HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sommerfeldt, J. L. Articles by Muller, L. D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Sommerfeldt, J. L. Articles by Muller, L. D.

Brown-Midrib Corn Silage for Lactating Dairy Cows¹

Dairy Science Department, South Dakota State University, Brookings 57007

ABSTRACT

Brown midrib-3 mutant (low lignin) corn silage and its normal genetic counterpart were fed to more cows longer than in most trials. Twenty lactating Holstein cows (10 per ration group) were group fed corn silage (brown midrib-3 or normal) ad libitum, 2.25 kg alfalfa hay/head and grain at 1 kg/3 kg milk produced daily through 12 wk. Cows averaged 6 wk postpartum at the start of the trial. Chemical composition was similar for the two silages. Silage and total intakes of dry matter were similar, although intakes tended to be larger for cows fed the mutant corn silage. Milk production and its composition were similar (25.0 and 25.5 kg milk/day, 3.79 and 3.88% fat, 2.99 and 3.03% protein, and 12.44 and 12.42% total solids for cows fed brown midrib-3 and normal silages). Cows fed the ration of mutant corn gained more weight than those fed the normal corn silage ration. Apparent digestibilities of nutrient constituents were 1 to 10 percentage units higher for the brown midrib-3 ration. Utilization of nitrogen from the two rations was similar. Concentrations of total volatile fatty acids and butyrate were greater in rumen contents of cows fed the normal ration. Rumen pH and ammonia were similar. Glucose and urea nitrogen concentrations in serum did not differ between treatments. The slightly greater consumption and digestibility of silage made from the brown midrib-3 mutant of corn were reflected in increased weight gains rather than in increased milk production.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director, South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station as Publication No. 1586 of the Journal Series.

² Animal Science Department, Iowa State University, Ames 50011.

³ Department of Dairy and Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. O. Chow, V. S. Baron, R. Corbett, and M. Oba Effects of Planting Date on Fiber Digestibility of Whole-Crop Barley and Productivity of Lactating Dairy Cows J Dairy Sci, April 1, 2008; 91(4): 1534 - 1543. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. Qiu, M. L. Eastridge, and Z. Wang Effects of Corn Silage Hybrid and Dietary Concentration of Forage NDF on Digestibility and Performance by Dairy Cows J Dairy Sci, November 1, 2003; 86(11): 3667 - 3674. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]