Inclusion Of Silage Research Articles

Effect of dietary intake of acid ensiled fish waste on the growth, feed utilization, hematology and serum biochemistry of rohu Labeo rohita,(Hamilton, 1822) fingerlings

Acid ensilage was prepared from the gut and gills of freshwater carps. Isonitrogenous diets containing 0%, 2.5%, 5% and 10% acid ensilage was fed to rohu (Labeo rohita) fingerlings to study the effect on the growth performance, feed utilization, blood biochemistry and hematology of the fingerlings. The results of the study for 60 days indicated no significant difference (p>0.05) in the weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), percentage survival and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in L. rohita fingerlings by the dietary intake of acid ensilage. The apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of dry matter and protein was significantly higher (p is less than 0.05) for feed with 10% silage. Dietary intake of acid ensilage resulted in significantly higher (p less thank 0.05) fat and protein in the tissues of the fingerlings. In blood hematology, total leucocyte count in the blood of fishes fed acid fish ensilage was found to be significantly higher (p is less than 0.05). Significant increase (p is less 0.05) in total serum protein was observed in 2.5% silage and 5% silage fed fishes. The serum glucose, triglyceride and total cholesterol was not altered significantly by the intake of acid ensilage. The inclusion of fish silage at 5% level resulted in a 14.31% reduction in feed cost/kg weight gain in rohu fingerlings.

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

Oat and ryegrass silage for small-scale dairy systems in the highlands of central Mexico.

This study investigated the effects of the inclusion of oat-ryegrass silage (ORGS) in combination with maize silage (MSLG) in four treatments: T1 = 100% ORGS, T2 = 67% ORGS/33% MSLG, T3 = 67% ORGS/33% MSLG, and T4 = 100% MSLG to milking cows on continuous grazing with 4.7kg DM of commercial dairy concentrate 18% CP. Daily milk yield and composition, live weight, body condition score, and chemical composition of feeds were recorded during the last 4days of the experimental periods. Feeding costs were calculated by partial budgets. Eight Holstein lactating cows were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square, with 14-day periods. There were no statistical differences (P > 0.05) for milk yield (mean 15.5 ± 5.0kg/day/cow) or composition (mean milk fat 34.6 ± 4.4g/kg, protein 32.4 ± 3.1g/kg, lactose 46.9 ± 1.6g/kg), milk urea nitrogen (11.3 ± 2.1mg/dl), live weight (434 ± 38kg), or body condition score (2.4 ± 0.15). The silage cost of ORGS was 2.5 times higher than MSLG, so the feeding cost in T1 was 26% higher per kilogram of milk than for T4, with T2 and T3 as intermediates. ORGS can be a substitute to maize silage in the proportions studied, although feeding costs were higher.

Inclusion of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) silage in dairy cow rations affects nutrient digestibility, nitrogen utilization, energy balance, and methane emissions

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) is a tanniniferous legume forage that has potential nutritional and health benefits preventing bloating, reducing nematode larval establishment, improving N utilization, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the use of sainfoin as a fodder crop in dairy cow rations in northwestern Europe is still relatively unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of sainfoin silage on nutrient digestibility, animal performance, energy and N utilization, and CH4 production. Six rumen-cannulated, lactating dairy cows with a metabolic body weight (BW0.75) of 132.5±3.6kg were randomly assigned to either a control (CON) or a sainfoin (SAIN)-based diet over 2 experimental periods of 25 d each in a crossover design. The CON diet was a mixture of grass silage, corn silage, concentrate, and linseed. In the SAIN diet, 50% of grass silage dry matter (DM) of the CON diet was exchanged for sainfoin silage. The cows were adapted to 95% of ad libitum feed intake for a 21-d period before being housed in climate-controlled respiration chambers for 4 d, during which time feed intake, apparent total-tract digestibility, N and energy balance, and CH4 production was determined. Data were analyzed using a mixed model procedure. Total daily DM, organic matter, and neutral detergent fiber intake did not differ between the 2 diets. The apparent digestibility of DM, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber were, respectively, 5.7, 4.0, 15.7, and 14.8% lower for the SAIN diet. Methane production per kilogram of DM intake was lowest for the SAIN diet, CH4 production as a percentage of gross energy intake tended to be lower, and milk yield was greater for the SAIN diet. Nitrogen intake, N retention, and energy retained in body protein were greater for the SAIN than for the CON diet. Nitrogen retention as a percentage of N intake tended to be greater for the SAIN diet. These results suggest that inclusion of sainfoin silage in dairy cow rations reduces CH4 per kilogram of DM intake and nutrient digestibility. Moreover, sainfoin silage improves milk production and seems to redirect metabolism toward body protein accretion at the expense of body fat.

