Effect on intake and production of dairy cows of feeding three high-moisture silages having different fermentation characteristics

摘要

Abstract Three degress of consolidation and air exclusion were imposed by vacuum compression during the making of three 60 tonne stacks of silage from a common source of mixed pasture grasses. Maximum air exclusion resulted in a silage having lowest pH and butyric acid and highest lactic acid content. When the three silages were fed as sole diets to lactating dairy cows intake was about 12% lower and butterfat yield about 14% lower on the silage from which air had been most effectively removed.