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Performance of Lactating Dairy Cows Fed Coastal Bermudagrass Pellets and Corn Silage Individually and in Combination¹

University of Georgia, Athens

ABSTRACT

Groups of six cows each were fed ad libitum: a) Coastal Bermudagrass pellets, b) corn-soybean silage, c) one-half Coastal pellets and one-half silage, and d) rye pasture during an 8-wk treatment period. The Coastal Bermudagrass was harvested 3 wk after the previous cutting, dehydrated, ground, pelleted, and stored 1.5 yr prior to feeding. The silage containing 77% corn dry matter and 23% soybeans was ensiled in a trench silo. Each cow that did not receive pasture was fed 1.36 kg/day of long Coastal Bermudagrass hay. Feeding pellets and silage in combination significantly increased forage dry matter intake and milk production over that of those fed either of the forages individually. Protein, SNF, and fat content of milk and body weight gains were not materially affected by the combination. Performance of cows given pasture was not significantly different from the combination group. Average adjusted milk production during the last week of the treatment period, when the effect was maximum, for those fed a) pellets, b) silage, c) pellets and silage, and d) pasture, was 12.5, 13.3, 15.6, and 15.2 kg/cow/day. For the first three treatment groups, respectively, average forage dry matter intake was 13.1, 10.7, and 14.3 kg/cow/day.

¹ Journal paper no. 456 of the College and Branch Experiment Stations of the University of Georgia, Agricultural Experiment Stations.