Timothy Silage Research Articles

Juice-Extracted Grass Pellets and Sodium Bicarbonate for Cows Fed Timothy Silage of Two Chop Lengths

Eighteen multiparous Holstein cows in midlactation were used in a switchback design trial to evaluate the effect of chop length (3 or 30mm) of timothy grass silage, containing less than 30% ADF and treated with formic acid, on DMI and cow performance. Within chop length, the addition of NaHCO3 (2% of DMI) or the replacement of 30% of silage DM with juice-extracted grass pellets was also evaluated. Cows were fed a TMR composed of 90% silage and 10% concentrate. Silage preservation characteristics were not different between chop lengths. The DMI and apparent digestibility were similar among treatments. Yields of 4% FCM (24.9 vs. 22.7 kg/d), fat (1.03 vs. .93 kg/d), and protein (.83 vs. .77 kg/d) were higher with the short chopped silage. Milk protein, milk NPN content, and serum urea were higher for cows fed long chopped silage. Yields of milk and milk constituents were not affected by the addition of juice-extracted grass pellets or NaHCO3. Fat percentage and fatty acid composition of milk remained unchanged by treatments. Reduction of particle size, from 30 to 3mm, of timothy grass, treated with formic acid at harvest and using compaction at ensiling in bag silos, did not affect silage conservation characteristics but did improve milk, fat, and protein yields when cows were fed high silage diets.

Ruminally Protected Lysine and Methionine for Lactating Dairy Cows Fed a Diet Designed to Meet Requirements for Microbial and Postruminal Protein

Dairy cows, 20 at each of two sites, were used to determine responses to ruminally protected Lys and Met in a full lactation study. Cows were fed corn silage twice daily for ad libitum intake and a concentrate four times daily in proportion to milk production. At Truro, cows were fed 2.7 kg/d of alfalfa and timothy hay DM at 0600 and at 1500h. At Fredericton, cows were fed 2.7kg of timothy silage DM at 0600h and 2.7kg of alfalfa hay DM at 1500h. Diets were designed to meet, but not to exceed, recommendations for ruminally degradable CP and intestinally digestible protein. Ten cows at each site were fed ruminally protected L-Lys·HCl (19 s/d) and DL-Met (6.5 s/d). Cows fed AA at each site produced more milk, lactose, protein, and fat; milk protein and fat percentages were also higher. No time × treatment interactions occurred for any production parameter. In spite of similar production responses between sites, cows fed AA consumed more DM at Truro, but those at Fredericton did not. Thus, gross efficiency of utilization of dietary N for milk N was increased with AA at Fredericton but not at Truro. However, considering the increased intake of CP by cows fed AA at Truro, an event that would have been expected to depress efficiency of utilization of dietary N, the lack of difference at Truro between treatments can be interpreted as an improvement, relative to expectations, because of AA feeding. High producing dairy cows fed a diet that was adequate in CP responded to ruminally protected Lys and Met primarily with increased production of milk protein and fat throughout the full lactation.

Milk Production and Intake of Lactating Cows Fed Grass Silage with Protein and Energy Supplements

Primiparous (n = 8) and multiparous (n = 24) Holstein cows averaging 591kg of BW (SE = 12) were allotted at 2 wk postpartum to eight blocks of 4 cows each on the basis of calving date and parity. Cows were fed timothy silage for ad libitum intake. The experiment was carried out between wk 4 and 15 of lactation. Cows within each block were assigned randomly to a concentrate containing soybean meal fed with corn, beet pulp, or a mixture of oats and barley (50:50 on a DM basis) or fish meal fed with beet pulp. Concentrates were fed at about .8% of BW. The four treatments were designed to give similar CP and NEL intakes from the concentrate. Starch degradability and energy source (nonstructural vs. structural carbohydrates) had no effect on total DMI of cows supplemented with soybean meal. Total DMI was similar for cows fed beet pulp with soybean meal or fish meal. Production of 4% FCM was on average 3.5 kg/d higher for cows fed beet pulp than starch. All cows gained BW. In low concentrate diets, beet pulp compared with starch improved N utilization of high moisture timothy silage by increasing production of 4% FCM without affecting total DMI; however, protein degradability does not seem to be important in low concentrate diets.

