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Concentrate: forage ratio in the diet of dairy cows does not alter milk physical attributes.
- Source :
- Tropical Animal Health & Production; Jun2014, Vol. 46 Issue 5, p855-859, 5p
- Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- This study aimed to evaluate the effect of concentrate-to-forage ratio (C:F) on the performance, blood profile, and milk physicochemical characteristics of mid-lactation cows fed a corn silage-based diet. Twenty four Holstein cows, with BW 575 ± 70 kg, body condition score (BCS) 3.1 ± 0.2, milk yield 18.4 ± 3.0 kg, and days in milk (DIM) 121 ± 21 were randomly allocated into three treatments with C:F ratios of 35:65, 45:55, and 55:45 on a dry matter (DM) basis. Data was submitted to analyses of variance and regression. Increasing C:F from 35 to 55 % linearly enhanced milk production (22 to 23.6 kg day) and serum urea nitrogen (16.8 to 19.6 mg/dL), while it linearly reduced lactose and fat in milk (4.8 to 4.6 %; 3.9 to 3.6 %, respectively). Body weight, BCS, milk acidity, ethanol stability, coagulation time, and milk and blood mineral contents did not differ among treatments. During the last period of measurements, increased C:F reduced urinary pH and milk urea nitrogen. Changes of concentrate-to-forage proportion from 35 to 55 % increased milk yield, altered chemical composition without changing BW, BCS, acidity, stability, and mineral content of milk and blood attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00494747
- Volume :
- 46
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Tropical Animal Health & Production
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 95993506
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-014-0576-7