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Effects of silage diets on health, reproduction, and blood metabolites of dairy cattle.

Forty-eight Hostein dairy cows were assigned uniformly by parity and calving date to three forage treatments for three lactations. Forage treatments were corn silage (F-I), corn silage plus Hay-crop silage (-f-II), and corn silage plus hay (F-III). Records of health and reproductive data were kept to evaluate dietary effects. During the third lactation six animals in each treatment were blood-sampled on a 4-day interval from 24 days prepartum to 60 days postpartum to determine metabolites. Reproductive traits were similar among the treatment groups as were occurrences of mastitis. Corn silage and hay-crop silage cows had more ketosis than hay cows. Corn silage cows had more parturient paresis than the other two groups, and abomasal displacement occurred only in the corn silage group. There were differences in concentrations of plasma metabolites among treatments; however, they appeared to be within normal ranges, and no pathological implications were obvious. Blood pH, blood packed cell volume, blood alkaline reserve, and pH values were similar among treatment groups. Histological evaluation of hepatic and endocrine tissues revealed no treatment effects.

Abomasum↗

Influences of barley and oat silages for beef cows on occurrence of myopathy in their calves.

Sixteen pregnant Shorthorn cows were winter-fed either oat or barley silage, both of which were low in selenium (less than .1 ppm). Two months before calving, as well as at calving and a month later, four cows on each diet were given intramuscularly a preparation containing 1360 IU of vitamin E and 30 mg selenium as sodium selenite. Barley silage lipids contained higher linoleic (33.2 versus 22.3%) and palmitic acids (32.3 versus 23.1%), and lower oleic (6.3 versus 22.1%) and linolenic acids (20.9 versus 30.9%) than oat silage. Three calves born from the untreated dams on barley silage died from nutritional muscular dystrophy by 50 days of age whereas none of the calves either from the untreated cows on oat silage or from any of the selenium/vitamin E treated cows. Milk from untreated cows fed barley silage contained a higher proportion of linoleic acid than that from treated cows or from those on oat silage. The incidence of nutritional muscular dystrophy was associated closely with ingestion by the calves of an increased amount of dietary dienoic acid. It appears an advantage to include oat silage in winter feeding programs for beef cows to reduce the risk of development of nutritional muscular dystrophy in the offspring.

Animal Feed↗

Apparent digestibility of nitrogen in rumen and whole tract of Friesian cattle fed direct-cut and wilted grass silages.

Spring grass consisting of Lolium perene L. (81%), Poa pratensis L. (9%), and annual weeds (5%) was stored as direct-cut or as wilted silage and used in feeding trials to determine the effects of wilting on N utilization. Six mature Friesian cattle, fitted with rumen and simple duodenal cannulae, were fed the silages for ad libitum intake in a crossover design consisting of two 49-d periods. Wilting increased intake of organic matter and decreased ruminal apparent digestibility or organic matter and whole tract apparent digestibilities of organic matter, NDF, and total N. Rumen degradability of silage N was increased by wilting (.7 vs. .67). Direct-cut silage, in comparison with wilted silage, provide (g/d) less N intake (232 vs. 286) and lower duodenal flows of total N (215 vs. 293), non-NH3 N (202 vs. 280), microbial N (111 vs. 177), and total amino acids (1056.8 vs. 1342.7). Duodenal flows of NH3 N and undegraded N were not different between silages. Efficiency of bacterial N synthesis in rumen was higher for wilted than for direct-cut silage (32.3 vs. 21.4 g N/kg organic matter apparently digested in rumen). It was concluded that wilting increase silage intake, rumen bacterial synthetic efficiency, and duodenal flow of non-NH3 N in cattle.

Animals↗

Effect of ammoniated barley silage on ruminal fermentation, nitrogen supply to the small intestine, ruminal and whole tract digestion, and milk production of Holstein cows.