Failure of cellulolysis in the rumen of reindeer fed timothy silage

Three male reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) calves were brought from mountain pastures in April and fed regrowth timothy (Phleum pratense) silage with 76% leaves and 24.0% dry matter (DM) ad libitum. The silage contained (on DM basis) 25.4% cellulose, 12.0% crude protein and 19-6% water soluble carbohydrates. After an initial period of 11 days the daily silage intake rose to almost similar values for all animals, but independently of food intake, body mass (BM) increased by as much as 13.3 kg for animal R3 during the first 21 days, compared to 4.4 kg and 2.8 kg for Rl and R2, respectively. At slaughter the wet weight of the rumen contents of animal R3 constituted 30.2% of the total BM, compared to 18.5% and 19.1% in animals Rl and R2, respectively. A reduced ability of the rumen micro-biota to ferment pure cellulose in vitro was observed in R3. The ruminal pH was 7.07 and the concentration of volatile fatty acids was only 50.0 mM in R3, indicating a low rate of fermentation. The initial rates of in vitro dry matter digestibility of timothy silage and standard hay were also affected by the rumen fermentation failure in animal R3. Depressed rumen cellulolysis, which may be related to natural periods of starvation prior to the feeding experiment, could have caused the low rate of fermentation and the large rumen size observed in this animal.

Growth and carcass characteristics of beef steers fed silage and different levels of energy with or without protein supplementation1

Fifty-six large-framed crossbred steers averaging 227 kg were used in an experiment including a growing period (24 wk) and a finishing period ending when the steers had approximately 4 to 10 mm of fat thickness (Canadian grade A1). Steers were individually fed and assigned to a completely randomized design with seven treatments for the growing period. From the end of the growing period until slaughter, all steers received the same basal diet. Half of the steers from each treatment used in the growing period received a supplement containing protein and the other half a supplement containing protein and fat. Treatments during the growing phase consisted of 1) timothy silage alone or mixed (on a DM basis) with 2) 7.5% molasses, 3) 15% molasses, 4) 7.5% canola meal, 5) 5.5% canola meal and 7.5% molasses, 6) 3.6% canola meal and 15% molasses, or 7) 15% canola meal. The total N intake from supplements 2, 5, or 6 was similar. Compared with silage fed alone, canola meal supplementation increased (P < .05) ADG, whereas molasses had no effect. Combining molasses and canola meal did not improve ADG compared with feeding only canola meal on an isonitrogenous basis. Canola meal supplementation compared with feeding only silage during the growing phase reduced (P < .05) days on feed, and molasses tended (P = .059) to reduce it. Carcass data were generally similar among treatments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Juice-Extracted Grass Pellets and Sodium Bicarbonate for Cows in Midlactation Fed Timothy Grass Silage

Eighteen midlactation Holstein cows, averaging 80 to 125 d of lactation, were used in a trial of switchback design to evaluate two timothy silages, wilted or direct-cut and treated with formic acid, and three treatments, control, NaHCO3 added at 2% of DM, or juice-extracted grass pellets replacing 30% silage DM. Cows fed direct-cut silage that had been treated with formic acid consumed more DM (19.8 vs. 18.6 kg/d) than those fed wilted silage. The DMI was also increased with NaHCO3 and grass pellet treatments. However, NaHCO3 reduced digestibility of most nutrients without affecting pH of rumen fluid or degradation of DM and NDF. Compared with wilted silage, direct-cut silage that had been treated with formic acid contained more degradable NDF (86 vs. 84.5%). Milk yield (24.9 vs. 23.6 kg/d) was higher for cows fed direct-cut than wilted silage, but 4% FCM yield remained unchanged. Addition of NaHCO3 tended to increase yields of milk and 4% FCM. Treatments did not affect milk composition. Serum urea N was higher for cows fed the direct-cut silage than for cows fed wilted silage. Silage type had more impact on feed intake and performance than did NaHCO3 or juice-extracted grass pellets.

Influence of Supplemental Protein Source and Feeding Frequency on Rumen Fermentation and Performance in Dairy Cows

Multiparous Holstein cows in early lactation were fed a basal mixed ration of 47% (DM) alfalfa and timothy silage and 53% barley and corn concentrate twice daily for ad libitum intake at 1630 and 0600h. Two supplemental protein sources that differed in their resistance to rumen proteolysis were fed at 9% of total DMI in either two meals per day at 1730 and 0700h or five meals per day at 1730, 2130, 0200, 0700, and 1200h. The study was a 4 × 4 Latin square design with six blocks of 4 cows in which one block of cows was fitted with rumen cannulas. Intakes of DM, OM, NDF, and CP were not influenced by treatments. However, cows supplemented with five meals a day tended to consume the mixed ration more rapidly after both the p.m. and a.m. feedings. Milk yield and its content of protein, fat, and lactose also were not influenced by treatments. Average rumen pH was higher, and propionate concentrations were lower, for cows supplemented with five meals, but diurnal patterns were not influenced. Propionate and rumen ammonia N concentrations were lower for cows supplemented with the more resistent protein source; however, rumen VFA, as well as soluble and peptide N concentrations, were not influenced by the type of supplemental protein. Results do not support benefits of synchronized rumen release of energy and N to overall cow production, but rather support previous research that soluble protein or peptide N, or both, may act as a pool to provide N for microbial growth at times of the day when ammonia N concentrations are very low.

