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Effect of Vermiculite in Maintaining Milk Fat Test on Low-Roughage Rations¹

Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706

ABSTRACT

A continuous 13-week feeding experiment was conducted to determine the effectiveness of adding 5 or 10% vermiculite to a standard fat-depressing pelleted ration in maintaining normal milk fat test.

Three groups of four cows each were fed the following experimental rations at the ratio of three parts of grain to one part of hay with the feeding level based on National Research Council calculated total digestible nutrient requirements: I, hay + FDP; II, hay + fat-depressing pelleted ration with 5% added vermiculite; III, hay + fat-depressing pelleted ration with 10% added vermiculite.

The percentage of milk fat during the control period was 3.0, 3.1, 3.2% for Groups I, II, III, respectively, compared to 1.6, 1.9, and 2.3% during experimental period. There were no significant differences between treatment groups in ability to maintain milk fat percentage. There were no significant differences in dry matter intake between groups. All cows in Groups II and III consumed vermiculite at both levels with no apparent difficulty. Groups II and III maintained a higher (P < .10) level of milk production and milk lactose. Milk protein was lower (P < .10) in Group III.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director of the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station.