Effects of replacing corn dry distillers' grains with triticale dry distillers' grains on lactation performance and plasma metabolites of dairy cows

Abstract

Thirty Holstein cows were fed diets containing either triticale dry distillers' grains plus solubles (TDDGS) or corn dry distillers' grains plus solubles (CDDGS) at 21% of dietary dry matter in a crossover design with 14-d periods. Although plasma concentration of some essential amino acids and milk urea nitrogen concentration were higher for cows fed CDDGS, dry matter intake and milk yield were not affected by treatment. Multiparous cows fed TDDGS had higher milk fat concentration, milk fat yield, and 4% fat-corrected milk yield compared with primiparous cows fed TDDGS. In conclusion, TDDGS can replace CDDGS without negative impacts on lactation performance.