Effects of dry-matter content on the nutritive value of individually wrapped round-bale timothy silage fed to sheep

Thirty-two sheep (30.0 kg avg. BW) were used to study the effects of dry-matter (DM) content at harvest on the nutritive value of timothy grass silages conserved as round bales of high (52.1%, DM50), medium (39.9%, DM40) and low (23.1%, DM25) DM. Chopped grass of 24.4% DM conserved in a horizontal silo (HS) was used as a control. Gross energy, crude protein (CP) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) contents were similar for all silages (P &gt; 0.05). Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents decreased as DM of the silages decreased (P &lt; 0.05). Acid detergent lignin and ash contents were highest in HS and lowest in DM40 silages (P &lt; 0.05). Silage pH and water-soluble carbohydrates decreased with decreasing DM of the silages (P &lt; 0.05), while ammonia-N and lactate levels increased (P &lt; 0.05). Acetate concentrations in round bales were lower than in HS silage (P &lt; 0.05). Significant butyrate concentrations were detected only in DM25 silage. Round-bale silages were chopped before feeding and fed ad libitum. DM intake was 14.5% higher for DM50 and DM40 silages than for DM25 and HS silages (P &lt; 0.001). Average daily gain and feed efficiency were higher for high-DM silages than for DM25 and HS silages (P &lt; 0.01). Apparent digestibilities of NDF, cellulose and crude fiber of the silages were similar, but DM, organic matter, energy and hemicellulose digestibilities were higher for HS than for DM25 silage. Apparent digestibilities of ADF and CP were higher for high-DM silages than for DM25 and HS silages (P &lt; 0.04). The results indicate that to obtain good-quality silage, the DM content of round bales should be 40–50%. The better performance obtained with high-DM silages was indicative of a more efficient utilization of metabolizable energy for gain. Key words: Round-bale silage, timothy, forage

The composition, intake, and digestibility of timothy silage preserved untreated or treated with formic acid or a cellulase-hemicellulase preparation

Timothy was field-wilted and ensiled in plastic-tube silos either untreated or treated with formic acid or a cellulase-hemicellulase preparation (enzyme). This study showed that first-cut timothy, field wilted to 350 g kg−1 DM, can be stored as a medium- to good-quality silage without using formic acid or enzyme as an additive. Key words: Silage composition, intake, digestibility, volatile fatty acids

Influence of Rumen Fermentable Neutral Detergent Fiber Levels on Feed Intake and Milk Production of Dairy Cows

Sixteen dairy cows in midlactation were fed four isonitrogenous (mean 2.46% N) mixed rations containing 46.4% DM and 40.7% NDF in a 16-wk Latin square design experiment. Diets were 42% barley-based concentrate, on a DM basis; forage was provided by combinations of two timothy silages of either slow (poor timothy) or rapid (good timothy) rumen fermentability and an alfalfa silage. Differences be tween the timothy forages caused the 24-h in sacco mixed diet NDF fementability, determined in dry cows fed hay, to be 53.8, 56.0, 60.2, and 62.1% in the four diets formulated to rise from 0% [as a percentage of total timothy DM] to 33, 66, and 100% good timothy. Intake of DM and NDF were not influenced by forage source. Rumen pool sizes of OM and NDF were similarly unaffected by treatment. Milk production increased linearly as the proportion of rapidly fermentable NDF in the diet increased, although the increases were small and not statistically significant, whereas BW gain declined (nonsignificantly). As a result, total net energy output was not influenced by diet. Although cows appeared able to extract more energy than expected from the slower fermenting forage, increasing levels in the diet resulted in a shift in energy output from milk products to BW gain, supported by a shift in rumen fermentation end products from propionic to acetic acid. Results do not appear to support the concept that NDF quality influences and can be used to predict voluntary feed intake. There is no indication that cows responded to more rapidly fermentable dietary NDF by increasing feed intake or extent of NDF fermentation in the rumen.

