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Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 35 No. 11 949-956
© 1952 by American Dairy Science Association ®
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Effects of Feeding Large Amounts of Grass Silage to Dairy Bulls on Feed Utilization, Body Measurements and Semen Quality1

R. J. Flipse, D. L. Thacker and J. O. Almquist

Dairy Cattle Breeding Research Center, The Pennsylvania State College, State College

ABSTRACT

Twelve bulls were paired and divided into two groups, one bull of each pair receiving 4 lb. of silage daily per 100 lb. of body weight and the other receiving an almost equal amount of TDN in concentrates. Hay intake was the same for each member of a pair.

After the 52-wk. trial, the silage-fed bulls had gained more in body weight, heart girth, paunch girth and height at withers than had the concentrate-fed bulls, but the differences between the groups were not significant. Silage-fed bulls apparently made more efficient use of the feed consumed than did concentrate-fed bulls, as shown by larger gains in body weight on smaller TDN consumption. Under existing conditions, the high silage ration offered considerable economic saving over conventional hay-concentrate rations for bulls.

Semen quantity and quality tests were conducted on a weekly basis and showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups.

On the basis of these results, it appears that bulls may be fed grass silage at rates up to 4 lb. per 100 lb. of body weight per day without harmful effects upon the physical condition of the bull or the quantity and quality of semen produced.

FOOTNOTES

1 Published with the approval of The Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station as Journal Article no. 1738.






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Copyright © 1952 by the American Dairy Science Association ®.