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The Preparation and Nutritive Value of A.I.V. Silage for Dairy Cows^*

College of Agriculture, Madison, Wisconsin

ABSTRACT

The preparation by the A.I.V. method of two lots of alfalfa and one of soy bean silage, consisting respectively of 10, 17, and 11 tons, is described.

The data show that the loss of nitrogen and of dry matter in the drainage juice amounted to 0.9 and 1.8 per cent respectively.

There were marked changes in the distribution of nitrogen in the silage. Based on the total nitrogen, the water soluble nitrogen increased in the two lots of alfalfa silage from 31 to 45 per cent and from 15 to 40 per cent respectively, and from 20 to 35 per cent in the soy bean silage. Increases in amino nitrogen paralleled those of the water soluble nitrogen. Ammonia nitrogen also increased, but the absolute quantity was small.

There was apparently no loss of carotene.

Counts of the number of bacteria and determination of volatile acids and lactic acid showed that some fermentation took place in spite of the low pH of the silage.

A double reversal feeding trial was conducted consisting of a six week fore-period, a seven week A.I.V. silage period, and a seven week after-period with ten dairy cows of various breeds in two groups of five each.

No unusual changes were noted in milk production due to the feeding of A.I.V. silage.

Spectroscopic analyses of the butterfat for carotene and vitamin A indicated a definite increase in these components with silage feeding. During the control period an average value of 4.2 micrograms of carotene per gram of butterfat was obtained and in the A.I.V. period the figure rose to 6.8. Vitamin A analyses showed an average value of 4.0 micrograms per gram of butterfat for the control period and a marked rise to 9.0 in the A.I.V. period. However, the values for carotene and vitamin A during the A.I.V. feeding were not as high as those previously found for pasture feeding. Increases in the carotene content of the blood plasma paralleled those in the butterfat. Balance studies on the carotene intake in the feed and output in the milk showed a corresponding increase in both of these factors with the inclusion of A.I.V. silage in the ration.

Blood and urine analyses indicated that the high acid intake of the cows was neutralized by means which prevented any noticeable deleterious effects on the animals.

^* Cooperative experiment by the Departments of Agricultural Chemistry, Animal Husbandry, and Agricultural Bacteriology.

The authors are pleased to acknowledge the helpful advice of Professors E. G. Hastings, E. B. Fred, E. B. Hart, H. Steenbock, and I. W. Rupel, and the analytical assistance of Dr. J. Semb, Dr. C. A. Baumann, and Mr. F. W. Quackenbush.

Published with the permission of the Director of the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station.