Wheat Silage Research Articles

The quality of commercial wheat silages in Israel

Wheat silages are the major roughage for high-producing lactating dairy cows in Israel; therefore, their quality is important. The main objective of the current study was to determine the preservation status and nutritional quality of commercial wheat silages in Israel. An additional objective was to develop predictive equations for dry matter digestibility (DMD) and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD) based on chemical composition of the silages, which would permit estimation of the digestibility from chemical composition. A total of 143 commercial wheat silages were sampled and analyzed for 3 yr. Fourteen random samples that were not included in the regression analysis were used to validate the equations by the bias and error of the model. Results revealed that wheat silages were quite sensitive to aerobic exposure; additives resulted in some improvement of the aerobic stability. After choosing the significant terms from ash, crude protein (CP), NDF, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL) by PROC STEPWISE of SAS, the following prediction equations were obtained from all 143 samples: DMD=86.3+(0. 70×CP)−(0.46×ADF)−(1.67×ADL); and NDFD=20.3+(1.00×CP)+(1.16×NDF)−(0.88×ADF)−(2.25×ADL). The bias and the error of the prediction model for DMD were approximately 0.006 and 0.065, respectively; the bias and error for NDFD were approximately 0.007 and 0.118, respectively. It was concluded that the prediction model for DMD was quite adequate, whereas that for NDFD was less acceptable.

Formic acid treated whole crop barley and wheat silages in dairy cow diets: effects of crop maturity, proportion in the diet, and level and type of concentrate supplementation

Three trials in dairy cows were carried out to study the effects of replacing grass silage (GS) with wholecrop silage (WCS) made of barley (BS) or wheat (WS) harvested at dough stage with a dry matter (DM) concentration of 300-450 g kg-1. All silages were ensiled using a formic acid based additive 5 l t-1. Milk production responses to energy and protein supplementation of diets were studied. In Exp. 1, BS replaced GS at the rates of 0, 200, 400 or 600 g kg-1 forage DM. Also 10 kg of concentrate containing 0 or 2 kg of rape seed meal was fed. In Exp. 2, barley was harvested at three times (BS1, BS2, BS3) at one week intervals. Barley silages were fed as a mixture with GS (40:60) and in addition BS2 and GS alone. Silages were supplemented with a cereal based farm-made concentrate (FC) or a commercial compound having a lower concentration of starch than FC. In Exp. 3, barley and wheat were harvested at two week intervals, fed as a mixture with GS (40:60) and supplemented with low or high amount of concentrate. The fermentation quality of whole crop silages was good. Weather conditions and maturity affected the proportion of ear in the crop and subsequently the ratio of non-structural carbohydrates to NDF in the silage. The inclusion of WCS depressed diet OM digestibility depending on the digestibility of GS and the proportion of WCS in the diet. However, mixing GS and WCS did not depress intake. Subsequently the use of mixtures maintained or even increased milk yield as compared with GS diet in Exp. 2 and 3. In Exp. 1, higher proportions (400, 600 g kg-1) of BS decreased milk yield. Minor effects of growth stage on milk production were observed with barley whereas delaying wheat harvest increased milk yield. Different types and levels of concentrate induced mainly similar intake and milk yield responses with diets based on GS alone or on mixtures of GS and WCS. The synergistic effect of mixing GS and WCS was more positive in experiments where the protein concentration of concentrate was high (200 g kg-1 DM).;

Effect of prepartum diet on postpartum ovarian activity in Holstein cows in a pasture-based dairy system

