Nutritional Value of Brown Midrib Corn Silage for Lactating Dairy Cows

Abstract

Brown midrib-3 corn (Zea mays L.) silage and its normal genetic counterpart were fed in complete mixed rations to lactating Holstein cows at two forage-to-concentrate ratios (75:25 and 60:40, dry matter). The brown midrib silage contained 24% less lignin than the normal. Average daily intake of dry matter and milk composition did not differ with genotype of the corn or forage-to-concentrate ratio. Milk yield, actual and fat-corrected, was 1.3 and .9 kg greater for cows fed brown midrib-3 silage than for cows fed normal silage at 75:25. Milk yield was 1.6 and 1.0 kg greater, actual and fat-corrected, for cows fed brown midrib than for those fed normal silage at 60:40. Forage-to-concentrate ratio of the ration did not affect milk yield. © 1979, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.