Effects of complete replacement of corn flour with sorghum flour in dairy cows fed Parmigiano Reggiano dry hay-based ration

Abstract

The aim of this research was to evaluate of the productive responses of cows fed a dry hay based total mixed ration (TMR) in which sorghum (SOR) or corn (COR) meal (8 kg/h/d) were the main source of starch. The study involved two dairy herds located in the Parmigiano Reggiano PDO area, for a total of 1,400 cows (30% primiparous and 70% pluriparous). Each herd was fed alternatively SOR or COR TMR for 4 periods of 3 weeks: two weeks of adaptation and one week of data collection. Total milk production and composition, cheesemaking properties, fatty acid content and cheese yield were measured. In addition, within each herd, a random subgroup of 50 cows was selected for individual milk production, composition and cheesemaking properties analysis. Fibre digestibility was evaluated on faecal samples collected in 15 cows randomly selected in each subgroup. Data were analysed by a linear mixed model procedure with diet, herd, days in milk, parity and their interactions as fixed effects and cow as random effect. Individual milk production increase in SOR (32.43 vs. 31.34 kg, for SOR and COR, respectively; p<.0001) however, bulk milk and cheese yield did not show differences. Milk urea content was higher in SOR (27.38 vs. 22.79 mg/dL, for SOR and COR, respectively; p < .05). In this study the complete replacement of corn with finely ground sorghum meal in dairy cow diets in the Parmigiano Reggiano region did not result in negative effects on cows' productivity, cheese making properties and production. HIGHLIGHTSSorghum meal can be used as a substitute of corn without negative effect on herd productivity, milk quality and cheese yield. Replacement of corn meal with sorghum meal in the dairy cows' ration permit to decrease the soy content of the ration, thus improving sustainability and costs of feeding. Utilising sorghum meal could increase the amount of crop produced in the geographical area of the farm, contributing to increase its economic sustainability.

Immune‐metabolic‐inflammatory markers in Holstein cows exposed to a nutritional and environmental stressing challenge

“…This decrease was worsen further by the lower peNDF and uNDF content in the ration, especially in the treatment ration (13.10% and 3.05% of DM), that is lower than those suggested by other authors to ensure an optimum rumen pH (Humer et al, 2018). In previous research projects conducted using dry hay and straw in the diets, as commonly happens in the Parmigiano Reggiano PDO area, it was possible to decrease the amount of peNDF till 11.2% of DM with no rumen health negative effects (Buonaiuto et al, 2021;Cavallini et al, 2021;Fustini et al, 2016;Fustini, Palmonari, et al, 2017) The innate immune responses to non-infectious stressors have been highlighted by several authors (Trevisi et al, 2018), which also deal with the metabolic stress of high-yielding dairy cows. Our data agree with the results of previous nutritional challenge works (Trevisi et al, 2018), in which an increase in plasma concentrations of positive acute phase protein (+APP) was observed when rumen pH was below 5.8 for at least 6 h a day, as expected when we fed rich grain diets.…”

“…This decrease was worsen further by the lower peNDF and uNDF content in the ration, especially in the treatment ration (13.10% and 3.05% of DM), that is lower than those suggested by other authors to ensure an optimum rumen pH (Humer et al, 2018). In previous research projects conducted using dry hay and straw in the diets, as commonly happens in the Parmigiano Reggiano PDO area, it was possible to decrease the amount of peNDF till 11.2% of DM with no rumen health negative effects (Buonaiuto et al, 2021; Cavallini et al, 2021; Fustini et al, 2016; Fustini, Palmonari, et al, 2017). In those experiments, the dietary starch content was lower (23.2, % DM, on avg) and comparable to the CTR diet, offered before the challenge.…”

Effect of an Immunomodulatory Feed Additive in Mitigating the Stress Responses in Lactating Dairy Cows to a High Concentrate Diet Challenge

“…The latter was lower than min. levels recommended by other authors [ 49 ], but previous experience with feeding diets similar to the one fed in this trial, a diet based on hay and straw as required in the Parmigiano Reggiano production area [ 50 , 51 ] has shown it is possible to decrease the level peNDF to 11.2% of DM without compromising rumen health [ 52 , 53 , 54 ]. In all those examples the starch content of the ration (avg.…”

Does Feeding Management Make a Difference to Behavioural Activities and Welfare of Horses Reared for Meat Production?

“…The feeding management of horses Is strictly linked to equine gastrointestinal health, influencing both health and productivity [ 38 ]. It is well known that a diet based on high amounts of concentrates causes important changes in the gastrointestinal environment of the horse, and represents a risk factor for the onset of gastric ulcerations [ 24 ] and colic [ 7 ]. Among the induced changes, the increased production of total volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and specifically that of valeric acid caused by a high starch diet, has been shown to reduce mucosal integrity, leading to inflammation processes in the stomach [ 39 , 40 ], small intestine, and hindgut [ 7 , 41 ].…”

“…Those not abiding to a normal distribution were reported as medians (plus 25th–75th percentile) and analysed using the Mann–Whitney non-parametric test. The significance level was set at p > 0.05 [ 24 ].…”