Influence of the “Tachisuzuka” diet, a whole-crop silage rice cultivar with high sugar content, on dry matter intake and milk production in dairy cows
2019
Yamaguchi, S. (Fukuoka Agriculture and Forestry Research Center, Chikushino, Fukuoka (Japan)) | Ohta, T. | Teshima, N. | Asaoka, S. | Baba, T.
'Tachisuzuka', a rice cultivar for whole-crop silage (WCS), is characterized by a small panicle and high sugar content in the stem. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of the 'Tachisuzuka' WCS diet and the different harvesting stages of 'Tachisuzuka' on dry matter intake (DMI) and milk production in dairy cows. Six mid- or late-lactation Holstein cows were assigned to one of two diets in a crossover design. In experiment 1, it was compared with Italian ryegrass silage (IRS) at flowering stage. The feeding groups comprised the control group (34% IRS in total mixed ration; dry matter basis), the 50% WCS group (17% IRS plus 16% 'Tachisuzuka' WCS) and the 100% WCS group (32% 'Tachisuzuka' WCS). In experiment 2, we examined the effect of different harvesting stages of 'Tachisuzuka' on DMI and milk production. The experiment diets consisted of the dough-ripe stage with 'Tachisuzuka' WCS harvested at the end of September or the full-ripe stage with 'Tachisuzuka' WCS harvested at the end of October. In experiment 1, DMI was significantly larger in the experimental groups than in the control group (50% WCS, P<0.05; 100% WCS, P<0.01). Milk production was significantly higher in the 100% WCS group than in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in milk components and blood components. In experiment 2, there were no differences in DMI, milk production and milk components between the experimental groups. In conclusion, the 'Tachisuzuka' WCS diet resulted in improved DMI and milk production compared with the normal diet. The late-cut 'Tachisuzuka' WCS diet had no effect on DMI and milk production compared with the normal diet, even if harvesting operation was delayed.
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