Abstract #92
Section: Forages and Pastures (orals)
Session: Forages and Pastures 1
Format: Oral
Day/Time: Monday 12:15 PM–12:30 PM
Location: Room 233
Session: Forages and Pastures 1
Format: Oral
Day/Time: Monday 12:15 PM–12:30 PM
Location: Room 233
# 92
Effect of using fresh ryegrass-berseem clover as forage basis for TMR during the winter period on dairy cow performance and nitrogen utilization.
D. Enriquez-Hidalgo*1, F. Pereira1,2, A. Almeida Torres1, M. Fernandez Donoso1, E. Vargas-Bello-Pérez3, D. Lemos Teixeira1, 1Departamento de Ciencias Animales, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile, 2Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada e Bem-estar Animal (LETA), Departamento de Zootecnia e Desenvolvimento Rural, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, 3Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Key Words: fresh forage, milk, berseem clover
Effect of using fresh ryegrass-berseem clover as forage basis for TMR during the winter period on dairy cow performance and nitrogen utilization.
D. Enriquez-Hidalgo*1, F. Pereira1,2, A. Almeida Torres1, M. Fernandez Donoso1, E. Vargas-Bello-Pérez3, D. Lemos Teixeira1, 1Departamento de Ciencias Animales, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile, 2Laboratório de Etologia Aplicada e Bem-estar Animal (LETA), Departamento de Zootecnia e Desenvolvimento Rural, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, 3Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Alfalfa hay-corn silage mixture are the common forages used for winter TMR in Mediterranean dairy systems. Fresh forages can improve milk quality and systems sustainability. Berseem clover is a productive winter forage commonly sown with annual ryegrass. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of using fresh ryegrass-berseem clover (MIX) and alfalfa hay-corn silage (CON) as forage basis for TMR during the winter period on dairy cows’ performance and metabolic N. Lactating Holstein Friesian cows (n = 24) were blocked according to productive traits and allocated to each TMR according to a complete block design. Cows were individually stalled for 10 weeks and received the TMR ad libitum. TMRs were formulated as a 50:50 forage-to-concentrate ratio. TMR samples (2/wk) were analyzed for dry mater (DM), crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents and in vitro DM digestibility (DMD). Feed intake and milk yield were measured daily. Individual milk composition was measured once every other week. Cow blood serum, urine and fecal samples were collected on wk 10 and were analyzed for N contents. Data were analyzed using repeated measures over time with treatment, week, and treatment by week interaction included in the model. The time effect was excluded from the model for N utilization variables. Offered TMRs compositions were: DM, CON: 518, MIX: 408; SD 57.4 g/kg; CP, CON 170, MIX 148; SD 12.7 g/kg DM; CP; NDF CON: 325, MIX: 330; SD 16.1 g/kg DM and DMD, CON: 79, MIX: 82; SD 1.9. Cows had similar feed intake 24.1 ± 1.45 kg DM/d, but CON cows had greater milk yield (24.9 vs 23.3; SEM 1.45 kg/d; P < 0.05), milk solids yield (3.19 vs 2.64; SEM 0.089 kg/d; P < 0.001), milk urea nitrogen (17 vs 14; SEM 1.2mg/dL; P < 0.05), serum urea N (12.7 vs 6.9; SEM 0.49 mg/dL; P < 0.001), urine urea N (202 vs 76; SEM 15.4 g/d; P < 0.001) and fecal N (240 vs 180; SEM 8.9 g/d; P < 0.001) than MIX cows. Cows’ had similar milk composition (3.45 ± 0.207% fat, 3.45 ± 0.082% protein and 5.28 ± 0.039% lactose). The use of fresh forage in dairy cows’ TMR decreased milk production, did not affect milk composition but decreased N excretion. The study was supported by FONDECYT 11160697
Key Words: fresh forage, milk, berseem clover
