Effect of feeding level of mixed ration containing alfalfa silage on the digestibility and rumen fermentation in cows
1990
Shinoda, M. (Hokkaido National Agricultural Experiment Station, Sapporo (Japan)) | Manda, T.
Digestion trials with cows were conducted to investigate the effect of feeding level, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) level of mixed ration, and processing method of corn on digestibility, TDN value and rumen fluid constituents. Four mixed rations were formulated with early cut alfalfa silage, soy bean meal and different processed corn grains. The NDF content and processing method of the corn in the ration were 1) 31% NDF, steam flaked (SF) corn, 2) 26% NDF SF, 3) 21% NDF SF, and 4) 21% NDF, ground (GR) corn. Four dry cows fitted with ruminal fistula were fed at 1% of body weight and four lactating cows were fed at 3%. Rumen fluid was withdrawn 0, 1.5, 2, 5, and 8 hours after feeding. NDF and crude protein (CP) of the alfalfa silage were 34% and 21% dry mater (DM) respectively. The TDN value of the silage was 67.3% (DM). At the higher intake level, digestion of components decreased. The digestion of NDF decreased more than that of the organic cellular content (OCC). Starch digestion except for 21% NDF GR ration at 3% feeding level were from 98 to 100%, and for 21% NDF GR ration at the 3% feeding level it was 87%. The NDF digestion of NDF 21% ration was nearly equal to that of NDF 21% SF ration. The TDN values at 3% and 1% feeding levels were 70.1 and 74.0 with 31% NDF ration, 73.3 and 79.5 with 26% NDF ration, 79.5 and 85.1 with 21% NDF SF ration, and 74.5 and 86.7 with 21% NDF GR ration. The decrease in the TDN value of the 31% NDF ration with most alfalfa was the smallest, and with the 21% NDF ration with ground corn the TDN decrease was the largest
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