Effects of Corn Processing and Supplemental Hay on Rumen Environment and Lactation Performance of Dairy Cows Grazing Grass-Legume Pasture

摘要

The effect of corn processing (9 kg of dry matter/d of ground dry shelled or 9 kg of dry matter/d of steam rolled) and supplemental hay (0 or 3.2 kg of dry matter/ d of alfalfa hay) on milk yield and composition, rumen environment, and starch utilization by lactating cows grazing grass-legume pasture was studied. Twelve ru- men cannulated, multiparous Holstein cows in early lactation (95 d in milk), were assigned to a 4 x 4 Latin square design replicated three times. Treatments were ground shelled corn-based concentrate, ground shelled corn-based concentrate plus alfalfa hay, steam-rolled, corn-based concentrate, or steam-rolled, corn-based concentrate plus alfalfa hay. Supplements were fed in equal proportions twice daily. Cows fed steam-rolled corn tended to have higher percentage of milk protein and lower milk urea nitrogen concentrations than cows fed shelled corn. Milk yield was not affected by corn processing or hay supplementation. Intake of pasture forage but not total dry matter intake was reduced by hay supplementation. Starch plus free glucose digest- ibility in the total tract was not affected by grain pro- cessing, however, starch plus free glucose digestibility tended to increase with hay supplementation. Supple- mental hay increased starch plus free glucose digest- ibility through changes in rumen digestion kinetics. Hay supplementation reduced the liquid rate of pas- sage, and tended to reduce particulate turnover. Rumen degradability of pasture forage organic matter tended to be higher for cows fed supplemental hay. Supplemen- tal hay in these diets had a greater impact on starch utilization than corn processing.