The effect of ammonia on barley silage fermentation characteristics, and the digestion and utilization of ammoniated barley silage by lactating Holstein cows fed three isonitrogenous diets (14.5% CP, DM basis) were examined. Whole plant barley was chopped and treated with anhydrous ammonia (1%, DM basis) at ensiling. Untreated barley silage was supplemented with either canola meal or urea. Cows were fed complete mixed diets (50% silage and 50% concentrate mixture, DM basis). Addition of ammonia increased total N, water-insoluble N, lactic acid, and pH in silage. Based on the application rate, 77.7% of the added ammonia N was recovered, and increased water-insoluble N was equal to 49.8% of added ammonia N. Addition of ammonia to barley silage increased ruminal concentrations of ammonia and propionate, and supplies of nonammonia N, microbial N, and total N to the small intestine. Ruminal effective degradabilities of DM and CP of barley silage and complete mixed diets, and whole tract digestibility of DM and CP of complete mixed diets were not affected by supplemental N source. Milk yield and milk composition of cows fed the ammoniated barley silage were similar to those of cows fed the diets supplemented with canola meal or urea.

Ammonia↗

Effect of forage to concentrate ratio and intake level on utilization of early vegetative alfalfa silage by dairy cows.

Two experiments were conducted to measure the effects of intake and forage: grain ratio on utilization of early maturity alfalfa silage in dairy cows. In Experiment 1, diets with three forage: concentrate ratios (percentage of silage, percentage NDF): low (56, 28.3), medium (71, 31.0), or high (86, 33.4) were fed ad libitum to six lactating, ruminally cannulated cows in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square. The same diets were then fed at 1.3 x maintenance intake to six gestating dry cows. Dairy milk yield and percentage and yield of milk protein and casein were higher for cows fed the low silage diet than for cows receiving other treatments. Fat percentage and yield were not different among diets. Lactating cows consumed more DM on low silage (23.0 kg/d) than on medium or high silage diets (21.4 kg), but NDF intake as percentage of BW was higher for the high silage diet. Digestibility of DM in the lactating (70.7, 69.9, and 67.5% for low, medium, and high) and dry cows (76.7, 73.5, and 69.0%, respectively) decreased as the level of silage increased. Depression in digestibility was greater as dietary concentrate increased. Cows fed the high silage diet had a faster fractional passage rate of solids and higher rumen fill. Digestion of concentrate cell walls appeared to be depressed more than alfalfa cell walls as intake increased.

Ammonia↗

Effects of an enzyme mixture, an inoculant, and their interaction on silage fermentation and dairy production.

Second-crop, mixed grass-legume forage was ensiled in four bunker silos either untreated or after application at the forage harvester of an enzyme mixture containing cellulase, xylanase, cellobiase, and glucose oxidase, a commercial inoculant, or both additives combined. Sixteen multiparous midlactation Holstein cows in a 4 x 4 Latin square design received each silage in a 50:50 forage: concentrate diet to determine effects of silage additives on milk production and composition. Enzyme treatment reduced silage pH, concentrations of xylose and total sugars, and concentration and proportion of cell-wall arabinose. Titratable acidity, buffering capacity, concentration of residual water-soluble carbohydrate, and digestibility of DM in vitro were increased, and levels of silage structural carbohydrates were reduced. Inoculation, both alone and in the combined treatment, reduced silage pH compared with control, but inoculation alone was more effective than the combination. Enzyme treatment increased DMI and production of milk, FCM, SCM, milk protein, and milk SNF. The two silage additives were antagonistic when combined and did not improve silage fermentation, nutritional value, or animal performance, and enzyme degradation of forage structural carbohydrates was reduced. Inoculation also reduced silage aerobic stability. Combination of enzyme systems with inoculants requires careful evaluation to avoid antagonistic interactions.

Animals↗

Effect of microbial inoculants on the nutritive value of corn silage for lactating dairy cows.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of microbial inoculation on the composition and nutritive value of corn silage for lactating cows. In Experiment 1, forage was untreated or treated at ensiling with Pioneer 1174 or Ecosyl silage inoculants. Forage was offered for free choice consumption, and concentrate was fed by a computerized feeder. Treatment with 1174 inoculant had little effect on silage composition and no effect on cow performance. Silage treated with Ecosyl inoculant had greater lactic acid content, but also greater acetic acid and ammonia N contents. Production of 3.5% FCM was greatest from cows fed silage treated with Ecosyl. In Experiment 2, silage was untreated or treated with Ecosyl and fed in a TMR. Inoculation had no effect on silage composition but increased 3.5% FCM production and DMI as length of time on treatment increased. Microbial inoculation can improve the nutritive value of corn silage for lactating cows even if changes in fermentation end products are minimal.