Effects of enzymes and nutrients in a bacterial inoculant on quality of timothy or alfalfa silage and dairy cow performance

Timothy (trial 1) and alfalfa (trial 2) were inoculated at ensiling (33–37% dry matter (DM)) in concrete-stave, vertical silos with a culture of lactic acid bacteria (Lab; Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici) alone, or with additional nutrients and enzymes (Supersile®, Biotal Canada, Calgary, AB), and compared with an untreated (control) silage. Colony forming units of Lab, ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), lactic acid and volatile fatty acid concentrations, pH, DM disappearance and temperature changes during ensiling were measured to assess silage quality. Nine dairy cows in mid-lactation (alfalfa) and nine cows in late lactation (timothy) were used to evaluate inoculants in repeated Latin square designs. Timothy silage that had been inoculated with Supersile or Lab had lower concentrations of acetic and butyric acid (P &lt; 0.05) compared with the control. No other effects on silage quality were observed, and cow performance was not affected by using inoculants on either timothy or alfalfa in this study. Enzymes added in this experiment were not beneficial. Key words: Silage, inoculants, alfalfa, timothy, dairy, cow

EVALUATION OF BARLEY AND WHEAT HEAD-CHOP SILAGES FOR DAIRY COWS

Head-chop silages made from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) harvested at the mid- to late-dough stage of maturity were evaluated by laboratory methods and by feeding to dairy cows. There were linear decreases in crude protein (CP) content and in vitro true digestibility (IVTD) when comparisons of grain, heads, heads + 15 cm straw, heads + 30 cm straw and heads + 45 cm straw were made. The barley and wheat head-chop silages produced for the cow feeding trial averaged 19.9 and 22.7% ADF and were readily accepted by the cows. The head-chop silages were fed at 22 kg cow−1 d−1 (as-fed basis) plus a grain mixture according to production level. The total grain consumption was similar to that of the control cows which were fed 1 kg of grain per 3 kg of milk produced. All cows were fed timothy (Phleum pratense L.) silage ad libitum. Cows fed the wheat head-chop consumed less total feed (P &lt; 0.01) than those fed the other two treatments and produced less milk (P &lt; 0.01); but, milk fat content was higher (P &lt; 0.01) so there were no significant differences in fat corrected milk production among the treatments. It was concluded that head-chop silage was a suitable way of conserving cereal crops for feeding dairy cows. Key words: Barley, wheat, head-chop, dairy cows, silage

THE COMPOSITION AND UTILIZATION OF SILAGE PREPARED FROM TIMOTHY (Phleum pratense L.) AND QUACKGRASS (Elytrigia repens (L.) NEOSKI)

Silages prepared from the first-cut and 7-8 wk regrowth of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and timothy stands with 56% infestation of quackgrass (Elytrigia repens (L.) Neoski) were compared for chemical composition and for their utilization. Quackgrass infestation of timothy had no significant effect on the silage composition, and its intake and apparent digestibility in sheep. The daily retention of N was higher with the timothy-quackgrass than timothy silage (P &lt; 0.05).Key words: Phleum pratense, Elytrigia repens, voluntary intake, apparent digestibility, nitrogen retention

COMPOSITION, INTAKE AND DIGESTIBILITY OF TIMOTHY AND ITALIAN AND WESTERWOLDS RYEGRASS SILAGES

Timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and Italian and Westerwolds ryegrasses (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) were harvested as first-cut wilted silages in 1979 and 1980 and were compared on the basis of composition, intake and digestibility. Timothy silage had more cell wall content and was less digestible than the annual ryegrass silages in both years (P &lt; 0.05). Seeding year timothy was consumed less than Aubade ryegrass in 1979 but the postseeding year timothy silage was equal in intake to 1980 Aubade silage but inferior to Italian ryegrass in digestible protein content and also intake (P &lt; 0.05). Leafier Italian and Promenade ryegrasses were consumed more than the stemmy Aubade ryegrass (P &lt; 0.05). Annual ryegrasses were not significantly different in their composition during 1979 but in 1980, Italian ryegrass contained less cell wall and was more digestible than Aubade ryegrass silage (P &lt; 0.05). Prolonged field wilting in humid weather appeared to be more detrimental to the stemmy Aubade for intake and feed value than to the leafier Promenade and Italian ryegrasses. Seeding year timothy silage had lower feed value than the postseed year timothy silage.Key words: Silage, timothy, annual ryegrass, intake, digestibility, composition

