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Effect of Calcium Buffers and Whole Plant Processing on Starch Digestibility of Sorghum Based Diets in Holstein Cows

Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843

ABSTRACT

In 48 digestion trials, Holstein cows randomly were assigned to one of four diets formulated to contain .75, 1.00, 1.25, and 1.50% calcium in complete rations of 35:65 ratio of forage to concentrate, dry basis. In experiment 1, forage was sorghum-sudan hay; in experiment 2, sorghum silage. There were no significant differences among treatments in digestibility of dry matter, starch, energy, protein, or cell wall, or in fecal pH in either experiment. Linear relationships were significant among fecal starch percentage, fecal pH, and starch digestibility.

In experiment 3, three methods of whole plant processing for grain sorghum silage were compared: a) whole plant conventional chop, b) same material, grain rolled prior to ensiling, and c) regrowth with grain rolled prior to ensiling. Starch and energy digestibility were highest in silages from regrowth harvested sorghum. This study provides evidence that suggests additional calcium carbonate and plant processing increase starch digestiblity in sorghum based diets fed to lactating dairy cows.

¹ Substation Experimental, Aricola, Lujas, Puerto Rico 00667.