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Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 80 No. 11 2876-2884
© 1997 by American Dairy Science Association ®
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Timothy Grass or Alfalfa Silage for Cows in Midlactation: Effect of Supplementary Barley

J. R. Orozco-Hernández 1, G. J. Brisson 1, and V. Girard 2

1 Département des Sciences Animales, Faculté des Sciences de l'Agriculture et de l'Alimentation, Université Laval, Sainte-Foy, QC, Canada G1K 7P4
2 Service de la Zootechnie, Direction de la Recherche et du Développement, Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec, Deschambault, QC, Canada G0A 1S0

Twenty-four multiparous Holstein cows averaging 104 d of lactation were used in a trial with a split-plot design to evaluate the nutritive value of two silages, timothy grass or alfalfa, both treated with formic acid and stored in plastic bag silos. Silages were offered for ad libitum intake either alone or with 17 or 34% (dry matter basis) dry-rolled barley. Both silages contained similar amounts of acid detergent fiber (ADF) (27.5 and 26.7% for timothy grass and alfalfa, respectively). After 110 d of storage, alfalfa silage contained higher amounts of organic acids and NH3 N but had lower soluble N. Total dry matter intake (DMI) and silage DMI were similar between cows fed both silages. Increased barley proportion decreased silage DMI (19.2 to 14.2 kg/d). Apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter was unaffected by treatment. The digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and ADF was higher for the timothy grass silage than for alfalfa silage and was unaffected by the barley percentage added to either silage. Milk yield was lower (23.9 to 22.6 kg/d) for cows fed the highest proportion of barley. The 4% fat-corrected milk yield was unaffected by treatment. Percentages of fat, protein, and total solids in milk were higher for cows fed diets with the higher barley content. Milk fat and protein yields were similar among treatments. Urea in blood was lower for cows fed timothy grass silage than for cows fed alfalfa silage (4.68 vs. 6.23 mg/100 ml). These results suggest that timothy grass silage and alfalfa silage, when stored at a similar ADF content, have comparable nutritive value for midlactation cows.

Key Words: timothy grass silage • alfalfa silage • midlactation

Submitted on May 26, 1995
Accepted on May 5, 1997




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D. J. R. Cherney, J. H. Cherney, and L. E. Chase
Lactation Performance of Holstein Cows Fed Fescue, Orchardgrass, or Alfalfa Silage
J Dairy Sci, July 1, 2004; 87(7): 2268 - 2276.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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