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Coastal Bermudagrass Hay and Silage at Two Stages of Maturity, Fed with Two Concentrate Levels to Lactating Cows¹

Dairy Department, University of Georgia, Athens

ABSTRACT

Coastal Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), harvested at prehead and full-head stages as hay and silage, was fed with two levels of concentrates to 48 cows in a 2³ factorial trial. Direct-cut silage, preserved with 100 lb of ground corn per ton, was slightly more valuable for milk production than artificially dried hay. Cows fed prehead-stage forage produced 2 lb more milk per day with a higher protein content than those fed Coastal Bermudagrass cut in the full-head stage. Cows given grain at the rate of 1 to 2 lb of FCM produced 4 lb more milk per day of a higher SNF and protein percentage, than those fed at the 1:4 ratio. Milk fat content was not affected by any of the treatments. Forage dry matter consumption was low, with an average of 1.48 lb per hundredweight of body weight per day. Cows fed hay, prehead-stage forage, and the lower level of concentrates ate more than those fed silage, more mature forage, and the higher level of concentrates, respectively (P < 0.01). The depressing effect of high concentrates on forage consumption was less with silage than with hay (P < 0.05).

¹ Journal Paper No. 295 of the College Experiment Station, University of Georgia. College of Agriculture Experiment Stations.