The hypothesis was that supplementation during the late prepartum period will differentially affect reproductive and productive variables according to parity. Primiparous ( n = 22) and multiparous ( n = 22) pregnant autumn calving Holstein cows were stratified in two groups according to parity (primiparous or multiparous) and within each group were randomly assigned to two treatments: (a) low supplemented (LS) or (b) high supplemented (HS) prepartum diet. The LS group was offered 5.2 kg/cow/day (DM basis) of wheat silage, and the HS group 4.7 kg cow/day (DM basis)/of corn silage and 3.6 kg (DM basis) of wheat bran + 12 g of urea. Both groups grazed on natural pastures. After calving, all cows received the same diet. The experimental period was from 3 weeks before calving to 7 weeks postpartum (PP); body condition score (BCS) and blood samples for hormonal analyses were obtained weekly and ovarian ultrasonography was conducted three times per week. The loss in BCS around calving was less pronounced in HS cows, but only multiparous supplemented cows maintained BCS throughout the study. Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) increased during the prepartum period in the LS but not in the HS cows, with peak values occurring on day 14 PP in all groups. During the remainder of the experiment NEFA was greater in LS than in HS cows. Prepartum treatment did not affect the proportion of cows that had ovulations from the first dominant follicle postpartum, but decreased the interval to first ovulation in multiparous cows (22.9 compared with 38.2 days; P < 0.05). This was associated with greater plasma IGF-I concentrations at the time the dominant follicle of the first follicular wave reached its maximum diameter (8.0 compared with 3.6 nmol/L; P < 0.05). However, prepartum treatment had no effect on onset of ovarian activity in primiparous cows. Supplementation had no effect on milk production or milk protein percentage but increased milk fat percentage. We conclude that feeding a high-supplemented prepartum diet to multiparous cows allowed them to maintain BCS around calving, and this was associated with greater concentrations of IGF-I and an earlier onset of estrous cycles after calving.

Whole sunflower seeds as a source of polyunsaturated fatty acids for grazing dairy cows: Effects on metabolic profiles and resumption of postpartum ovarian cyclicity

Intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) could modify follicular dynamics and reduce the length of the interval from calving to first ovulation (ICOV) in dairy cows, associated with changes in metabolites (i.e. cholesterol) or hormones (i.e. IGF-I). To test this hypothesis, 48 cows were stratified in two groups (primiparous or multiparous) and within each group were randomly assigned to three treatments to begin at calving: 0 kg (SS0), 0.7 kg (SS0.7) and 1.4 kg (SS1.4) of whole sunflower seeds (WSS) per cow per day. The experimental period lasted for 60 days after calving and the diets, which consisted of direct grazing of improved pastures, whole-plant wheat silage and concentrates, were designed to be isocaloric and isoproteic (1.6 Mcal NEL/kg DM, 16.7% CP). Ovaries were examined by ultrasound three times per week from day 8 postpartum (PP) until first PP ovulation. Body condition score (BCS) was determined and blood samples were collected weekly from calving to characterize the metabolic profiles. In treatments SS0.7 and SS1.4, 7/8 and 6/8 primiparous cows ovulated the first follicular wave PP, compared with only 1/8 primiparous cow in treatment SS0, while there were no treatment differences in multiparous cows. The ICOV was 44, 21 and 19 days for the primiparous, and 22, 21 and 25 days for the multiparous cows, in treatments SS0, SS0.7 and SS1.4, respectively. Treatments had no effect on BCS, plasma IGF-I and metabolic profiles except that NEFA and urea were increased by WSS supplementation. Intake of PUFA (WSS up to 1.4 kg/day or 6.7% of the diet) during early lactation reduced the ICOV in primiparous grazing dairy cows in early lactation but not in multiparous cows, and while the precise mechanism for these results is unclear, it was not related to changes in the plasma concentrations of IGF-I or cholesterol.

Heat production, eating behavior and milk yield of lactating cows fed two rations differing in roughage content and digestibility under heat load conditions

The objective of this study was to measure the effect of feeding two total mixed rations (TMRs), differing in their roughage content and in vitro dry matter digestibility, on the respiratory rate, body temperature, eating behavior and energy balance of lactating cows. The partitioning of metabolizable energy intake (MEI) between heat production (HP) and retained energy (RE) of cows held under heat load conditions was measured. Forty-two lactating cows were divided into two similar sub-groups, each of 21 animals, and were fed either a control (CON) ration containing 18% roughage neutral detergent fiber (NDF) or an experimental (EXP) TMR that contained 12% roughage NDF and used soy hulls as partial wheat silage replacer. The in vitro DM digestibility of the CON and EXP TMRs was 75.3 and 78.6%, respectively ( P < 0.05). The EXP diet reduced rectal temperature and respiratory rate of the cows while increasing their number of meals per day by 32.7% as compared with the CON fed cows, and these meals were shorter in duration and were eaten faster. The EXP diet increased total DM intake from 19.6 to 21.5 kg/cow/d, milk yield from 32.3 to 34.6 kg, and yield of energy corrected milk from 30.9 to 32.2 kg, as compared with the CON group. Cows fed the EXP TMR had increased RE in milk and body tissue, as compared with the CON group, but the diets had no effect on the measured HP that was maintained similar (121 vs. 127 MJ/cow/d) in the two groups. The measured MEI (MEI = RE + HP) and the efficiency of MEI utilization for RE production, were similar in the two dietary groups.

