Effects of ground corn cobs as roughage source in total mixed ration on intake and milk yield in dairy cows
2004
Chalong Wachirapakorn(Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen (Thailand). Faculty of Agriculture. Department of Animal Science) | Metha Wanapat(Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen (Thailand). Faculty of Agriculture. Department of Animal Science) | Nirote Sornsoongnern(Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen (Thailand). Faculty of Agriculture. Department of Animal Science)
Objective of this experiment was to study the use of corn cobs as a roughage source in total mixed ration (TMR) in lactating cows. Four crossbred Holstein Friesian (75 percent) cows with initial weight 392+-28.7 kg and days in milk 118.2+-19.5 days were allotted to receive one of four dietary treatments as followed: 1) concentrate at 2 percent BW and rice straw ad libitum (control) (separated feeding), 2) TMR containing corn cobs at 30 percent (TMR30), 3) TMR containing corn cobs at 35 percent (TMR35) and 4) TMR containing corn cobs at 40 percent (TMR40) according to a 4*4 Latin square design. Each period lasted for 21 days. It was found that dry matter intake (DMI) of cows received TMR feeding (3.31, 3.44 and 3.46 percent BW) was significantly higher (p LT 0.01) than that of cows received separated feeding (2.75 percent BW). Consequently, milk yields were significantly higher (p LT 0.05) in cows received TMR feeding (13.6, 13.6 and 14.0 kg/d) than in cows received separated feeding (13.1 kg/d). Rumen pH of cows fed TMR was lowered than that of cows fed separated feeding. It is therefore concluded that corn cobs can be used as a sole roughage source in TMR for dairy cattle without any negative effect on DMI and milk yield in lactating cows.
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