Effect of Feeding Corn-Sunflower Silage on Milk Production, Milk Composition, and Rumen Fermentation of Lactating Dairy Cows

Abstract

Corn, corn-sunflower intercropped, and sunflower silages were evaluated as roughage sources for high producing dairy cows. Thirty multiparous Holstein cows were started in a 3 × 3 Latin square design with 3-wk periods. Treatments were: 1) corn, 2) sunflower, and 3) corn-sunflower intercropping. Cows were fed once a day a total mixed ration consisting of a 50:50 concentrate:roughage (dry basis) with silage included as 60% of the forage. Cows fed corn silage had the lowest milk production compared with those fed corn-sunflower and sunflower (29.3, 30.1, and 30.0 kg/d). Four percent FCM was not different for corn and corn-sunflower; sunflower was lower than both. Corn did not differ in total fat production or fat test from corn-sunflower; sunflower was the lowest of the three. No differences were observed for total protein production, protein test, or total or individual rumen VFA concentration. Dry matter intake for corn-sunflower was 4.5% lower than for corn and 11.3% lower than for sunflower. Daily intake of NE was similar for corn and corn-sunflower treatments and greatest for the sunflower treatment. No significant differences were observed for blood serum FFA, cholesterol, or triglycerides. Oleic and linoleic percent in milk were greater for sunflower, intermediate for corn-sunflower, and the lowest for corn. © 1988, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.