Animals↗

Effect of wheat silage maturity on digestion and milk yield in dairy cows.

The effect of wheat crop maturity on diet digestibility and lactational performance by high yielding dairy cows was measured in an 8-wk lactation experiment under commercial dairy herd conditions. Friesian cows (n = 168) were fed 7 kg of DM from either early or late cut wheat silage (harvested at middle flowering or at the end of the milk stage). Each diet contained 33% NDF, 18.5 percentage units of which was from forage. Feed intake (22 kg/d of DM) and DM digestibility (63%) of the two diets were similar. Dietary NDF digestibility was higher in the early cut silage (45.7) than in the late cut silage (41.3%). Although DM from the two silages was similarly degraded in the rumen, degradability of NDF was 24% higher in the early cut silage. Yields of milk and milk energy in the cows receiving the early cut silage were higher than those of cows receiving the late cut silage by 3.2 kg/d and .85 Mcal/d, respectively. Apparently, NDF content is an inaccurate predictor of energy content of wheat silage.

Animal Feed↗

Juice-extracted grass pellets and sodium bicarbonate for cows fed timothy silage of two chop lengths.

Eighteen multiparous Holstein cows in midlactation were used in a switchback design trial to evaluate the effect of chop length (3 or 30 mm) of timothy grass silage, containing less than 30% ADF and treated with formic acid, on DMI and cow performance. Within chop length, addition of NaHCO3 (2% of DMI) or the replacement of 30% of silage DM with juice-extracted grass pellets was also evaluated. Cows were fed a TMR composed of 90% silage and 10% concentrate. Silage preservation characteristics were not different between chop lengths. The DMI and apparent digestibility were similar among treatments. Yields of 4% FCM (24.9 vs. 22.7 kg/d), fat (1.03 vs. .93 kg/d), and protein (.83 vs .77 kg/d) were higher with the short chopped silage. Milk protein, milk NPN content, and serum urea were higher for cows fed long chopped silage. Yields of milk and milk constituents were not affected by the addition of juice-extracted grass pellets or NaHCO3. Fat percentage and fatty acid composition of milk remained unchanged by treatments. Reduction of particle size, from 30 to 3 mm, of timothy grass, treated with formic acid at harvest and using compaction at ensiling in bag silos, did not affect silage conservation characteristics but did improve milk, fat, and protein yields when cows were fed high silage diets.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

Control of voluntary intake of precision-chopped silages by ruminants: a review.

The aim of this review is to provide a better understanding of the ways in which ruminants control their voluntary intake of finely-chopped silages. Silages with an excellent conservation quality can be ingested at similar levels to the corresponding fresh or dry forages. Intake levels decrease when conservation quality decreases. The implicated physiological mechanisms for this phenomenon are discussed in this review. Poorly preserved silages may have low palatibility, decreasing the animal's motivation to ingest. At the ruminal level, the physical control of intake is generally not involved. On the other hand the fermentation products present in silage seem to induce a high and rapid level of satiation, out of proportion to their relatively low quantity. At the metabolical level some limiting factors may also exist (eg, a poor balance between amino acids and energy, and high levels of acids to be metabolized). Fermentation products induce most of the observed reactions. For well-preserved silages, high quantities of lactic and acetic acids limit intake. Their effects seem to be additive, which explains the observation that low pH often has a negative action. The negative effect of moisture is generally strengthened by that of the acids. For poorly-preserved silages, products of protein decomposition must be considered in addition to volatile fatty acids. The effect of N-compounds is less clearly explained than that of acids. For example, ammonia alone generally seems to have no direct effect. However it is clear that N-compounds taken together have a negative effect on appetite. It can be concluded that the negative effects of poor quality silages are multifactorial; each fermentation product alone has a low effect, but the sum of all the components must be considered. Moreover, it is apparent that some physiological mechanisms are used to control silage intake, which explains the complexity of the studies on this subject.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

Comparison of hay and silage for pregnant and lactating Finnish Landrace ewes.

