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Preliminary studies on the effect of flavouring agents on the dry-matter intake of silage by lactating dairy cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

R. F. Weller
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute for Grassland and Animal Production, Church Lane, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9AQ
R. H. Phipps
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute for Grassland and Animal Production, Church Lane, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9AQ

Summary

In two trials the effect on D.M. intake of applying flavouring agents to grass silage at feeding time was examined using a total of 89 British Friesian cows in mid to late lactation. The flavouring agent used in Expt 1 was Simax 100 (5 ml/cow per day), while in Expt 2 Palatol (20 ml/cow per day), molasses (0·7 kg D.M./cow per day) and molasses + Talin (0·7 kg D.M./cow per day) were added to both lowand high-quality grass silage.

Both Simax (significantly) and Palatol increased silage D.M. intake by an average 0·67 kg/day. The total D.M. intake of the cows fed the molasses and molasses + Talin was similar to that obtained by those receiving the silage treated with Simax and Palatol. However, in the case of the cows receiving the molasses and molasses + Talin, the increased D.M. intake was obtained mainly from the additional molasses and not by an increased silage intake. This result indicates a very low substitution rate for molasses.

Although D.M. intake was increased by the addition of flavouring agents, milk production remained unaltered because of the relatively late stage of lactation of the cows in both trials.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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