Use of biological fish silage in broilers feed: Effect on growth performance and meat quality

This study was conducted to investigate if the nutritional value of fish silage could improve the growth performance, feed utilization, carcass yield and sensory quality of the meat of broilers. An oven-dried fish silage: soybean meal mixture (1:1 w/w) was used to prepare four diets with different levels of inclusion (0%, 10%, 20% and 30%), which were tested in a randomized design for triplicate with 120 broilers in natural conditions of production. The inclusion of fish silage: soybean mixture on diets did not adversely affect the productive parameters of growth, feed intake and feed conversion ratio after 28 experimental days (P>0.05) than those obtained on control diets. No significant effects were observed on carcass yield, chemical composition and sensory quality attributes of broilers meat between different treatments (P>0.05). It is concluded that fish silage could offer a good alternative for fish by-products utilization and that the production process is an economical and environmentally friendly form of processing wastes from local fish markets of Mexico.

FLUSHING, SUCKLING AND SEXUAL MATURITY OF SMALL RUMINANTS FED DIET CONTAINING SILAGE OF TRITICALE, BERSEEM OR ITS MIXTURE

objective of this study was to investigate the effect of three types of silage (triticale, berseem and their combination) supplemented to concentrate fed mixture (CFM) on productive, as suckling milk amount, growth rate of newborns and reproductive efficiency, as fertility rate and sexual development of male lambs to be used as sires. Two small ruminate breeds (ewes and does) were assigned into three treatment groups. Forty-two ewes (n=14 ewe in each treatment) and fifty-seven does (n=19 does in each treatment). All animals were received diets at 21 days pre-mating season (as flushing diet) up to weaning. The feeding treatments (T) offered as following: T1 contained 60% CFM + 40% triticale silage, T2 included 60% CFM + 40% admixture silage (50% triticale and 50% berseem) and T3 contained 60% CFM + 40% berseem silage. To determine suckling milk amount of maternal; twelve ewes (n=4 in each treatment) and eighteen does (n=6 in each treatment) symmetrical in reproductive and productive characteristics were used. The maternal in suckling treatment were received the same T1, T2 and T3 diets mentioned above. In respect of the newborn growth rate, all suckling lambs and kids from birth up to weaning were used. In sexual maturation evaluation, fifteen healthy Rahmani lambs with normal genitalia, aged 150 days and at initial body weigh (22.21±0.42 kg) were allocated into three treatments; five lambs / treatment. Results showed that ewes and does in T2 group had a higher reproductive performance, parity patterns and reproductive ability than those in other treatments (T1 and T3). The clearly differences wereobserved among the dietary treatments during suckling period of ewes and does. The maternal fed on T2 produced more (P<0.05) amounts in suckling milk than those maternal fed T1 and T3. Consequently, T2 improved (P<0.05) newborns growth rate compared to newborns in either T1 or T3 groups. Furthermore, T2 group achieved better (P<0.05) sexual developments (i.e., age at puberty, body weight, scrotal circumference, testicular diameter, testicular length, testicular volume and semen characteristics at puberty) than T1 and T3 groups. These findings indicate that the inclusion of admixture silage has no adverse effects on productive and reproductive performance, suckling milk production and growth rate of newborns. Admixture silage causes earlier sexual maturation and goodness semen parameters of Rahmani male lambs. Thus, mixing more than types of silage may be a promising strategy nutrition in the future.