Effect of red clover/timothy ratio on the protein feeding value and the quality of silage

Five silages having different proportions of red clover and timothy (100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75 and 0/100) were preserved in five glass-fibre silos of 0.4 m 3. Chopped red clover and timothy were mixed during ensiling and preserved with AIV II solution (80 % formic acid and 2 % orthophosphoric acid), applied at the rate of 6 l/1000kg fresh material. The timothy sward was fertilized with 100kg N/ha and the red clover with 15kg N/ha. The dry matter content in red clover was 14.5 % and in timothy 18.6%, and the crude protein content of DM 22.9 % and 11.5 %, respectively. True protein formed 75—76 % of crude protein in both herbages and the proportion of watersoluble N in total N was 32 % in red clover and 36 % in timothy. The rumen degradability of protein during the first two hours was under 10 % in both herbages; after 18 and 24h ours it was 76 % and 87 % in red clover, and 65 % and 70 % in timothy. In red clover the contents of lysine, methionine and cysteine were 5.7 g, 0.4 g and 0.9 g/16 g N, respectively, the corresponding values for timothy being 4.8 g, 0.7 g and 1.4g/16 g N. In red clover the content of water-soluble carbohydrates was 10.6 % of DM and in timothy 16.5 %; the contents of plant acids were 6.7 % and 3.5 % of DM, respectively. Red clover contained 10.9g Ca/kg DM and timothy 3.1 g Ca. The total amount of inorganic constituents was also higher in red clover than in timothy. Although the chemical composition of red clover was less suitable for ensiling than the composition of timothy, the quality of all the silages was good. During ensiling the decrease in the proportion of true protein in crude protein and the increase in the proportion of watersoluble N in total N were smaller in red clover than in timothy silage. These changes were reflected in the ruminal protein degradation, which seemed to be slower when they were small. The amino acid profile of the protein did not alter during ensiling. The ensiling losses were higher in the silages containing red clover than in the timothy silage. This conserned especially the effluent losses and surface spoilage of the feed.

PROTEIN LEVELS IN GRASS SILAGE-BASED TOTAL MIXED RATIONS FOR DAIRY COWS IN MIDLACTATION

Total mixed rations containing three levels of crude protein (10, 13 and 16%) were fed ad libitum to a total of 48 cows in midlactation in two experiments. Rations were composed of 60% wilted timothy silage and 40% concentrates on a dry matter basis. Supplemental protein was supplied as soybean meal. Daily nitrogen intake per cow averaged 263, 377 and 510 g in exp. 1, and 305, 435 and 509 g in exp. 2 for the three rations, respectively. Cows fed rations containing 10% crude protein consumed less (P &lt; 0.05) total dry matter and lost more (P &lt; 0.01) body weight than cows fed rations with either 13 or 16% crude protein. Milk production was not affected by protein level in exp. 1 but in exp. 2, 10% crude protein decreased (P &lt; 0.01) actual milk and 4% fat corrected milk yields. Milk fat and protein percentages tended to increase with increasing dietary protein level. Rumen acetate tended to decline while propionate increased (P &lt; 0.05) at higher crude protein levels. Rumen ammonia nitrogen and plasma urea nitrogen levels were closely related to nitrogen intake. Key words: Dairy cows, grass silage, protein, solubility

The Calcium and Phosphorus Metabolism of Heavily Milking Cows

Summary 1. A series of calcium and phosphorus balances on cows when in heavy, medium, or in low milk production and when dry, on a ration of timothy hay, corn silage, and grain indicates that the ration supplied sufficient calcium and phosphorus for the production of at least 10,000 pounds of milk a year. During the height of production the animals were frequently in negative balance but subsequently positive balances made up the loses. 2. Positive calcium and phosphorus balances were obtained in heavily milking cows when the above ration of timothy hay, corn silage and grain was supplemented with bone flour. A cow producing 80 pounds of milk a day showed positive calcium and phosphorus balances. 3. Positive calcium balances were obtained in heavily milking cows on a ration of alfalfa, silage and grain. 4. Cows fed a low calcium ration utilized calcium more efficiently than when the ration was high in this element. 5. There was a tendency for cows in heavy milk production to utilize both calcium and phosphorus more efficiently than when in low production or during the dry period. 6. The total intake of calcium or phosphorus has a greater significance in the utilization of these elements than has the Ca/P ratio in the food. We wish to thank Professor S. E. Crowe for assistance in the statistical treatment of the results.