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Effect of maize silage quality in a mixed forage diet and the crude protein level in the concentrate supplement on milk production of dairy cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 November 2021

J.J. Fitzgerald  and
J.J. Murphy
J.J. Fitzgerald
Affiliation:
Teagasc, Dairy Production Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
J.J. Murphy
Affiliation:
Teagasc, Dairy Production Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
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Extract

Good quality maize silage with a high starch content and DM digestibility when fed to dairy cows increased forage intake, milk production and milk protein concentration compared with grass silage or low starch maize silage (Fitzgerald, 1997). Due to the low crude protein (CP) content of maize silage compared with grass silage, additional protein supplementation is required in the concentrate. The optimum level of protein in the concentrate for maize silage based forages differing in starch content was investigated in this study.

Three forages consisting of either all grass silage (GS) or mixed forages of grass silage and maize silage (40:60 DM mix) which contained either a low (LSM) or a high (HSM) starch content were offered ad libitum to individually fed dairy cows in early lactation (12 cows/forage). Each forage was supplemented with concentrates (6 kg/day) containing 180, 230 or 280 g CP/kg according to a change over design (3 periods of 3 weeks/period).

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Programme
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 1998 , 1998 , pp. 149
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 1998

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References

Fitzgerald, J.J. (1997). Effect of variation in the quality of forage maize silage in Ireland on forage intake and on milk production of dairy cows. Proc. XVIII International Grassland Congress, Canada. Session 17, Forage Quality pp. 31–32 (Paper No. 505).Google Scholar