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Effect of Grinding, Pelleting, and Frequency of Feeding of Forage on Fat Percentage of Milk and Milk Production of Dairy Cows¹

Department of Dairy Science, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina

ABSTRACT

Studies with lactating dairy cows were conducted to ascertain the effects of grind- and pelleting of forage and frequency of feeding upon milk production and milk fat test. In Trial 1, pelleted alfalfa-fed animals declined significantly (P < .01) in milk fat percentage when compared to a baled alfalfa-fed group. In the second trial, feeding of pellets processed from dehydrated Coastal Bermudagrass which had been ground through either a .64-, .32-, or .16-cm hammermill screen resulted in a milk fat test depression in all groups. In Trial 3, dehydrated Coastal Bermuda was fed as .64-cm ground, .64-cm ground and pelleted, .95-cm ground and pelleted, and .16-cm ground and pelleted hays. Feeding of the .64-cm ground and pelleted hay resulted in a decreased milk fat test. When the pellets processed from .16-cm ground hay were fed twice daily, a 0.4% decline in milk fat test was observed, while during the same time period an increase in milk fat test was observed with animals fed the same pellets four times daily. Individual animal variation precludes an exact measurement; however, the results of these trials indicate that the critical grind size in relation to milk fat test depressions is approximately .64 cm.

¹ Technical Contribution no. 633, South Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina. Published by permission of the Director.