Forage characteristics of grass silage made from orchardgrass and perennial ryegrass mixed meadow, harvested early and at short intervals in Hokkaido

Abstract

We investigated the water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentrations of forages and the chemical composition, the fermentation quality, and the nutritive value of silage made from orchardgrassperennial ryegrass (OG-PR) mixed meadow, harvested early and three times a year at short intervals, compared to those made from timothy (TY) meadow, harvested twice a year in Hokkaido. The WSC concentration of OG-PR first cut forage was higher than those of other forages. OG-PR first cut silage showed good fermentation quality with high lactate acid content. OG-PR silage contained more crude protein and total digestive nutrients estimated by total fecal collection method using wether, and less fiber than TY silage. These results indicated that grass silage made from OG-PR mixed meadow, harvested early and at short intervals, has advantages in improving the fermentation quality and the nutritive value.

Effects of feeding early‐harvested orchardgrass–perennial ryegrass mixed silage instead of heading stage harvested timothy silage on digestion and milk production in dairy cows

“…We observed that the whole‐tract nutrient digestibility except for starch digestibility increased in response to the equal replacement of FTY silage with FOP and SOP silages mixture in total mixed ration. The nutrient digestibility of both FOP and SOP silages is higher than that of FTY silage (Yajima et al., 2020). Thus, the increase in the nutrient digestibility by the equal replacement of FTY silage with FOP and SOP silages mixture would reflect these forage dietary characteristics.…”

“…Several research groups reported that feeding higher digestible silage increased the milk protein yield and/or protein content (Alstrup, Søegaard, & Weisbjerg, 2016;Brunette, Baurhoo, & Mustafa, 2016;Kuoppala, Rinne, Nousiainen, & Huhtanen, 2008), and our present findings are consistent with those reports. Both FOP and SOP silages have higher TDN and CP contents compared to FTY silage (Yajima et al., 2020). Thus, the increased milk protein content and yield due to an equal replacement of FTY silage with FOP and SOP silages mixture could be explained by higher TDN and CP intakes, and may be reflected by an improved energy status and increased intestinal supply of amino acids to the cow (Alstrup et al., 2016;Rinne, Jaakkola, Kaustell, Heikkilä, & Huhtanen, 1999).…”

“…The nutrient digestibility of both FOP and SOP silages is higher than that of FTY silage (Yajima et al, 2020). Thus, the increase in the nutrient digestibility by the equal replacement of FTY silage with FOP and SOP silages mixture would reflect these forage dietary characteristics.…”

“…Improving forage quality can allow the concentrate supplementation to be reduced without compromising the animal performance or milk production (Cabezas‐Garcia, Krizsan, Shingfield, & Huhtanen, 2017;Huhtanen, Jaakkola, & Nousiainen, 2013). Both FOP and SOP silages have a lower NDF content and higher total digestible nutrients (TDN) and CP contents compared to FTY silage (Yajima et al., 2020). Thus, replacing FTY silage with FOP and SOP silages mixture with increasing forage input, that is, maintaining the dietary forage NDF content, could not only maintain the milk production level with a reduced concentrate input but also decrease the risk of depressing the milk fat.…”

“…Compared to FTY silage, the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content of both FOP and SOP silages was lower and the NDF digestibility was higher (Yajima, Sudo, Tada, Miyaji, & Aoki, 2020). The dry matter intake (DMI) depends on the NDF content and digestibility (Huhtanen, Rinne, & Nousiainen, 2007;NRC, 2001).…”