A comparison of conserving timothy/meadow fescue/meadow grass as silage or hay was conducted with Finnish Landrace ewes. Intake of hay (H), silage (S) and hay/silage (HS), and the performance of 30 Finnish Landrace ewes carrying twins, triplets and quadruplets and suckling either twin or triplet lambs was measured during the last 8 weeks of pregnancy and during the first 6 weeks of lactation. The dry matter (DM) intake of HS was lower (p<0.03) than H during lactation, whereas there was no difference in DM intake between pregnant and lactating ewes fed either H or S. The intake of metabolisable energy was on an average 12.8, 14.3 and 13.4MJperday in pregnancy, and 17.7, 20.2 and 18.1MJ in lactation for H, S and HS, respectively. Daily intakes of protein assessed in terms of amino acids absorbed in the small intestine (AAT) were on an average 92, 110 and 102g for H, S and HS during pregnancy and 157, 184 and 165g during lactation, respectively. Ewes in all treatments were, relative to calculated requirements, deficient in energy and protein during the last month of pregnancy and early lactation. Ewes performed consistently better when fed silage than hay. Lamb mortality was low for all treatments. The number of artificially reared lambs tended to be highest when ewes were fed both hay and silage ad libitum. Lamb growth was higher on S than H based diet (p<0.005). With respect to winter feeding of ewes, grass silage compared favourably with hay and indicated that hay could be replaced by well preserved grass silage. During late pregnancy and early lactation, there was no advantage of supplementing silage with hay, relative to entirely silage based diets.

Journal Article↗

Proportion of corn silage in diets of feedlot steers fed to achieve stepwise increases in growth.

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of proportion of dietary corn silage during periods of feed restriction on performance of steers. In Exp. 1, Simmental x Angus steer calves (n = 107; initial BW = 273 +/- 3.8 kg) were allotted to 12 pens with eight or nine steers/pen and four pens/treatment. Periods of growth were 273 to 366 kg BW (Period 1), 367 to 501 kg BW (Period 2), and 502 to 564 kg BW (Period 3). In two of the dietary regimens, steers were given ad libitum access to feed throughout the experiment and were fed either a 15% corn silage diet in each period or an 85, 50, and 15% corn silage diet in Periods 1, 2, and 3; respectively. In the third feeding regimen, a programmed intake feeding regimen was used. Steers were fed a 15% corn silage diet in each period. However, feed intake was restricted to achieve a predicted gain of 1.13 kg/d in Period 1 and 1.36 kg/d in Period 2, and feed was offered for ad libitum consumption in Period 3. For the entire experiment, ADG was similar (P = 0.41) among treatments and feed efficiency was lower (P < 0.10) for steers in the corn silage regimen than for steers in the programmed intake and ad libitum regimens. In Exp. 2, Simmental x Angus steer calves (n = 106; initial BW = 233 +/- 2 kg) were allotted by BW to 12 pens (three pens/treatment) and fed in three periods similar to those described in Exp. 1. Four feeding regimens were investigated: 1) AL; steers were offered a 15% corn silage diet for ad libitum consumption in all three periods; 2) PI; DMI was programmed to achieve gains as described in Exp. 1; 3) CS-HLL; programmed intake as described above except diets contained 85, 15, and 15% corn silage in Periods 1, 2, and 3, respectively; and 4) CS-HIL; same feeding regimens as CS-HLL, except diets contained 85, 50, and 15% corn silage in Periods 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Steers were given ad libitum access to feed in Period 3. Overall ADG was lower (P < 0.05) for steers in the CS-HLL and CS-HIL feeding regimens than for steers in the AL and PI regimens; feed efficiency was greatest for steers in the PI regimen. Few effects of feeding regimen on carcass characteristics were observed.