Occurrence of mycotoxins in maize, grass and wheat silage for dairy cattle in the Netherlands

The occurrence of mycotoxins in 140 maize silages, 120 grass silages and 30 wheat silages produced in the Netherlands between 2002 and 2004 was determined using a liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry detection (LC-MS/MS) multi-method. Deoxynivalenol (DON) was detected above the limit of quantification (LOQ) of 250 μg kg−1 in 72% of maize and 10% of wheat silages. Average DON concentrations were 854 and 621 μg kg−1, respectively, and maximum concentrations 3142 and 1165 μg kg−1, respectively. Zearalenone was detected above the LOQ of 25 μg kg−1 in 49% of maize and 6% of grass silages. Average zearalenone concentrations were 174 and 93 μg kg−1, respectively, and maximum concentrations 943 and 308 μg kg−1, respectively. The incidences and average concentrations of DON and zearalenone in maize silage were highest in 2004. The incidence of other mycotoxins was low: fumonisin B1 and 15-acetyl-DON were detected in 1.4 and 5% of maize silages, respectively, and roquefortin C in 0.8% of grass silages. None of the silages contained aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, T2-toxin, HT2-toxin, sterigmatocystin, diacetoxyscirpenol, fusarenon-X, ergotamine, penicillinic acid, or mycophenolic acid. This study demonstrates that maize silage is an important source of DON and zearalenone in the diet of dairy cattle. Since the carryover of these mycotoxins into milk is negligible, their occurrence in feed is not considered to be of significant concern with respect to the safety of dairy products for consumers. Potential implications for animal health are discussed.

Occurrence of mycotoxins in maize, grass and wheat silage for dairy cattle in the Netherlands

Occurrence of mycotoxins in maize, grass and wheat silage for dairy cattle in the Netherlands

Fermentation Quality of Wheat Silage Prepared by Exclusive Machines for Whole Crop Rice Silage

Fermentation Quality of Wheat Silage Prepared by Exclusive Machines for Whole Crop Rice Silage

Heat production and retained energy in lactating cows held under hot summer conditions with evaporative cooling and fed two rations differing in roughage content and in vitro digestibility

The objective of this study was to measure the effect of feeding two total mixed rations (TMRs), differing in their roughage content and in vitro dry matter (DM) digestibility, on the physiological response and energy balance of lactating cows. The partitioning of metabolizable energy intake (MEI) between heat production (HP) and retained energy (RE) of cows held under hot weather conditions and external evaporative cooling was measured. In all, 42 lactating cows were divided into two similar sub-groups, each of 21 animals, and were fed either a control (CON) ration containing 18% roughage neutral detergent fiber (NDF) or an experimental (EXP) TMR containing 12% roughage NDF and used soy hulls as partial wheat silage replacer. The in vitro DM digestibility of the CON and EXP TMR was 75.3% and 78.6%, respectively (P < 0.05). All cows were cooled by evaporative cooling for 2 adaptation weeks plus 6 experimental weeks under hot weather conditions. The EXP diet reduced rectal temperature and respiratory rate of the cows while increasing their DM intake (DMI) from 23.1 to 24.7 kg/cow per day, milk yield from 41.9 to 44.2 kg and yield of energy-corrected milk from 38.7 to 39.7 kg, as compared with the CON group. Cows fed the EXP TMR had increased RE in milk and body tissue, as compared with the CON group, but the diets had no effect on the measured HP that was maintained constant (130.4 v. 130.8 MJ/cow per day) in the two groups. The measured MEI (MEI = RE + HP) and the efficiency of MEI utilization for RE production were also similar in the two dietary groups.

Effect of a Chemical Preservative on Fermentation, Aerobic Stability and Nutritive Value of Whole-Crop Wheat Silage

Filya, I. and Sucu, E. 2007. Effect of a chemical preservative on fermentation, aerobic stability and nutritive value of whole-crop wheat silage. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 32: 133–138. To evaluate the effect of formic acid based preservative (FAP) on fermentation, aerobic stability and nutritive value of whole-crop wheat silage, wheat was harvested at early dough stage and ensiled for 90 d with 0, 2, 3 and 4 ml/kg FAP. The FAP treatment did not affect the concentrations of lactic and acetic acid but increased formic and propionic acid and decreased concentrations of butyric acid, ethanol, ammonia-N and gas losses of the silages. Under aerobic conditions, FAP treated silages had lower pH, CO2 production and the numbers of yeasts (except FA2) and moulds than the control silage (P<0.05). Contents of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin and cellulose decreased in the FAP treated silages, but 96 h in vitro gas production and in vitro organic matter digestibility of the silages were not affected by FAP treatment. Applying 4 ml/kg FAP on wheat silages was most effective.

