Publication Date
1985
Location
Kyoto Japan
Description
Trials have shown that both silage quality and level of concentrate are major factors influencing dry matter (DM) intake and milk production with adult dairy cows but there are few data relating to heifers.Seventy-two British Friesian heifers were divided into two groups during weeks 3-12 of lactation and received ad Iibitum either good quality (G) or poor quality (P) grass silage. The in vitro digestible organic matter in the dry matter was 68 and 60 for silages G and P, respectively. In addition, the heifers in each group consumed concentrate at either a low (4.3 kg DM/day), medium (6.4 kg DM/day) or high (7.9 kg DM/day) level. The concentrate contained 180 g/kg DM of crude protein and had a calculated energy concentration of 12.9 MJME/kgDM. The mean daily DM intakes for the heifers given silages G and P were 12.4 and 11.1 kg, and milk yields were 18.0 and 16.0 kg/day, respectively. Mean intakes and milk yields of heifers given the low, medium and high levels of concentrate were 10.8, 11.8 and 12.7 kg DM and 15.3, 17.6 and 18.2 kg/day, respectively. Each additional kg concentrate DM depressed intake of silage G by 0.66 kg DM and of silage P by 0.33 kg DM. Milk fat concentration was depressed as concentrate level increased; this occurred with both silages. Improved silage quality and increased level of supplementation led to increased milk protein concentration and yield of milk constituents. Estimates of mean efficiency of utilization of ME for lactation, made on a weekly basis, were 0.52 and 0.57 for the heifers given silages G and P respectively and 0.56, 0.54, 0.52 for those given the low, medium and high levels of concentrate. Energy balances were calculated on a mean weekly basis.
Citation
Phipps, R H.; Bines, J A.; Thomas, J; Cooper, A; and Wilkins, R J., "The Effect of Silage Quality and Level of Concentrate on the Dry Matter Intake and Milk Production of British Friesian Heifers" (1985). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 17.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1985/ses10/17)
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
The Effect of Silage Quality and Level of Concentrate on the Dry Matter Intake and Milk Production of British Friesian Heifers
Kyoto Japan
Trials have shown that both silage quality and level of concentrate are major factors influencing dry matter (DM) intake and milk production with adult dairy cows but there are few data relating to heifers.Seventy-two British Friesian heifers were divided into two groups during weeks 3-12 of lactation and received ad Iibitum either good quality (G) or poor quality (P) grass silage. The in vitro digestible organic matter in the dry matter was 68 and 60 for silages G and P, respectively. In addition, the heifers in each group consumed concentrate at either a low (4.3 kg DM/day), medium (6.4 kg DM/day) or high (7.9 kg DM/day) level. The concentrate contained 180 g/kg DM of crude protein and had a calculated energy concentration of 12.9 MJME/kgDM. The mean daily DM intakes for the heifers given silages G and P were 12.4 and 11.1 kg, and milk yields were 18.0 and 16.0 kg/day, respectively. Mean intakes and milk yields of heifers given the low, medium and high levels of concentrate were 10.8, 11.8 and 12.7 kg DM and 15.3, 17.6 and 18.2 kg/day, respectively. Each additional kg concentrate DM depressed intake of silage G by 0.66 kg DM and of silage P by 0.33 kg DM. Milk fat concentration was depressed as concentrate level increased; this occurred with both silages. Improved silage quality and increased level of supplementation led to increased milk protein concentration and yield of milk constituents. Estimates of mean efficiency of utilization of ME for lactation, made on a weekly basis, were 0.52 and 0.57 for the heifers given silages G and P respectively and 0.56, 0.54, 0.52 for those given the low, medium and high levels of concentrate. Energy balances were calculated on a mean weekly basis.