Animal Feed↗

Liquid chromatographic determination of fumonisins B1, B2, and B3 in corn silage.

Corn silage was dried, ground, and then extracted with 0.1 M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The filtrate was applied to a FumoniTest immunoaffinity column. Fumonisins were derivatized with naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde, separated on a C(18) liquid chromatographic column, and detected by fluorescence. The detection limits for fumonisin B(1), fumonisin B(2), and fumonisin B(3) were 50, 25, and 25 ng/g of dried silage, respectively. Recoveries of fumonisin B(1), fumonisin B(2), and fumonisin B(3) from wet and dried corn silage spiked over the range of 100-5000 ng/g averaged 91-106%. The method was applied to corn silage samples collected from the midwestern area of the United States during 2001-2002. Of 89 corn silage samples, fumonisin B(1), fumonisin B(2), and fumonisin B(3) were found in 86 (97%), 64 (72%), and 51 (57%) of the samples. The mean positive levels of fumonisin B(1), fumonisin B(2), and fumonisin B(3) were 615, 93, and 51 ng/g, respectively, in dried silage. This suggests that fumonisins may be frequent low level contaminants in corn silage.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

The effect of date of cut and barley substitution on gain and on the efficiency of utilization of grass silage by growing cattle. 2. Nutrient supply and energy partition.

1. The effect of harvesting date of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) on the nutritive value of the resultant silage and the effect of substitution of late-cut silage with barley was examined in growing cattle. The diets comprised early-cut (H) and late-cut (L) silage offered alone or with 280 (LC1) or 560 (LC2) g rolled barley/kg total dry matter (DM) substituted for late-cut silage. 2. Both silages were prepared with the addition of formic acid (850 milligram; 2.4 litres/t fresh weight) to a partially wilted crop, and were judged to be well fermented (pH 3.9, 3.8) with lactic acid contents of 108 and 73 g/kg DM, total nitrogen contents of 24.6 and 18.4 g/kg DM and ammonia-N contents of 121 and 124 g/kg total N (values for early- and late-cut silages respectively). 3. Two experiments were conducted to measure duodenal non-NH3-N (NAN) supply in relation to N intake on the four diets (feeding level 18 g DM/kg live weight (LW] and to examine the partition of the metabolizable energy (ME) supply from the four diets using open-circuit indirect calorimetry (three feeding levels, 14, 17 and 20 g DM/kg LW). The experiments were undertaken with eight and nine Friesian male castrates respectively with a mean starting weight of 300 kg and age 12 months. The animals used in Expt 1 had been previously fitted with cannulas into the dorsal rumen and the proximal duodenum. 4. NAN supply was significantly higher on diet H than all other diets which were similar irrespective of the level of barley inclusion. Mean ME contents (MJ/kg DM) of the two silages differed markedly (H 11.9, L 9.7) and barley addition (LC1 and LC2) restored values to 10.7 and 11.1 MJ/kg DM respectively. Estimated NAN absorption in relation to energy supply was significantly higher for diet H (1.47 g/MJ ME) than for all other diets (mean 1.25 g/MJ ME). 5. Partition of ME supply using conventional linear analysis indicated dietary differences with respect to estimated ME for maintenance (L greater than H, LC1 and LC2) and efficiency of utilization of ME supplied above maintenance (L greater than H, LC1 and LC2), but difficulties in biological interpretation of these findings led to the use of exponential curve analysis. This provided an improved description of the findings, and whilst dietary differences were apparent, none were statistically significant. It was concluded that a single exponential equation could be used satisfactorily to describe all values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animal Feed↗

[Studies on the quantification of air in the process of silage making].

On the basis of model concepts on physical gas exchange a technique was developed for studying the complex interrelationships existing between the characteristics indicating the suitability of a particular material for ensilage and the specific local conditions for silage making at the farm and in a silo. (degree of anaerobic conditions). Conclusions were drawn as to quantitative relations existing between the thickness of the marginal layers of a silage stack that are subject to losses and the compaction of the silage material and the sealing of the silage top during the periods of filling and storage. On the basis of these considerations limits are given for minimum filling of a silo per day of ensilage as depending on the compactness of the consolidated fresh or wilted silage material. Data are given for silage losses at the edged of the silage stack.

