Title: PERFORMANCE OF DAIRY COWS FED SOYBEAN SILAGE
Abstract: Master of Science Animal Science (Nutrition) Einar Vargas Bello Perez PERFORMANCE OF DAIRY COWS FED SOYBEAN SILAGE The objective of this research was to determine the feeding values of forage soybean (cv. Kodiak, full pod stage) silage to lactating dairy cows. Two diets with a 50:50 forage:concentrate ratio were formulated to meet nutrient requirements of dairy cows in early lactation. Soybean silage (SS) or a fourth cut alfalfa silage (AS) comprised 72% of the forage in each diet, with corn silage comprising the remaining 28%. Twenty Holsteins cows in early lactation were used in a Switchback design to determine the effects of dietary treatments on milk yield and milk composition. Four lactating cows fitted with ruminal cannulae were used in a Switchback design to determine effects of dietary treatments on ruminal fermentation and total tract nutrient digestibilities. Cows fed SS consumed less (P < 0.05) feed and produced less (P < 0.05) milk than cows fed AS. However, energy-corrected milk and milk efficiency were similar for both dietary treatments. Milk fat percentage and milk urea nitrogen were higher (P < 0.05) in milk of cows fed SS than in milk of cows fed AS. However, milk protein and lactose concentrations were similar for both dietary treatments. Ruminal pH and NH3 N were lower (P < 0.05) in cows fed AS than in cows fed SS. However, total and molar proportions of volatile fatty acids were not influenced by dietary treatments. Total tract digestibility of DM, OM, CP, NDF, and GE were similar for dietary treatments. Results of the present study revealed the potential of forage
Publication Year: 2007
Publication Date: 2007-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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