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Value of Adding Corn Silage and Limited Quantities of Hay to a Grass Silage, Limited Grain Ration for Dairy Heifers¹

New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, Durham

ABSTRACT

Twelve Holstein and 12 Guernsey heifers were used to determine if dairy herd replacements can be raised satisfactorily from a few days to 2 yr. of age on a commercial milk replacement, 500 lb. concentrates and one or more of the following forage combinations: grass silage alone, grass silage and corn silage (50–50), grass silage and limited hay, and grass silage and corn silage (50–50) and limited hay. The silages were fed ad libitum and hay was fed at the rate of lb. per 100 lb. body weight per day. The inclusion of hay in the ration increased body weight gains, but the feeding of corn silage decreased gains. These results were due to differences in the consumption of nutrients from the various forage combinations. The Guernseys ate approximately the same total amount of forage as the Holsteins; thus, generally carried more body condition. The animals fed grass silage and hay averaged 94% of normal at 2 yr. The other groups did not make satisfactory gains. The feeding of corn silage had no effect on conception rate, but animals fed hay required more services per conception than those not fed hay. Groups of animals which made poor gains generally were delayed in becoming sexually mature and with-calf.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station as Scientific Contribution No. 215. This study was supported by a research grant from the Charles H. Hood Dairy Foundation, Boston, Massachusetts. The authors appreciate the help of Mr. Guy W. Angell, Farm Superintendent, in growing and harvesting the forages used during the experiment.