Blood parameters in fattening pigs fed whole-ear corn silage and housed in group pens or in metabolic cages.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of whole-ear corn silage (WECS) in diets for advanced fattening heavy pigs (substitution for part of the dry corn and wheat bran) allocated or not in metabolic cages on the main blood parameters. The high-moisture shelled corn is largely used in pig feeding while WECS is less often used despite the fact that it increases the DM crop yield. Three experimental diets were fed to 27 barrows (Italian Large White × Italian Duroc), with an average BW of 98.2 (±5.6) kg at the start of the trial, and randomly allotted to 3 experimental groups including a control diet (CON) containing cereal meals (corn, barley, and wheat, 80.2% DM in total), soybean meal (9% DM), wheat bran (8% DM), minerals and supplements (2.8% DM), and 2 diets containing WECS (15 or 30% DM referred to as 15WECS and 30WECS, respectively) in partial or complete substitution for wheat bran and corn meal. The pigs were randomly housed in 9 pens with 3 animals per pen and 3 pens per dietary treatment. Six pigs per each of the 3 treatments were moved from the pens to individual metabolic cages for 3 consecutive periods (2 pigs per treatment per period). Each period lasted 14 d, and blood was collected at the start and at the end of the periods. Blood was drawn from the jugular vein before feed distribution in the morning, at 14 d intervals, and analyzed for hematological, metabolic, and serum protein profiles. The effect of the metabolic cage housing was included in the statistical model to compare the results obtained in the 2 different environments of restrained and group-housed barrows. The WECS affected the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. The main diet effect on plasma metabolites was recorded for plasma NEFA, with higher values in WECS diets compared with the CON. The metabolic cage housing affected both hematological (red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit) and metabolic (protein and its fractions) items, which can be markers of hemodilution. These results indicate the possibility to use this feed in the diet of heavy pigs without negative effects on physiology. The absolute values from metabolic profile of pigs in metabolic cages must be considered with caution for possible comparisons with values obtained on-field in group pens, particularly because a different hemodilution may affect the results.

The influence of grass silage-to-maize silage ratio and concentrate composition on methane emissions, performance and milk composition of dairy cows

It is well-established that altering the proportion of starch and fibre in ruminant diets can alter ruminal and post-ruminal digestion, although quantitative evidence that this reduces enteric methane (CH4) production in dairy cattle is lacking. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of varying grass-to-maize silage ratio (70 : 30 and 30 : 70 DM basis), offered ad libitum, with either a concentrate that was high in starch or fibre, on CH4 production, intake, performance and milk composition of dairy cows. A total of 20 cows were allocated to one of the four experimental diets in a two-by-two factorial design run as a Latin square with each period lasting 28 days. Measurements were conducted during the final 7 days of each period. Cows offered the high maize silage ration had a higher dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield, milk energy output and lower CH4 emissions when expressed per kg DMI and per unit of ingested gross energy, but there was no difference in total CH4 production. Several of the milk long-chain fatty acids (FA) were affected by forage treatment with the most notable being an increase in 18:0, 18:1 c9, 18:2 c9 c12 and total mono unsaturated FA, observed in cows offered the higher inclusion of maize silage, and an increase in 18:3 c9 c12 c15 when offered the higher grass silage ration. Varying the composition of the concentrate had no effect on DMI or milk production; however, when the high-starch concentrate was fed, milk protein concentration and milk FAs, 10:0, 14:1, 15:0, 16:1, increased and 18:0 decreased. Interactions were observed for milk fat concentration, being lower in cows offered high-grass silage and high-fibre concentrates compared with the high-starch concentrate, and FA 17:0, which was the highest in milk from cows fed the high-grass silage diet supplemented with the high-starch concentrate. In conclusion, increasing the proportion of maize silage in the diets of dairy cows increased intake and performance, and reduced CH4 production, but only when expressed on a DM or energy intake basis, whereas starch-to-fibre ratio in the concentrate had little effect on performance or CH4 production.

Comparison of hydrolysed proteins from different raw materials in diets for Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus

The study aimed to compare three fish protein hydrolysates (FPH) from different origins as dietary ingredients for Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus. The ingredients were self-prepared fish silage from rainbow trout viscera and two commercial FPH products from shrimp and mixed marine by-products. Each ingredient was further included at two dietary levels: a low level where hydrolysed protein contributed 20 g kg−1 protein to the diet and a high level where protein contribution was 40 g kg−1. It was found that all three FPH products sustained high specific growth rates in excess of 2.5 % of body weight per day at both inclusion levels and that there were no negative impacts on production performance, animal health or intestinal gross morphology compared to the control. Further, there were no significant differences in specific growth rate, feed conversion, dress-out %, non-specific immunity parameters or intestinal morphology between any treatments. However, low inclusion of FPH from mixed marine origin (treatment HCL) showed significantly higher growth than high inclusion of self-prepared silage (treatment SH) through significantly higher final animal length and height; a simultaneous significant decrease in Jones condition factor in treatment HCL might be explained by a change in animal body composition. It is concluded that all FPH products were acceptable feed ingredients at the inclusion levels investigated; however, differences in animal growth seen between treatments HCL and SH might be the result of the different inclusion levels employed, and the FPH raw material origin. Further, interpretation of animal condition factor should also take into account supplementary trial data, as differences between treatments might not signify differences in animal well-being, but rather changes in body composition.

