The Nutritive Value of Alfalfa Hay. IV. Beet Pulp, Corn Gluten Meal and Soybean Oil Meal as Supplements to an All-Alfalfa Hay Ration for Milk Production

Abstract

Sixteen cows which had been depleted of the grain factor(s) were used in 21 trials to study the effect on milk production by replacing part of the T.D.N. in an all-hay ration with either beet pulp, sugar beets, corn gluten meal or soybean oil meal. In 9 of 10 trials a significant increase in 4 per cent F.C.M. was obtained when various levels of beet pulp or sugar beets replaced an equal amount of T.D.N. in the hay. In 9 of 11 trials a significant increase in F.C.M. was obtained when various amounts of corn gluten meal or soybean oil meal replaced an equal amount of T.D.N. in the hay. The tendency for the per cent of butterfat in the milk to increase when beet pulp or sugar beets replaced part of the hay was observed. In view of the low fat content of beet pulp, sugar beets and most of the corn gluten meals and soybean oil meals used in these trials, it is apparent that the first deficiency of an all-hay ration for milk production is not fat per se. The results indicate that the “so-called” grain factor(s) or the unidentified milk-stimulating factor(s) is stored also in beet pulp, sugar beets, corn gluten meal and soybean oil meal. © 1950, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.