Using an Unconventional Energy Source to Make Silages and their Impact on Silage Quality and Performance of Lactating Cows

摘要

Background and Objective: Using corn grains in silage leads to a relentless decrease in the availability of corn grains and high prices, causing high nutrition costs. This study aimed to use Date Pits (DP) as an available and cheap source of energy instead of Corn Grains (CG) to make silage during suffering from a shortage of quantities or high prices. Materials and Methods: Ground DP (3-5 mm) as a source of energy was added at 25 (DPSsub1/sub), 50 (DPSsub2/sub) and 75% (DPSsub3/sub) Instead of corn grains in silage (CGS). Tested silage offered with concentrated feed mixture and rice straw in four diets Tsub0/sub, Tsub1/sub, Tsub2/sub and Tsub3/sub, respectively. Twenty cows distributed for 4×4 Latin squares. Results: Using DP as an energy source in silage making did not adversely affect the color, odor and texture. Lactic acid, NHsub3/sub-N, butyric acid and aerobic bacteria are within the desirable range. Components of silage not affected, while gas production and digestibility of Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) and Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) were reduced. The values of digestible protein and energy not significant (p0.05) alterations with an added 25 and 50% DP, but decreased with added 75%. No significant difference found in actual milk, fat corrected milk and milk components among all groups. Feed conversion of experimental groups not affected. Blood biochemical constituents (total protein, albumin, globulin, urea and creatinine) not significantly affected. Conclusion: Utilize DP as an alternative to CG at silage making, up to 75%, maybe no effect of feed consumption, palatability, rumen fermentation, digestion factors or blood measurements.