Inclusion of grass/clover silage in diets to growing/finishing pigs – Influence on performance and carcass quality

Effects of grass/clover silage on growing/finishing pig performance and carcass quality were evaluated. In total, 128 pigs were fed either commercial feed + chopped silage mixed and fed together (SM), commercial feed + intact silage fed separately (SS), commercial feed + dried ground silage, mixed and pelleted (SP), or commercial feed alone as a control treatment (C). Silage inclusion level was 20% on an energy basis. From 30 to 110 kg, C and SP pigs had the highest weight gain, while carcasses of SM and SS pigs had higher lean meat content. Based on the consumption of commercial feed, pigs fed silage (SM, SS and SP treatments) had better feed conversion ratio. Although pigs in the silage treatments were fed 20% less commercial feed on an energy basis compared with control pigs, their weight gain was only 5%–15% lower. This indicates that grass/clover silage can contribute with parts of the nutrient supply to pigs.

Rainbow trout silage as immune stimulant and feed ingredient in diets for Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)

Peptides and free amino acids resulting from protein hydrolysis could act as stimulants of fish non-specific immunity. The study aimed to determine the potential of rainbow trout viscera silage as immune stimulant and feed ingredient for Mozambique tilapia, and to establish whether formic acid used during silage preparation contributed to any effects. Four diets were evaluated: a reference diet (R), one containing 6.5 g kg−1 formic acid (FA) and two silage diets containing 160 g kg−1 (SL, low inclusion) and 285 g kg−1 (SH, high inclusion) silage. Low silage inclusion improved phagocytic activity of leucocytes compared with the reference, while high inclusion showed no improvement. No other non-specific immunity parameters or haematology were affected by any treatments. High silage inclusion significantly decreased growth and led to higher mortality, while formic acid had no effect on growth. It is concluded that rainbow trout viscera silage can stimulate the cellular non-specific immunity of Oreochromis mossambicus, and that protein hydrolysis products (and not formic acid) is responsible for the stimulation. The silage can also serve as source of dietary protein and essential amino acids in tilapia diets. However, both fish growth performance and improvement in cellular immunity are dependent on silage inclusion level.

Nutritive value of maize silage in relation to dairy cow performance and milk quality.

Maize silage has become the major forage component in the ration of dairy cows over the last few decades. This review provides information on the mean content and variability in chemical composition, fatty acid (FA) profile and ensiling quality of maize silages, and discusses the major factors which cause these variations. In addition, the effect of the broad range in chemical composition of maize silages on the total tract digestibility of dietary nutrients, milk production and milk composition of dairy cows is quantified and discussed. Finally, the optimum inclusion level of maize silage in the ration of dairy cows for milk production and composition is reviewed. The data showed that the nutritive value of maize silages is highly variable and that most of this variation is caused by large differences in maturity at harvest. Maize silages ensiled at a very early stage (dry matter (DM) < 250 g kg(-1)) were particularly low in starch content and starch/neutral detergent fibre (NDF) ratio, and resulted in a lower DM intake (DMI), milk yield and milk protein content. The DMI, milk yield and milk protein content increased with advancing maturity, reaching an optimum level for maize silages ensiled at DM contents of 300-350 g kg(-1), and then declined slightly at further maturity beyond 350 g kg(-1). The increases in milk (R(2) = 0.599) and protein (R(2) = 0.605) yields with maturity of maize silages were positively related to the increase in starch/NDF ratio of the maize silages. On average, the inclusion of maize silage in grass silage-based diets improved the forage DMI by 2 kg d(-1), milk yield by 1.9 kg d(-1) and milk protein content by 1.2 g kg(-1). Further comparisons showed that, in terms of milk and milk constituent yields, the optimum grass/maize silage ratio depends on the quality of both the grass and maize silages. Replacement of grass silage with maize silage in the ration, as well as an increasing maturity of the maize silages, altered the milk FA profile of the dairy cows, notably, the concentration of the cis-unsaturated FAs, C18:3n-3 and n-3/n-6 ratio decreased in milk fat. Despite variation in nutritive value, maize silage is rich in metabolizable energy and supports higher DMI and milk yield. Harvesting maize silages at a DM content between 300 and 350 g kg(-1) and feeding in combination with grass silage results in a higher milk yield of dairy cows.

