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Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 48 No. 10 1310-1314
© 1965 by American Dairy Science Association ®
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Effect of Ration Moisture Level on Value of Alfalfa Plus Cracked Corn as a Complete-Feed Silage for Lactating Cows1

F. G. Owen and W. T. Howard2

Department of Dairy Science, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

ABSTRACT

Twelve Holstein cows were used in a switch-back design to compare the ad libitum feeding of complete-feed silages containing 68% (H), 53% (M), and 47% (L) moisture. The silages were composed of field-wilted alfalfa and cracked corn added at the time of ensiling to constitute about 50% of the total dry matter. The different moisture levels of silage were obtained by varying the period of field wilting. Cows in one block of the two-block design received an alfalfa-corn pellet supplement. The other block received no pellets. In addition, cows received only water and minerals.

Performance differed significantly for (H), (M), and (L) silages in: daily milk yield, 49.3, 53.0, and 53.1 lb; milk fat, 3.73, 3.43, and 3.31%; daily dry matter intake, 32.9, 38.9, and 40.0 lb; and feed efficiency, .40, .65, and .72 megcal digestible energy per pound of 4% FCM. Dry matter digestibility, energy digestibility, and daily FCM yields averaged 68.2%, 67.8%, and 47.8 lb, respectively, but did not differ significantly among silage moisture levels. The supplemental pellets significantly increased milk yield from 48.6 to 55.1 lb/day and decreased fat per cent from 3.75 to 3.24%, but did not significantly affect FCM, dry matter intake, or digestibility.

These results suggest that a complete-feed silage has practical potential, especially for mechanized group-feeding operations.

FOOTNOTES

1 Published with the approval of the Director as paper no. 1757, Journal Series, Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station, Lincoln.

2 Present address: Animal Science Dept., Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana.






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