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Individual Versus Group Feeding of Constant Versus Variable Forage:Concentrate of Total Mixed Rations Through Two Lactations and Intervening Dry Period¹

USDA-ARS, Animal Science Institute, Milk Secretion and Mastitis Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705
University of Maryland, Department of Dairy Science, College Park

ABSTRACT

Total mixed rations were fed for ad libitum consumption to four groups of cows through two lactations and intervening dry period. Treatments were: 1) group fed 50:50 (roughage:concentrate, dry matter) ration, 2) individually fed 50:50 ration, 3) individually fed 65:35 ration, and 4) individually fed 50:50 ration for 150 days postpartum and an 80:20 ration thereafter and through the dry period. Roughage was a 4:1 mixture of corn silage:grass-legume silage. Of the original 31, 11, 11, and 11 cows on treatments 1 to 4; 22, 11, 7, and 9 cows refreshened for second lactations. Fatty degenerated livers were in 5, 2, 1, and 0 cows that died soon after refreshing. Weight gains between freshening and the end of the dry period during first lactation were 151, 153, 115, 101 kg. No treatment differences were found in 305-day yields of milk or milk components. Results indicate a disadvantage to feeding high concentrate treatments through the lactation and dry period.

¹ This research was part of Regional Research Project NC-119, Improving Large Dairy Herd Management Practices.