Maize silage as a finisher feed for Merino lambs

A study was conducted to determine whether silage can be used as an ingredient in the finishing rations of Merino lambs. One of the concerns regarding the use of silage as the main ingredient of a sheep feed is its high moisture and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content and relatively poor protein value. Forty lambs, in a four-way completely randomized block design, were used in a 60-day finishing study. The diets consisted of a control with no silage and three diets containing, on a dry matter (DM) basis 20%, 50% or 70% maize silage. With the exception of fibre (NDF and acid detergent fibre), all diets were formulated on an iso-nutrient level. Dry matter intake (DMI) decreased as the silage inclusion increased. This resulted in significant differences between the cumulative intake of the low and the high silage diets. The 20% and 50% silage diets resulted in higher dressing percentage than the control and 70% silage diet. It was concluded that silage can be successfully incorporated into sheep diets and that optimal inclusion levels need to be quantified within high specification feedlot diets. Keywords: Feed intake, lamb growth, dressing percentage

Preparation of biological fish silage and its effect on the performance and meat quality characteristics of quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

The aim of the present study was to produce fish silage by lactic acid fermentation and evaluate its use in feeding of quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). An oven-dried mixture of fish silage and soybean meal (1:1 w/w) was used to prepare the diets with different levels of inclusion (0, 10, 20 and 30%) and evaluate its effect on the performance and meat quality of 160 quails. The inclusion level did not affect the growth and feed conversion ratio. The carcass yield (70.3%) and sensory quality of breast meat were not significantly different among the treatments (p>0.05). However, the concentration of unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic (C18:1n9C), linoleic (C18:2n6C), linolenic (C18:3n3), arachidonic (C20:4n6), cis eicosapentaenoic (C20:5n3) and cis docosahexaenoic (C22:6n3) increased in quail breast meat with the inclusion of fish silage:soybean mixture in the diet (p<0.05). Fish silage and its use in quail diets could offer a good alternative for fish waste utilization as feedstuff component for the improvement of fatty acid composition in its breast meat.

Digestibility and metabolic utilization of diets containing whole-ear corn silage and their effects on growth and slaughter traits of heavy pigs1

The aim was to evaluate 2 levels of dietary inclusion of chopped whole-ear corn silage (WECS) on energy and nutrient utilization, growth, and slaughter performances of heavy pigs. Two in vivo experiments were conducted to determine digestibility and metabolic utilization of WECS using 18 barrows weighing 118 ± 8 kg BW on average, metabolic cages and respiration chambers (Exp. 1), and the effect of WECS on the growth performance and carcass traits on 42 barrows from 90 to 170 kg BW (Exp. 2). In both experiments, pigs were fed 3 experimental diets: a control diet (CON) containing cereal meals, extracted soybean meal, and wheat bran (80%, 9%, and 8% of DM, respectively) and 2 diets containing 15% (15WECS) or 30% WECS (30WECS) on a DM basis in place of wheat bran and corn meal. The diets were prepared daily by mixing the WECS to a suitable compound feed. Feed intake was always restricted to allow a daily DMI of 7.2% BW(0.75) in Exp. 1 and from 8.0% to 6.5% BW(0.75) in Exp. 2. Diets had similar NDF contents (15.2% to 15.8% of DM), and WECS inclusion resulted in a slight reduction in CP content (from 14.0% to 13.6% of DM) and a considerable decrease in P content (from 0.47% to 0.30% of DM). Digestibility of OM, CP, and fat was similar among diets, whereas P digestibility was lower (P < 0.05) for the 30WECS diet (33.5%) in comparison with the CON and 15WECS diets (45.5% and 44.1%, respectively). Nitrogen lost in feces and urine and N retained were not different among diets, whereas P retained decreased with the increase of WECS (5.4, 3.7, and 2.2 g/d for the CON, 15WECS, and 30WECS diets, respectively; P < 0.05). No difference among diets was observed for energy balance. The WECS contained 13.48 MJ ME and 9.39 MJ NE/kg DM. In Exp. 2, feed intake was not depressed by WECS inclusion, and the ADG for the whole experiment was not different among dietary treatments (from 737 to 774 g/d). Fecal pH was lower (P < 0.05) for the WECS diets than the control diet (7.10 and 7.00 vs. 7.40) and for the sampling at 150 kg BW than that at 130 and 110 kg BW (6.96 vs. 7.29 and 7.24). At slaughter, lean percentage in the carcass was lower in the 30WECS diet than those of the other 2 diets (46.8% vs. 48.3% and 48.6%, P = 0.05). The overall experimental data obtained in both trials indicate that substitution of wheat bran and corn meal for WECS (up to 30% of DM) does not affect, with the exception of P utilization and carcass leanness, energy and nutrient utilization and performance of heavy pigs in the last phase of growing.

