (period 2). Total dry matter intake and milk yield were not affected by forage type but increased with concentrate supplementation. Intake of isoflavones was several times greater in RCS than in WCS, whereas intake of lignans was greater in WCS. Concentrate supplementation reduced the intake of most phytoestrogens. Compared with WCS, RCS diets yielded milk with a greater content of flavonoids, whereas milk from WCS diets had greater contents of the mammalian lignans enterodiol and enterolactone. The content of the isoflavan equol was particularly high in RCS diets. There was no apparent carryover effect of clover type on milk phytoestrogen content because there was no difference in content between the silage treatments 3 wk after the cows were transferred to the same silage diet (period 2). Concentrate supplementation reduced the milk contents of the flavonoids equol, biochanin A, and daidzein and increased the content of mammalian lignans. The effects of silage type and concentrate supplementation on milk contents of the individual phytoestrogens were related to the intake of the compound or its precursor, except for the effect of concentrate on mammalian lignans, for which the intake of the known precursors was also reduced. Overall, this study shows that feeding cows with silage containing red clover increases the milk content of flavonoids at both low and high concentrate supplementation levels, and decreases the content of nonflavonoids such as mammalian lignans, when compared with silage containing white clover. The increased content of phytoestrogens in milk may be important when the health benefits of milk are studied.

White or red clover-grass silage in organic dairy milk production: Grassland productivity and milk production responses with different levels of concentrate

Red (RC) or white (WC) clover were grown in mixture with grasses, ensiled and offered to dairy cows in early lactation over two successive years (48 cows per year) to compare grassland yield, feed intake, milk production and milk quality. The crops were ensiled in round bales and proportional mixtures of the second and third cut prepared each year were used to ensure that the silage treatments were representative of the crop. In addition to silage type, concentrate supplementation, without and with (10 kg/day), was included as a factor in a 2 × 2 factorial, continuous experiment. Total dry matter (DM) yield, silage chemical composition and total DM intake was hardly affected by silage type. There was no effect of silage type on milk yield and milk constituents either, except for higher milk protein content ( P < 0.05) on WC and higher milk fat content of C18:3 n-3 ( P < 0.001), C18:2 n-6 ( P < 0.05) fatty acids (FAs) and sum of polyunsaturated FA ( P < 0.001) and lower n-6/ n-3 FA ratio ( P < 0.01) on RC. Concentrate supplementation increased total DM, N and net energy intakes ( P < 0.001), milk yield ( P < 0.001), milk fat ( P < 0.01) and protein ( P < 0.001) content, decreased the milk urea content ( P < 0.001), and increased the milk fat content of short- and medium-chained FAs (< C16, P < 0.001), C18:0 ( P < 0.01) and C18:2 n-6 ( P < 0.001), decreased the content of C16:0 ( P < 0.05), C18:1 t11 ( P < 0.001) and C18:3 n-3 ( P < 0.001), and increased the n-6/ n-3 FA ratio ( P < 0.001). The effect of concentrate supplementation was not affected by silage type, except for milk protein content where the positive effect of supplementation was stronger on WC than on RC diets ( P < 0.05). This study illustrates that the white- and red clover-grass mixtures investigated were widely similar with regard to their effects on grassland yield, silage intake and milk production and milk constituents, except for a higher milk fat content of C18:3 n-3 and C18:2 n-6 and lower n-6/ n-3 FA ratio on red clover diets. Our findings also show that N conversion efficiency from feed to milk on pure forage diets is more sensitive to changes in dietary protein intake than silage diets containing cereal based concentrates.

Effect of silage type and concentrate level on conjugated linoleic acids, trans-C18:1 isomers and fat content in milk from dairy cows

The objective of the study was to examine how the fatty acid composition of milk especially concentrations of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) and trans-C18:1 isomers and milk fat percentage were affected by silage type and concentrate level. Forty dairy cows were blocked and randomly assigned to one of four diets in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments and a six week experimental period. Treatments were total mixed rations with maize (M) or grass (G) silage differing in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) profile and starch content, combined with a high (H) or a low (L) level of concentrate (with or without grain). Treatments had no significant effect on milk, protein and lactose yield, but energy corrected milk yield, milk fat percentage and fat yield was lower and protein percentage higher for maize compared with grass silage diets. Overall, maize silage diets resulted in higher concentrations of CLA isomers compared with grass silage diets, but there was a significant interaction between silage type and concentrate level for concentrations of cis9,trans11-CLA; trans10,cis12-CLA; trans11-C18:1 and trans10-C18:1. A high level of concentrate increased trans10,cis12-CLA and trans10-C18:1 and reduced cis9,trans11-CLA and trans11-C18:1 when maize but not grass silage was provided. The results suggest that high levels of concentrate (grain) do not significantly alter the pattern of PUFA biohydrogenation in the rumen, the concentration of CLA and trans-C18:1 isomers in milk or cause milk fat depression unless combined with forage naturally high in starch and C18:2n-6 such as maize silage.

