Whole-crop cereal silage in dairy production
2008
Wallsten, J., Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala (Sweden)
The feed quality of whole-crop cereal silage (WCCS) was examined in three studies looking at crop yield, feed intake, digestibility and milk production. Dry matter (DM) yield was higher in winter cereals than in spring cereals. The increase in digestible DM yield during maturation was due to a corresponding increase in starch yield. Digestibility of organic matter and neutral detergent fibre decreased with increased maturity stage of WCCS, both when fed to dairy cows and heifers. Feed intake of barley silage for heifers and dairy cows was reduced, most likely because of the awns. Milk production and milk fat and protein concentrations in milk decreased with increased maturity stage of the fed barley silages, as a combined result of decreased intake, reduced digestibility, and high starch intake.
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