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This study aimed to investigate the effects of partial replacement of wheat straw for corn silage and alfalfa hay at 7% diet dry matter (DM) on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, and milk production of late-lactation Holstein cows. Eight multiparous Holstein cows (averaging 2.9±0.35 parity; 43.6±2.6 kg/d milk yield; 214±18 d in milk) were used in a replicated 4x4 Latin Square design. During each of four 21-d periods, cows were fed total mixed rations varying in forage source: 1) control (13.5% alfalfa hay, 20% corn silage and 66.5% concentrate), 2) wheat straw replaced for corn silage, 3) wheat straw replaced for alfalfa hay 4) wheat straw equally replaced for corn silage and alfalfa hay. Diets were formulated to contain similar values of NDF, forage NDF and physically effective NDF. The DM intake, milk production and compositions as well as total tract digestibility of DM, organic matter, NDF, and crude protein were unaffected by treatments. Likewise, ruminal and blood parameters were not affected by experimental treatments. Body weight gain tended to be lower (P=0.06) for cows fed the wheat straw-included diets. These results indicated that, at 7% of diet DM, chopped wheat straw could be used as an alternative for major forage sources high concentrate diets for lactation cows yielding over 40 kg/d milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the replacement of corn silage with barley silage on high producing dairy cow performance. Thirty six high-producing (57.3±3.9kg/d) dairy cow in mid-lactation (93±7 DIM) were assigned to one of three experimental treatments including (1) no barley silage (BS) and 30% corn silage (CS), (2) 10% BS and 20% CS, and (3) 20% BS and 10 % CS in the TMR over two 24-day periods. The results showed that replacement of corn silage with barley silage linearly increased fat corrected milk (FCM; P=0.04), fat yield (P=0.04) and fat corrected milk production efficiency (P=0.01). There was also a tendency for linear increase in milk fat percentage (P=0.08), and linear decrease in milk lactose percentage (P=0.05). Ruminal acetate proportion and pH increased with increasing barley silage and propionate proportion decreased. Increasing barley silage resulted in linear increase in dry matter, organic matter and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDF; P<0.05). This study showed that replacing corn silage with barley silage could be considered as a successful strategy to improve performance and forage provisions of high-producing dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to determine the effects of using macaroni wastes instead of barley on dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield and composition, and nutrient digestibility, eight lactating Holstein cows (4 primiparous and 4 multiparous) in midlactation were used in a 44 Latin square design. The experimental periods were 21 d with 16 d for adjustment and 5 d for data collection. Treatments included a control diet (1) and diets 2, 3, and 4 containing 15, 30, and 45% macaroni wastes, respectively, which were fed three times a day as total mixed rations. During the last 5 days of each period, feed and fecal samples were taken for determination of DMI and apparent digestibilities and milk samples for fat, protein, lactose, and solids no fat (SNF). During the last day of collection period, urine samples were collected 3 and 5 h postfeeding for pH determination. The results showed no significant differences among experimental traits in either primiparous or multiparous, and across all cows. Milk yield and efficiency of feed conversion were nonsignificantly higher for diets 2, 3, and 4 compared with control cows. Compared to the control diet, DMI, fat, protein and SNF percentages did not significantly decrease in diets 3 and 4. From the results of this expriment, it may be concluded that replacing barley with macaroni wastes up to 45 percent could increase energy intake without any adverse effects on milk production and composition or on metabolic function in midlactating dairy cows.