The effects of offering a range of forage and concentrate supplements on milk production and dry matter intake of grazing dairy cows

AbstractAn experiment was undertaken to examine the effect of supplement type on herbage intake, total dry matter (DM) intake, animal performance and nitrogen utilization with grazing dairy cows. Twenty‐four spring‐calving dairy cows were allocated to one of six treatments in a partially balanced changeover design with five periods of four weeks. The six treatments were no supplement (NONE), or supplementation with either grass silage (GS), whole‐crop wheat silage (WS), maize silage (MS), rapidly degradable concentrate (RC) or slowly degradable concentrate (SC). Cows were rotationally grazed with a mean herbage allowance of 20·5 kg DM per cow per day, measured above 4 cm. Forage supplements were offered for approximately 2 h immediately after each morning milking, with cows on NONE, RC and SC treatments returning to the grazing paddock immediately after milking. Cows on treatment MS had a significantly higher supplement DM intake than the other treatments but a significantly lower grass DM intake than the other treatments, resulting in no significant difference in total DM intake when compared with cows on treatments WS, RC and SC. Concentrate type had no significant effect on herbage intake, milk yield, milk composition or yield of milk components. The yield of milk fat and milk protein was significantly higher on treatments MS, RC and SC compared with treatments NONE, GS and WS. The results indicate that despite a relatively high substitution rate, maize silage can be a useful supplement for the grazing dairy cow.

Effects of replacing grass silage with either maize or whole-crop wheat silages on the performance and meat quality of beef cattle offered two levels of concentrates

A randomised design involving 66 continental cross beef steers (initial live weight 523 kg) was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of maize or whole-crop wheat silages in grass silage-based diets on animal performance, carcass composition, and meat quality of beef cattle. Grass silage was offered either as the sole forage or in addition to either maize or whole-crop wheat silages at a ratio of 40:60, on a dry matter (DM) basis, alternative forage: grass silage. For the grass, maize, and whole-crop wheat silages, DM concentrations were 192, 276, and 319 g/kg, ammonia-nitrogen concentrations were 110, 90, and 150 g/kg nitrogen, starch concentrations were not determined, 225, and 209 g/kg DM and in vivo DM digestibilities were 0.69, 0.69, and 0.58; respectively. The forages were offered ad libitum following mixing in a paddle type complete diet mixer wagon once per day, supplemented with either 3 or 5 kg concentrates per steer per day, in two equal feeds, for 92 days. For the grass, grass plus maize and grass plus whole-crop wheat silage-based diets food intakes were 8.38, 9.08, and 9.14 kg DM per day, estimated carcass gains were 514, 602, and 496 g/day and carcass weights were 326, 334, and 325 kg; respectively. Altering the silage component of the diet did not influence carcass composition or meat eating quality. Increasing concentrate feed level tended ( P = 0.09) to increase estimated carcass fat concentration and increased sarcomere length ( P < 0.05), and lean a* ( P < 0.01), b* ( P < 0.05), and chroma ( P < 0.01). There were no significant silage type by concentrate feed level interactions for food intake, steer performance, carcass characteristics or meat eating quality. It is concluded that replacing grass silage with maize silage increased carcass gain, and weight due to higher intakes, and improved utilisation of metabolisable energy. Whilst replacing grass silage with whole-crop wheat silage increased live-weight gain, the reduced dressing proportion resulted in no beneficial effect on carcass gain, probably due to increased food intakes of lower digestible forage increasing gut fill. Meat quality or carcass composition were not altered by the inclusion of maize or whole-crop silages in grass silage based diets.

