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Feed intake and digestive responses of dairy cow fed lucerne hay varying in particle size

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2017

Younes Alijoo ,
R. Valizadeh ,
Abbasali Naserian  and
Fereidoon Eftekhar Shahroodi
Younes Alijoo*
Affiliation:
Ferdowsi University, Mashhad
R. Valizadeh
Affiliation:
Ferdowsi University, Mashhad
Abbasali Naserian
Affiliation:
Ferdowsi University, Mashhad
Fereidoon Eftekhar Shahroodi
Affiliation:
Ferdowsi University, Mashhad
*
Email:[email protected]
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Extract

Chemical composition and physical characteristics of diet influences its optimal utilization in dairy cow. Neutral detergent fiber measures the chemical characteristics, but not the physical characteristics of fiber such as particle size and density (Mertens, 1997). Both the amount and physical form of fiber are important in the diet of lactating dairy cow for maintaining normal milk fat content, chewing and digestive activities. A sufficient supply of long particles or NDF must be included in the ration to increase chewing activities, maintaining the rumen pH and providing an optimal rumen environment in order to avoid metabolic disorders. Current NRC guidelines (NRC, 2001) have proven useful information in defining animal requirements and feed composition but do not provide detailed recommendation on physical form of ration. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of lucerne particle size on feed intake and digestibility in dairy cow in early lactation period.

Type
Poster Presentations
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 2007 , April 2007 , pp. 213
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2007

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References

Mertens, D. R. 1997. Creating a system for meeting the fiber requirements of dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 80:1463–1481.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
National Research Council. 2001. Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle. 7th. rev. ed. Natl. Acad. Sci., Washington, DC, USA.Google Scholar
Van Soest, P. J. 1994. Nutritional ecology of the ruminant. 2nd Edition. Comstock Publishing Associates, Cornell University Press.Google Scholar