Effects of replacing chopped alfalfa hay with alfalfa silage in a total mixed ration on production and rumen conditions of lactating dairy cows

Abstract

The effects of replacing chopped alfalfa hay with alfalfa silage in a total mixed ration containing barley grain and corn silage on production and rumen conditions were investigated. Cows received three diets that all contained (dry matter basis) 38.5% barley grain-based energy supplement, 30.5% corn silage, 17.0% protein supplement, and 4.2% sunflower seeds. One diet contained (dry matter basis) 9.8% of chopped alfalfa hay and no alfalfa silage. One diet contained (dry matter basis) 4.9% chopped alfalfa hay and 4.9% alfalfa silage. One diet contained (dry matter basis) 9.8% of alfalfa silage and no chopped alfalfa hay. Contents of crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and starch, averaged across diets, were 16.7, 41.3, 21.1, and 24.4% DM, respectively, and did not differ significantly among diets. Replacing chopped alfalfa hay with alfalfa silage decreased the proportion of dietary DM passing through the 8-mm screen of the Penn State Particle Separator from 61.9 to 55.2% dry matter and significantly increased dietary physical effective NDF (peNDF) content, calculated as the NDF retained by the two screens of the Penn State Particle Separator, from 20.1 to 23.3% DM. Replacing chopped alfalfa hay with alfalfa silage also reduced dietary DM content, increased rumen pH from 6.27 to 6.47, reduced volatile fatty acid concentrations, numerically increased milk fat concentration and milk fat yield. Milk yield, milk protein concentration, dry matter intake, and rumen ammonia concentration were not affected.