Inter-laboratory variation of in vitro cumulative gas production profiles of feeds using manual and automated methods

A study was conducted to estimate variation among laboratories and between manual and automated techniques of measuring pressure on the resulting gas production profiles (GPP). Eight feeds (molassed sugarbeet feed, grass silage, maize silage, soyabean hulls, maize gluten feed, whole crop wheat silage, wheat, glucose) were milled to pass a 1 mm screen and sent to three laboratories (ADAS Nutritional Sciences Research Unit, UK; Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER), UK; Wageningen University, The Netherlands). Each laboratory measured GPP over 144 h using standardised procedures with manual pressure transducers (MPT) and automated pressure systems (APS). The APS at ADAS used a pressure transducer and bottles in a shaking water bath, while the APS at Wageningen and IGER used a pressure sensor and bottles held in a stationary rack. Apparent dry matter degradability (ADDM) was estimated at the end of the incubation. GPP were fitted to a modified Michaelis–Menten model assuming a single phase of gas production, and GPP were described in terms of the asymptotic volume of gas produced ( A), the time to half A ( B), the time of maximum gas production rate ( t RM gas ) and maximum gas production rate ( R M gas ). There were effects ( P<0.001) of substrate on all parameters. However, MPT produced more ( P<0.001) gas, but with longer ( P<0.001) B and t RM gas ( P<0.05) and lower ( P<0.001) R M gas compared to APS. There was no difference between apparatus in ADDM estimates. Interactions occurred between substrate and apparatus, substrate and laboratory, and laboratory and apparatus. However, when mean values for MPT were regressed from the individual laboratories, relationships were good (i.e., adjusted R 2 = 0.827 or higher). Good relationships were also observed with APS, although they were weaker than for MPT (i.e., adjusted R 2 = 0.723 or higher). The relationships between mean MPT and mean APS data were also good (i.e., adjusted R 2 = 0.844 or higher). Data suggest that, although laboratory and method of measuring pressure are sources of variation in GPP estimation, it should be possible using appropriate mathematical models to standardise data among laboratories so that data from one laboratory could be extrapolated to others. This would allow development of a database of GPP data from many diverse feeds.

Effect of diets containing linoleic acid- or oleic acid-rich oils on ruminal fermentation and nutrient digestibility, and performance and fatty acid composition of adipose and muscle tissues of finishing cattle1

Two trials were conducted to determine the effect of linoleic acid- or oleic acid-rich safflower oil on ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestion, feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and fatty acid composition of adipose and muscle tissues of beef cattle. In both trials, cattle were fed a finishing diet based on barley grain, wheat silage, and alfalfa hay. Oils were fed at 5% of dietary DM. In a metabolism trial, four ruminally and duodenally cannulated Angus crossbred steers were subjected to linoleic acid-rich oil or oleic acid-rich oil in a crossover design with covariate periods (no oil supplementation). In a finishing trial, 16 individually fed Angus crossbred steers and heifers (eight per diet) received linoleic acid- or oleic acid-rich oils during the last 86 d of a 116-d feeding period. Ruminal pH, ammonia concentration, protozoal counts, major VFA concentrations, acetate-to-propionate ratio, polysaccharide-degrading activities, microbial N flow to the duodenum, and the efficiency of microbial N synthesis in the rumen were not affected (P = 0.18 to 0.96) by type of oil. Type of oil had no effect on total-tract apparent digestion of nutrients (P = 0.46 to 0.98). Ruminal true nutrient digestibilities did not differ between oils (P = 0.15 to 0.99), except that the linoleic acid-rich oil decreased (P = 0.05) NDF digestibility. Dry matter intake, ADG, G:F, and carcass characteristics did not differ (P = 0.11 to 0.84) between the two oils. Overall, the difference in dietary fatty acids provided to the cattle produced few changes in tissue fatty acids. Weight percentages of c9t11 CLA were unaltered by the addition of linoleic acid to the diet compared with oleic acid, probably as a result of low vaccenic acid production in the rumen, as the pathway of biohydrogenation was apparently primarily through the t10 pathway.

