ISSN:
1365-2494
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Six mid-lactation multiparous Holstein–Friesian dairy cows were used to examine the potential of a fermented whole-crop barley (Hordeum vulgare)/kale (Brassica oleracea) bi-crop as a feed compared with a first-cut perennial ryegrass silage. The barley/kale bi-crop was grown as a strip intercrop, and was harvested and ensiled as an intimate mixture [0·80 barley and 0·20 kale on a dry-matter (DM) basis]. Animals were offered ad libitum access to one of three experimental diets in a duplicated Latin Square design experiment: (i) Bi-crop (the barley/kale bi-crop); (ii) Grass (the grass silage); and (iii) Mix (a 1:1 fresh mixture of Bi-crop and Grass). All animals also received a standard dairy concentrate at a rate of 4 kg d−1 in equal portions at each of two milkings. The Bi-crop and Grass silages contained 346 and 293 g DM kg−1, 108 and 168 g crude protein kg−1 DM, 268 and 36 g starch kg−1 DM, and had pH values of 3·87 and 3·80 respectively. Animals offered the two bi-crop silage-containing diets consumed more forage DM than those offered grass silage (14·6, 14·9 and 12·6 kg DM d−1 for Bi-crop, Mix and Grass respectively; s.e.d. 0·45, P 〈 0·01) and yielded more milk (24·0, 23·9, 22·6 kg d−1 for Bi-crop, Mix and Grass respectively; s.e.d. 0·26, P 〈 0·01). However, differences in the partitioning of dietary nitrogen towards milk protein and away from excretion in urine suggest a more efficient (rumen) utilization of feed protein by animals offered diets containing the bi-crop silage. It is concluded that, despite having a low crude protein concentration, barley/kale bi-crop silage offers excellent potential as a feed for lactating dairy cows.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2494.2003.00370.x
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