Effect of dietary inclusion of whole ear corn silage on stomach development and gastric mucosa integrity of heavy pigs at slaughter

The effect of dietary inclusion of whole ear corn silage on stomach development and on the incidence of gastric lesions was studied in heavy pigs. Three groups of 14 castrated male pigs were fed a control cereal-based diet and two diets containing whole ear corn silage (15% or 30% DM) from 90kg bodyweight to slaughter at 170kg. The diets with whole ear corn silage increased the amount of neutral detergent fibre in the stomach contents, the weight of the organs and the area of the pyloric region. Follicular gastritis was significantly lower and gastritis less severe in pigs fed the whole ear corn silage diets than pigs fed the control diet. The inclusion of whole ear corn silage in the diet influenced the development of the stomach and reduced the incidence of gastritis in heavy pigs.

Desempenho de alevinos de jundiá alimentados com silagem de rejeito de peixe

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho zootécnico de alevinos de jundiá, alimentados com silagem de rejeitos de pescado, em substituição ao farelo de soja e à levedura de cana. Durante 35 dias, 375 alevinos de jundiá com peso inicial de 1,73±0,17 g, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, foram avaliados em cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram de inclusão de silagem de pescado a 0, 12,5, 25, 37,5 e 50%. Todos os parâmetros zootécnicos avaliados, exceto o fator de condição, mostraram que a substituição do farelo de soja e da levedura pela silagem de rejeito de pescado melhora o desempenho produtivo de alevinos de jundiá.

Effects of transient changes in silage dry matter concentration on lactating dairy cows

Transient changes in the dry matter (DM) concentration of silages often occur, which will cause transient changes in the ration. To determine the effects of a transient change in silage DM, 24 Holstein cows (116 d in milk) were used in an 8 replicated 3×3 Latin square design with 21-d periods. Treatments were (1) control, (2) unbalanced (UNBAL), and (3) balanced (BAL). The control diet was designed to have a consistent day-to-day forage:concentrate ratio of 55:45 on a DM basis. The UNBAL and BAL diets were the same as the control diet for most of the period except during two 3-d bouts when water was added to the silage (simulating a rain event) to cause a 10-percentage unit decrease in silage DM concentration. During the bouts, the UNBAL diet was the same as that of the control on an as-fed basis, but on a DM basis, the forage:concentrate ratio decreased to 49:51, which reduced dietary concentrations of DM (63.9 vs. 66.2%) and forage NDF (21.0 vs. 23.6%), and increased starch (30.4 vs. 28.4%). The BAL treatment corrected for the change in silage DM by an increase in the inclusion of wet silage and had the same composition as the control diet on a DM basis, except for ration DM (66.2 vs. 63.9%). Over the 21-d period, treatment did not affect DM intake (DMI; 24.0kg/d); however, DMI of cows on the UNBAL and BAL treatments tended to decrease during the wet bouts, especially during the second bout. The day following both bouts, DMI of cows fed BAL and UNBAL diets were greater than that of cows fed the control diet, which contributed to the lack of a treatment effect on DMI over the entire period. Milk production was greater for the UNBAL than control cows (39.8 vs. 39.3kg/d) over the 21-d period. That difference was largely caused by increased milk yield during the first bout by cows on the UNBAL diet. Over the 21-d period, milk yield did not differ between control and BAL cows. Some small differences in milk fat and protein concentrations (≤0.1 percentage units) were observed between treatments. Total-tract digestibility of most nutrients was not affected by treatment. Overall, a 10-percentage unit decrease in silage DM over short-term bouts (with or without total mixed ration adjustment) had only minor effects on DMI, milk yield, and composition.