Lactation responses of dairy cows to whole-crop wheat or ryegrass silages

Feed intake and milk production responses to whole-crop wheat or ryegrass silages were measured in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square experiment using nine (six multi- and three primiparous) Holstein cows. Each experimental period lasted for 3 weeks, with measurements performed in the last 7 days. Iso-nitrogenous diets contained (dry matter, DM, basis) 550 g kg −1 of a standard dairy cow concentrate (crude protein: 245 g kg −1 DM; starch: 255 g kg −1 DM) and 450 g kg −1 of one of the following silages: ryegrass (RGS; Lolium multiflorum Lam., cv. Promenade), Tigre wheat (TWS; Triticum aestivum L., cv. Tigre) and Arpan wheat (ARWS; T. aestivum L., cv. Arpan). All whole-plant forages were direct cut, on the same date, chopped to a length of ca. 5 cm and ensiled in bunker silos. Because RGS was harvested at a late stage of maturity, it contained 81 g crude protein kg −1 DM and 638 g neutral detergent fiber (NDF) kg −1 DM. The starch contents of TWS and ARWS were, respectively, 91 and 111 g kg −1 DM. The whole-crop wheat silages had higher acid detergent lignin contents and lower DM and NDF in sacco disappearance than RGS. The type of ensiled forage did not significantly affect feed intake or milk production and composition. Plasma urea concentration increased ( P < 0.01) with the decrease in in sacco disappearance of silages, suggesting differences between dietary treatments in synchrony between N and energy supply to rumen microbes. This study showed no benefits of whole-crop wheat silages over late single cut ryegrass silage as base forage for lactating dairy cows.

Conjugated linoleic acid concentration in M. Longissimus dorsi from heifers offered sunflower oil-based concentrates and conserved forages

Dietary inclusion of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-rich plant oils is one approach to improving the fatty acid profile of ruminant meat and meat products from a human health perspective. Whole crop wheat silages represent a possible alternative forage to grass silage for beef production, however, they may adversely impact the fatty acid profile of ruminant muscle since grass silage is rich in C18:3n−3. The first objective of this experiment was to investigate the relationship between an increase in the dietary supply of C18:2n−6 from sunflower oil (SFO) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) concentration in the muscle tissue of beef cattle. The second objective was to investigate the effect of the basal forage type on the muscle fatty acid composition and its response to increasing inclusion of SFO. One hundred and five heifers were blocked according to initial bodyweight and assigned to one of seven silage treatments. The silage treatments were: (1) grass silage (GS), (2) whole crop wheat silage with 38% dry matter (DM) (W1), (3) GS and W1 at a ratio of 1:2 (DM basis) (W1GS) (4) GS and W1 at a ratio of 2:1 (DM basis) (GSW1), (5) whole crop wheat silage with 52% DM (W2), (6) GS and W2 at a ratio of 1:2 (DM basis) (W2GS), (7) GS and W2 at a ratio of 2:1 (DM basis) (GSW2). Within each silage treatment, 5 animals were assigned to one of three concentrate rations, differing in the content of SFO. The levels of inclusion of SFO in the concentrate were 0, 55, 110 g/kg concentrate. Inclusion of SFO in the diet led to an increase in the n−6:n−3 fatty acid ratio in muscle. In animals fed grass silage or mixed silages the n−6:n−3 ratio was lower in muscle compared with those fed whole crop wheat silages, with the exception of animals fed 55 g SFO/kg, for which feeding W1GS led to a higher ratio than W1. Other than the n−6:n−3 ratio there were no significant interactions between the effect of type of silage and the level of SFO on the concentration of fatty acids in intramuscular fat. Increasing the inclusion of SFO led to a linear increase in the CLAcis-9,trans-11 and PUFA concentration in intramuscular fat (P<0.001). This study confirmed the potential for modification, and improvement from a human health perspective, of the fatty acid composition of beef muscle by dietary manipulation.

Milking performance of dairy ewes fed pellets containing soy hulls as starchy grain substitute

Effect of feeding pellets containing soy hulls (SH) as starchy grain substitute on milking performance was measured in Assaf lactating ewes. Eighty ewes were divided into two equal groups of forty animals each, and fed for eight weeks, one of the two experimental diets. Both diets contained 25% vetch hay and 10% wheat silage served at the feeding lane plus additive of 65% pellets served part on top of roughage in the feeding lane and part during milking. Diets differed only in the composition of the pelleted additive, being either high starch pellets in the control treatment or pellets containing 51% SH as starch replacer in the experimental group. In vitro organic matter digestibility of the two types of pellets was similar, whereas NDF digestibility and NDF content were higher in the SH pellets. The ewes fed the SH pellets demonstrated higher daily DM and NDF intake (2.71 and 1.19 kg/d, respectively) as compared with the control group (2.44 and 0.71 kg, respectively). This was reflected by significantly higher milk yield (2.41 kg/d versus 2.10 kg/d), milk fat content (6.05% versus 5.16%), and milk fat yield (0.15 kg/d versus 0.11 kg/d) in the experimental group as compared with the control ewes. Milk protein yields were similar in both treatments. Data suggest potential advantage of feeding the SH pellets for high producing lactating ewes.

