Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T09:19:34.407Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effects of concentrate supplements on the performance of dairy cows offered grass silage ad libitum

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

R. Laird ,
J. D. Leaver ,
F. R. Moisey  and
M. E. Castle
R. Laird
Affiliation:
West of Scotland Agricultural College, Auchincruive, Ayr KA6 5HW
J. D. Leaver
Affiliation:
West of Scotland Agricultural College, Auchincruive, Ayr KA6 5HW
F. R. Moisey
Affiliation:
West of Scotland Agricultural College, Auchincruive, Ayr KA6 5HW
M. E. Castle
Affiliation:
Hannah Research Institute, Ayr KA6 5HL
Get access

Abstract

Ninety-six lactating British Friesian cows were offered ad libitum two grass silages having the following analyses: 181 and 241 g dry matter per kg fresh weight, 108 and 96g digestible crude protein per kg dry matter and 617 and 619 g digestible organic matter per kg dry matter. In addition, four concentrate supplements were offered, containing either 360 g crude protein per kg on an air-dry basis and given at the rate of 015 kg/kg milk or 180 g crude protein per kg given at the rate of 030, 0375 and 0·45 kg/kg milk. Large and highly significant differences were recorded in silage intake, mil yield, milk composition, live weight and condition score during the winter feeding period. These differences in performance were associated more with differences in energy than in protein intake. During the post-experimental grazing period no significant differences between treatments were recorded in milk yield and composition, with the exception of fat concentration, and by midsummer no significant differences were apparent in live weight. The results of the experiment were appraised in economic terms and implications for commercial practice discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 33 , Issue 2 , October 1981 , pp. 199 - 209
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1981

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Adamson, A. H., Newell, D. W. and Castle, M. E. 1979. A comparison between supplements to silage of nigh digestibility offered to dairy cows. Grass Forage Sci. 34: 229–231.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alexander, R. H. 1969. The establishment of a laboratory procedure for the in vitro determination of digestibility. Res. Bull. W. Scotl. agric. Coll., No. 42.Google Scholar
Alexander, R. H. and McGowan, Mary. 1969. The assessment of the nutritive value of silage by determination of in vitro digestibility on homogenates prepared from fresh undried silage. J. Br. Grassld Soc. 24: 195–198.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Broster, W. H. 1976. Plane of nutrition for the dairy cow. In Principles of Cattle Production (ed. Swan, H. and Broster, W. H.), pp. 271–285. Butterworth, London.Google Scholar
Broster, W. H., Sutton, J. D. and Bines, J. A. 1979. Concentrate: forage ratios for high-yielding dairy cows. In Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition-1978 (ed. Haresign, W. and Lewis, D.), pp. 99–126. Butterworth, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Castle, M. E., Retter, W. C. and Metcalfe, J. D. 1977. A note on supplements for dairy cows offered silage of high digestibility. Anim. Prod. 25: 397–400).Google Scholar
Castle, M. E., Retter, W. C., Watson, J. N. and Zewdie, E. 1977. Silage and milk production: a comparison between four rates of groundnut cake supplementation of silage of high digestibility. J. Br. Grassld Soc. 32: 43–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Castle, M. E. and Watson, J. N. 1969. The effect of level of protein in silage on the intake and production of dairy cows. J. Br. Grassld Soc. 24: 187–194.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Castle, M. E. and Watson, J. N. 1976. Silage and milk production. A comparison between barley and groundnut cake as supplements to silage of high digestibility. J. Br. Grassld Soc. 31: 191–195.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gordon, F. J. 1980a. The response of spring-calving cows to a high level of protein in the supplement given with grass silage during early lactation. Anim. Prod. 30: 23–28.Google Scholar
Gordon, F. J. 1980b. The effect of silage type on the performance of lactating cows and the response to high levels of protein in the supplement. Anim. Prod. 30:29–37.Google Scholar
Haigh, P. M. and Hopkins, J. R. 1977. Relationship between oven and toluene dry matter in grass silage. J. Sci. Fd Agric. 28: 477–480.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
King, J. O. L. 1968. The relationship between the conception rate and the change in bodyweight, yield and SNF content of milk in dairy cows. Vet. Rec. 83: 492–494.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Laird, R., Leaver, J. D., Moisey, F. R. and Castle, M. E. 1978. The effect of concentrate supplements on the performance of dairy cows offered grass silage ad libitum. Anim. Prod. 26: 364 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Laird, R., Leggate, A. T. and Castle, M. E. 1979. The effect of supplementary protein on the performance of dairy cows offered grass silage ad libitum. Anim. Prod. 29: 151–156.Google Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. 1976. Nutrient allowances and composition of feedingstuffs for ruminants. Advis. Pap. A.D.A.S., No. 11. 2nd ed.Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Pinner, Middlesex.Google Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland and Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland. 1975. Energy allowances and feeding systems for ruminants. Tech. Bull. 33. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London.Google Scholar
Ostergaard, V. 1979. Optimum feeding strategy during lactation. In Feeding Strategy for the High Yielding Dairy Cow (ed. Broster, W. H. and Swan, H.), pp. 171–194. Granada Publishing, London.Google Scholar
Rook, J. A. F. 1976. Nutritional influences on milk quality. In Principles of Cattle Production (ed. Swan, H. and Broster, W. H.), pp. 221–236. Butterworth, London.Google Scholar
Rowland, S. J. 1946. The problem of low solids-not-fat. Dairy Inds 11: 656–664.Google Scholar
Steele, W. and Moore, J. H. 1968. The effects of mono-unsaturated and saturated fatty acids in the diet on milk-fat secretion in the cow. J. Dairy Res. 35: 353–360.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sutton, J. D., Broster, W. H., Schuller, E., Smith, T. and Napper, D. J. 1977. Long-term effect of level of intake and diet composition on the performance of lactating dairy cows. 3. Milk composition and rumen fermentation. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 36: 147A (Abstr.).Google ScholarPubMed
Thomas, C. 1980. Conserved forages. In Feeding Strategies for Dairy Cows (ed. Broster, W. H., Johnson, C. L. and Tayler, J. C.), pp. 8.1–8.14. Agricultural Research Council, London.Google Scholar