Milk production from silage: comparison of grass, legume and maize silages and their mixtures

The high rates of rumen fermentation, physical breakdown and passage rates from the rumen of legume silages lead to higher intakes than for grass silages of comparable digestibility. Although total tract digestibilities for legume silages and maize silages are often lower than for grass silages, milk yields are usually higher. A further benefit of legumes and maize is the reduced rate of decline in digestibility. Legume silages often lead to a reduction in milk fat concentration and increased levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, 18:2 n-6 and 18:3 n-3. This latter effect is related to reduced rumen biohydrogenation as a consequence of increased rumen passage rates or the effects of polyphenol oxidase. There is quite a wide range of maturities (300 – 350 g kg-1 DM) that leads to maximum dry matter intakes and milk production from maize silage; milk production is reduced with immature or over–mature maize crops. Forage chop length exerts a number of effects, both in the silo and in the rumen, but effects on rumen function, feed intake and milk production have been inconsistent. The high protein content and high N degradability of most legume silages is associated with a low efficiency of converting dietary N into milk N, with a concomitant increase in urine N. Reducing N intake by inclusion of maize silage in mixtures with legume silages leads to a marked reduction in urine N without loss of production potential. It is predicted, on the basis of their chemical composition and rumen kinetics, that legume silages and maize silages would reduce methane production relative to grass silage, though in vivo measurements are lacking. Extensive fermentation in the silo reduces the amount of fermentable substrate, and reduced methane production in comparison with grass silage where fermentation had been restricted by high levels of acid additive.

The effect of brown midrib corn silage and dried distillers' grains with solubles on milk production, nitrogen utilization and microbial community structure in dairy cows

Ramirez, H. A. R., Nestor, K., Tedeschi, L. O., Callaway, T. R., Dowd, S. E., Fernando, S. C. and Kononoff, P. J. 2012. The effect of brown midrib corn silage and dried distillers' grains with solubles on milk production, nitrogen utilization and microbial community structure in dairy cows. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 92: 365–380. Thirty-six Holstein cows (24 multiparous and 12 primiparous), four multiparous were ruminally cannulated, (mean±SD, 111±35 days in milk; 664±76.5 kg body weight) were used in replicated 4×4 Latin squares with a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments to investigate the effects of brown midrib (bm3) and conventional (DP) corn silages, and the inclusion of dried distillers' grains with solubles (DDGS) on milk production and N utilization. Experimental periods were 28 d in length. Treatments were DP corn silage and 0% DDGS; bm3 corn silage and 0% DDGS; DP corn silage and 30% DDGS; and bm3 corn silage and 30% DDGS. Compared with DP hybrid, total tract fiber digestibility was greater for cows consuming bm3 (32.5 vs. 38.1±1.79%) and DDGS (40.0 vs. 35.2±1.76%). Milk yield was not affected by treatment, and averaged 30.5±1.09 kg d−1. Milk protein yield was positively affected by bm3 corn silage and the inclusion of DDGS. An interaction between hybrid and DDGS on milk fat was also observed. The nature of the interaction was such that milk fat was only affected when DDGS were included in the diet and the lowest milk fat was observed when bm3 corn silage was fed (3.46, 3.59, 2.84 and 2.51±0.10% DP 0% DDGS, bm3 0% DDGS, DP 30% DDGS and bm3 30% DDGS, respectively). As a proportion of the total N consumed, manure N was significantly reduced by the inclusion of bm3 corn silage and DDGS (64.1, 57.1, 52.0, 51.2% for DP 0% DDGS, bm3 0% DDGS, DP 30% DDGS and bm3 30% DDGS, respectively). The Firmicutes:Bacteriodetes ratio in the rumen decreased when cattle consumed DDGS. When cows were fed bm3 corn silage, the population of Fibrobacter sp. tended to represent a larger proportion of the total bacterial population (1.8 vs. 2.3±0.28% for DP and bm3, respectively) and this shift may have been driven by the fact that bm3 corn silage has less lignin, therefore the cellulose digesting bacteria may have more access to the cellulose.