Effect of applying formic acid, heterolactic bacteria or homolactic and heterolactic bacteria on the fermentation of bi‐crops of peas and wheat

AbstractThis work aimed to compare the effectiveness of bacterial inoculants or a chemical additive for preserving whole‐crop silages made from wheat, two pea varieties (cv Magnus or Setchey) or intercrops of wheat and both pea varieties. The forages were harvested when the wheat and peas were at the late milk and yellow wrinkled stages respectively, and conserved in five replicate mini silos without treatment (control) or after treatment with 2.5 g kg−1 of formic acid (FA) or 1 × 106 cfu g−1 fresh forage of either of two bacterial inoculants (WholeCrop Gold (WCG) or WholeCrop Legume (WCL), Biotal Ltd, Cardiff, UK). WCG contained Lactobacillus buchneri, while WCL contained L buchneri, L plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus. Chemical composition, fermentation characteristics and in vitro digestibility were measured after 65 days of ensiling. Additive‐treated bi‐crops had lower (P &lt; 0.05) concentrations of soluble N, ammonia N and lactic acid than the controls. Inoculant‐treated bi‐crops had higher (P &lt; 0.001) acetic acid and lower (P &lt; 0.001) residual water‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentrations than FA‐treated bi‐crops. WCL‐treated bi‐crops had similar residual WSC concentrations to and higher (P &lt; 0.05) starch concentrations than WCG‐treated bi‐crops. Unlike Magnus pea bi‐crops, Setchey pea bi‐crops treated with WCL had lower concentrations of ammonia N (P &lt; 0.01) and acetic acid (P &lt; 0.001) and higher concentrations of starch (P &lt; 0.001) and lactic acid (P &lt; 0.05) than those treated with WCG. For both bi‐crops, FA‐treated bi‐crops were more stable (P &lt; 0.05) than inoculant‐treated or untreated silages, and the stability of inoculant‐treated and untreated silages was similar. Formic acid treatment was also the most effective at reducing WSC losses in the bi‐crop and pea silages. Inoculant treatment reduced proteolysis in these forages but did not prevent spoilage in the bi‐crops. Additive treatment reduced yeast counts but did not improve the fermentation in wheat silages. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry

The value of safflower ( Carthamus tinctorius) hay and silage grown under Mediterranean conditions as forage for dairy cattle

The value for dairy cattle of safflower grown under Mediterranean condition was investigated in two experiments. In experiment 1, safflower hay was given ad libitum as sole food to four dry dairy cows. The DM ingested from hay was of medium CP and NDF contents (148 and 406 g kg −1, respectively). Values of in vivo and in vitro Tilley and Terry DM digestibility were 723 and 646 g kg −1 DM, respectively. In the second experiment, 19 cows were fed a total mixed ration (TMR) including 4 kg (as DM) of corn plus wheat (CW) silage, and another 19 received the same TMR, with safflower silage (S) substituted for CW silage, on the same DM basis, for 62 days. Diets were of similar NDF content (314 and 331 g kg −1 DM, for CW and S, respectively), but cows fed S consumed less DM than those fed CW (20.2 and 22.5 kg, P<0.02). Milk production (30.2 kg day −1), and the contents of fat (35.4 g kg −1), lactose (46.4 g kg −1), and urea (0.32 g kg −1) were similar between groups. Milk CP tended to be lower in S than in CW (31.6 and 33.6 g kg −1, respectively, P=0.07). Changes in body live-weight and condition score were not affected by diet. Safflower silage has the potential for widespread adoption as a feed in Mediterranean countries, if special characteristics such as protein degradability are taken into account to optimize its inclusion in TMRs.

The effect of salts of sulphite on intake levels of urea treated whole-crop wheat silage fed to grazing Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle

Forage supplementation is a strategy sometimes used in dairy production systems to achieve increased dry-matter (DM) intakes in grazing dairy cows. During periods of low grass growth rates, often because of low rainfall, such intakes are not possible from grass alone (Phillips, 1988) and buffer feeds are used. More recently, whole crop cereal and maize silage have been utilised. These forage crops are susceptibility to aerobic deterioration which can result in significant losses in quality (Sanderson, 1993; Weinberg et al., 1993) however the addition of salts of sulphite, typically using in the food industry, can prevent aerobic deterioration. The aim of this study was to measure the effect of low levels of salts of sulphite on the stability of whole crop wheat silage used as a buffer feed on feed intake and milk yield.