Effect of corn hybrid and crop length of whole-plant corn silage on digestion and intake by dairy cows

The objectives of this experiment were to study the effects of corn hybrid and chop length of whole-plant corn silage (WPCS) on intake, and to quantify ruminal digestive processes that could help to identify factors limiting dry matter intake (DMI). Eight lactating cows and 4 dry cows fitted with a ruminal cannula were randomly assigned to 4 treatments in a 4 x 4 Latin square design with replications for lactating cows and without for ruminally cannulated cows. Treatments were fed in a total mixed ration (TMR) containing 75% WPCS and 25% concentrate. The 4 WPCS differed in the characteristics of 2 conventional hybrids, less degradable vs. more degradable in the rumen and in the chop length, fine vs. coarse. The DMI was measured for all cows, and digestion measurements and chewing activities were recorded with the cannulated cows. With lactating cows, DMI and milk yield varied with corn hybrids but not with chop length. The less degradable hybrid in the rumen was the less ingested. Dry matter intake of dry ears followed the same trend, but the differences between hybrids were lower than that observed with the lactating cows and not significant. Dry matter digestibility in the total tract and rumen fill were not different between hybrids. Ruminal mean retention time was greater for the least degradable hybrid. The rumen fill capacity could explain intake differences between hybrids. Ingestive mastication strongly reduced particle size, and the efficiency of particle size reduction was more important with the coarsely chopped WPCS than the finely chopped ones. The small differences in particle size of material entering the rumen after mastication of WPCS during eating might explain the lack of response for decreasing chop length. Because the rumen fill decreased with the decrease in chop length, rumen fill could not be the only factor responsible for DMI control of WPCS.