Effects of partial substitution of concentrates with maize silage in organic dairy cow rations on performance and feed efficiency

Velik, M.; Baumung, Roswitha; Zollitsch, Werner; Knaus, Wilhelm

doi:10.1002/jsfa.3028

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The difficulty to prove the effect of treatment on milk yield for all cows could be due to the limited number of cows available for this feeding trial. The general level of milk yield (20.3–21.0 kg) observed in this experiment is in agreement with earlier studies, reporting comparable intakes of forage (mainly grass silage) and concentrates and observing milk yields of 19.7–23.5 kg 22, 23. When feeding Italian ryegrass silage as the sole forage in diets high in concentrates (45–50% of total diet DM), milk yields of 28.1 kg2 and 30.3 kg5 respectively were reported.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

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Italian ryegrass silage in winter feeding of organic dairy cows: forage intake, milk yield and composition

Baldinger

Baumung

Zollitsch

et al. 2010

J. Sci. Food Agric.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…The average milk urea contents were within the desired range in both treatments. The general levels of protein and fat contents and yields recorded in this experiment are comparable to earlier feeding trials with organic dairy cows by Velik et al 22 and Steinshamn and Thuen 25…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Italian ryegrass silage in winter feeding of organic dairy cows: forage intake, milk yield and composition

Baldinger

Baumung

Zollitsch

et al. 2010

J. Sci. Food Agric.

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“…The observed feed efficiencies of 1.19–1.23 kg ECM kg −1 intake of DM lie within the range of previous reports about organically managed dairy cows, ranging from 1.11 kg milk kg −1 intake of DM when only 1.3 kg DM of concentrates were supplemented 40 (forage base consisted of grass–clover silage and maize silage) to 1.35–1.37 kg ECM kg −1 intake of DM when 10 kg DM of concentrates were supplemented 41 (forage base grass–clover silage). The gross N efficiency of 0.259 observed when feeding the ryegrass diet is similar to the level of 0.255 observed by Velik et al 42 (forage-base grass–clover silage, supplemented with 3 kg DM of concentrates), but at the lower end of the range of 0.25–0.30 that according to Chase 43 can be considered as average, while the level of 0.304 achieved with the maize diet is already slightly above average.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Maize silage and Italian ryegrass silage as high-energy forages in organic dairy cow diets: Differences in feed intake, milk yield and quality, and nitrogen efficiency

Baldinger

Zollitsch

Knaus

2013

Renew. Agric. Food Syst.

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During the winter feeding period in organic dairy production systems in the alpine and pre-alpine regions of Austria and its neighboring countries, maize silage is an energy-rich forage that is regularly included in grass-silage-based diets to improve the energy supply of the cows. Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is also a high-energy fodder grass popular as forage for dairy cows, but it is rarely cultivated in Austrian organic agriculture. The two crops differ in their cultivation demands and characteristics. Italian ryegrass establishes rapidly and may reduce the risk of soil erosion. Italian ryegrass would be a beneficial addition to crop rotation, which is an essential tool in successful organic farming. In a 15-week feeding trial, Italian ryegrass silage and maize silage were fed to 22 lactating Holstein dairy cows. Organically produced Italian ryegrass silage and maize silage were included at a rate of 40% [of dry matter (DM)] in grass-silage-based mixed basal diets. The mixed basal diets were supplemented with modest amounts of additional concentrates (2.7-3.0 kg DM day − 1 ). Owing to the higher energy content of maize silage as compared to Italian ryegrass silage, the maize diet provided more energy [6.3 MJ net energy for lactation (NEL) kg − 1 DM] than the ryegrass diet (6.15 MJ NEL kg − 1 DM). The protein supply of the maize diet and the ryegrass diet was intended to be equal, but in fact the protein content of the maize diet was significantly lower (122 g crude protein kg − 1 DM) than that of the ryegrass diet (141 g kg − 1 DM). When the maize diet was fed, feed intake, milk yield and milk protein content were significantly higher as compared to the ryegrass diet. Also, intake of crude protein was significantly lower when feeding the maize diet, and in combination with the higher milk protein yield, this enabled an efficiency of gross nitrogen (N) utilization as high as 0.304. This level of N efficiency can be considered as above average and was significantly and considerably higher than the level of 0.259 observed when the ryegrass diet was fed. Therefore, maize silage upholds its reputation as an ideal energy-rich component in grass-silage-based dairy cow diets.

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Effects of partial substitution of concentrates with maize silage in organic dairy cow rations on performance and feed efficiency

Abstract: The present study indicates a potential to reduce levels of concentrates and substitute them with maize silage in organic dairy cow rations at least in the second half of lactation. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry.

Cited by 2 publications

References 19 publications

Italian ryegrass silage in winter feeding of organic dairy cows: forage intake, milk yield and composition

Italian ryegrass silage in winter feeding of organic dairy cows: forage intake, milk yield and composition

Maize silage and Italian ryegrass silage as high-energy forages in organic dairy cow diets: Differences in feed intake, milk yield and quality, and nitrogen efficiency

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