Effect of silage type and energy concentration on conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in milk fat from dairy cows

Effect of silage type and energy concentration on conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in milk fat from dairy cows

Effect of silage type and supplementation with sucrose or lactic acid on rumen fermentation in dairy cows

Recent studies have shown increased silage intake and improved milk fat concentration in dairy cows offered restricted compared to extensively fermented silages (Chamberlain et al., 1990; Mayne 1992). Changes in milk composition may be related to increased intake per se and/or alterations in rumen fermentation parameters. A study was therefore undertaken to examine the effects of silage fermentation type, dry matter intake and the addition of water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) or lactic acid on rumen fermentation parameters in dairy cows.Two direct cut grass silages were prepared using either an inoculant (Ecosyl, 3 1/t, ICI. pic) or Maxgrass (BP Chemicals, 6 1/t). Five silage only treatments were offered to four ruminally fistulated dairy cows in a five period, partially balanced, changeover design experiment. Each period was of 4 weeks duration. Treatment 1: Inoculant treated silage (I), 2: Maxgrass silage (M), 3: Maxgrass ad-libitum (MAL), 4: Inoculant + sucrose (500 g/day) (IS), 5: Maxgrass + lactic acid (200 ml/day) (ML).

The effect of forage supplementation, herbage height and season on the ingestive behaviour of dairy cows

In two experiments, in the early (May–July) and the late (August–October) part of the grazing season, the effect of offering first and third cut silages to Friesian dairy cows continuously grazed at 4- or 8-cm herbage height was investigated in Bangor, U.K. (53°N). There were no effects of silage type on ingestive behaviour. Grazing time decreased further when silage was fed at 4 than at 8 cm; this was caused by a decrease in bout number in early season and bout duration in late season. There were no effects of stage of the grazing season on grazing time, but grazing bout number was greatest and bout duration least in midsummer. Biting rate at pasture was increased at low herbage heights and was unaffected by offering silage. Biting rate declined as the season advanced. A circadian rhythm of biting rate was evident with an increase occurring between early morning and evening, and a reduction at or around dusk. Cows spent longer eating silage at the low herbage height and in late season. Ruminating time was increased by offering silage and was least in mid-season. There were no significant effects of yield level of the cows on grazing time, but high-yielding cows had reduced biting rates compared with low yielders. In late season, high yielders also had greater ruminating times than low yielders.

The effect of silage type on the performance of lactating cows and the response to, high levels of protein in the supplement

ABSTRACTA change-over design experiment, comprising four periods each of 4 weeks' duration, was used to evaluate three silage types each fed with two levels of protein in the supplement in a 3×2 factorial arrangement. The three silages were high digestibility unwilted (A), high digestibility wilted (B) and low digestibility unwilted (C). The supplements had crude protein contents of 152 and 240 g/kg dry matter, and were offered at a standard rate of 10 kg undried weight daily. The mean silage intakes were 9·3, 9·5 and 8·6 ±0·19 kg dry matter/day for A, B and C respectively, but protein content of the supplement had no significant effect on the intake of silage. Milk yield was significantly affected by both silage type and protein content of the supplement, with the mean yields being 23·6, 23·9 and 22·0 ± 0·49 kg/day for A, B and C respectively, and 22·4 and 24·0 ±0·40 kg/day for the medium and high protein supplements respectively. Although there was no significant interaction between silage type and protein content of the supplement, the greatest response to increased protein was obtained with B. Neither silage type nor protein content ofthe supplement affected animal live weight or milk composition (other than fat content, which was significantly affected by silage type). Blood plasma urea levels were 281 and 405 ± 28·0 mg/1 for the medium and high protein supplements respectively.Total ration digestibility and nitrogen balances were carried out on three animals per treatment. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and nitrogen was significantly affected by both silage type and level of protein in the supplement. The output of nitrogen in the urine was also significantly affected by both these factors.

A note on red clover silage for cattle finishing

ABSTRACTTrials were carried out over two winters to compare red clover and grass silage for cattle finishing.The silages were mixed to give rations containing 0,25,50,75 or 100% red clover dry-matter and were offered ad libitum to individually fed British Friesian-type steers. Significant differences in dry-matter intake occurred but the effect of silage type on animal performance was not significant. Barley supplementation had a significant effect on both total dry-matter intake and daily live-weight gain.

The effect of concentrate, barley and dried grass on the voluntary intake of different silages

SUMMARYIn two experiments with steers (initial live weight 339 kg) the effect of dried grass, barley and concentrates on the intake of ‘wilted’ and unwilted grass and whole-crop barley silage was investigated.In both experiments there was no significant effect of silage type on silage dry-matter intake when given alone or with a supplement. In Experiment 1, supplementation significantly reduced (P&lt;0·05) the intake of silage dry matter (DM) from unwilted and whole-crop barley silage. Total DM intake was significantly higher (P&lt;0·05) for the ‘wilted’ silage diet than for either the unwilted or whole-crop barley silage diets. In Experiment 2, supplementation had no significant effect on total DM intake. Digestible energy intake was significantly higher (P &lt; 0·05) from whole-crop barley silage supplemented with concentrate rather than barley or dried grass and was significantly lower (P&lt;0·05) from unwilted silage diets (P&lt;0·05) when dried grass rather than concentrate or barley was given. In the second experiment, ration digestibility and rate of passage of digesta results are reported.

Finishing steers on high-grain rations. Effects of type of silage, level of urea, vitamin A and cobalt supplementation on body-weight gain, feed efficiency and carcass composition

1. A 23 factorial with a split-plot allocation of treatments was used to investigate the effects of silage type, (sweet v. grain sorghum); level of urea, (60ν. 120 g. per head per day); vitamin A,(0ν. 40,000 i.u. per head per day), and intraruminal cobalt oxide pellet on the performance of steers fed rations of 90% sorghum grain, 10% sorghum silage.