Value of Fresh Forage and Concentrates to Dairy Cows Fed Stored Forages

Abstract

Forty-eight lactating Jersey cows were used in each of 2 yr to evaluate three forage systems: corn silage and alfalfa hay fed in dry lot; corn silage and approximately 5 h of pasture daily; and green chop, alfalfa hay, and 5 h of pasture daily. Two rates of concentrate feeding were used. One-half of the cows on each forage system were fed concentrates at 1 kg of concentrate to 3 kg of 4% fat-corrected milk, and the other one-half were fed concentrates at 1:6. Daily milk and 4% fat-corrected milk production were higher on the two pasture systems than on corn silage and alfalfa hay fed in dry lot. Body weight gains were higher for cows on forage-dry lot system than on pasture systems. Differences in milk production between pasture systems were not significant. Neither differences in production due to rates of concentrate feeding nor interactions of forage system × rate of concentrate feeding were significant. © 1976, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.