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An examination of the effect of concentrate energy source on rumen fermentation characteristics of dairy cattle offered grass silages of differing intake characteristics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

T.W.J. Keady ,
C.S. Mayne  and
D A Fitzpatrick
T.W.J. Keady
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, Co Down BT26 6DR, Northern Ireland
C.S. Mayne
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, Co Down BT26 6DR, Northern Ireland
D A Fitzpatrick
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX, Northern Ireland
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Extract

Recent dairy cow production studies (Keady et al, 1998a, b) have indicated that energy source (starch v fibre) in the concentrate did not alter silage intake or milk yield of lactating dairy cattle offered a range of grass silages. However in both studies increasing the level of starch in the concentrate increased milk protein concentration and tended to decrease milk fat concentration. The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of concentrate energy source on rumen fermentation characteristics of dairy cattle offered three grass silages.

Three silages were produced from predominantly perennial ryegrass swards after 39 day regrowth intervals. Silages A and C were ensiled from primary regrowths treated with an inoculant while silage B was ensiled from a secondary regrowth untreated. Silage A was wilted for 24 hours prior to ensiling while silages B and C were ensiled direct. Two concentrates, 0s and 100s were formulated to contain different starch concentrations but similar concentrations of crude protein, metabolisable energy, digestible undegradable protein and effective rumen degradable protein.

Type
Programme
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 1999 , 1999 , pp. 217
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 1999

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References

Keady, T.W.J., Mayne, C.S. and Marsden, M. 1998a. The effects of concentrate energy source on silage intake and animal performance with lactating dairy cows offered a range of grass silages. Animal Science, 66: 9–20.Google Scholar
Keady, T.W.J., Mayne, C.S., McConaghy, D.A. and Marsden, M. 1998b. The effects of concentrate energy source and ERDP:DUP ratio on silage intake and animal performance of lactating dairy cows offered a range of grass silages. Animal Science (Submitted).Google Scholar