Agriculture↗

Characterization and identification of Pediococcus species isolated from forage crops and their application for silage preparation.

Pediococcus species isolated from forage crops were characterized, and their application to silage preparation was studied. Most isolates were distributed on forage crops at low frequency. These isolates could be divided into three (A, B, and C) groups by their sugar fermentation patterns. Strains LA 3, LA 35, and LS 5 are representative isolates from groups A, B, and C, respectively. Strains LA 3 and LA 35 had intragroup DNA homology values above 93.6%, showing that they belong to the species Pediococcus acidilactici. Strain LS 5 belonged to Pediococcus pentosaceus on the basis of DNA-DNA relatedness. All three of these strains and strain SL 1 (Lactobacillus casei, isolated from a commercial inoculant) were used as additives to alfalfa and Italian ryegrass silage preparation at two temperatures (25 and 48 degrees C). When stored at 25 degrees C, all of the inoculated silages were well preserved and exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) reduced fermentation losses compared to that of their control in alfalfa and Italian ryegrass silages. When stored at 48 degrees C, silages inoculated with strains LA 3 and LA 35 were also well preserved, with a significantly (P < 0.05) lower pH, butyric acid and ammonia-nitrogen content, gas production, and dry matter loss and significantly (P < 0.05) higher lactate content than the control, but silages inoculated with LS 5 and SL 1 were of poor quality. P. acidilactici LA 3 and LA 35 are considered suitable as potential silage inoculants.

Colony Count, Microbial↗

Survival of Listeria monocytogenes in wilted and additive-treated grass silage.

Grass was field-dried to 3 different dry matter (DM) levels (200, 430 and 540 g/kg) and inoculated with 10(6)-10(7) cfu/g of a Listeria monocytogenes strain sharing a phagovar occasionally involved in foodborne outbreaks of listeriosis. Formic acid (3 ml/kg) or lactic acid bacteria (8 x 10(5)/g) with cellulolytic enzymes were applied only to forages with low and intermediate DM levels. Forages were ensiled in laboratory silos (1700 ml) and were stored at 25 degrees C for 30 or 90 days. After 90 days of storage, L. monocytogenes could not be detected in any silo, except one with the high dry matter grass without additive. After 30 days of storage, between 10(2) and 10(6) cfu L. monocytogenes/g silage were isolated from the untreated silages. Increasing the DM content from 200 to 540 g/kg did not reduce listeria counts possibly because of the lower production of fermentation acids (higher pH). In silages treated with additives, counts of L. monocytogenes were always lower than in silages without additive. In wet silages (DM 200 g/kg) both additives were effective, but in the wilted silages (DM 430 g/kg) only the bacterial additive reduced listeria counts below detection level. Listeria counts were highly correlated to silage pH (r = 0.92), the concentration of lactic acid (r = -0.80) and the pooled amount of undissociated acids (r = -0.83).

Fermentation↗

Effects of chewing behavior and ruminal digestion processes on voluntary intake of grass silages by lactating dairy cows.

Four primiparous Holstein-Friesian cows (518 kg average BW) with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used to examine voluntary intake of direct cut (DC) or wilted (W) grass silage in relation to ruminal characteristics and chewing behavior. Dry matter content of the silages was 17.0 and 38.1%, concentrate DM intake was restricted to 5.0 and 5.3 kg/d, and voluntary DM intake from silages averaged 7.4 and 9.5 kg/d (P = .008), respectively. The acetate/propionate ratio in ruminal fluid decreased from 4.0 on DC to 3.3 on W silage (P = .021). The protein content in milk increased from 26.3 to 27.5 g/liter (P = .042) and the protein yield from 469 to 574 g/d (P = .038). The distribution of concentrates (38% of DM intake) with a mean particle size of .04 cm reduced differences in fecal mean particle size between diets. There was a shift from eating to ruminating on W silage with regard to daily duration (min/d) and number of jaw movements (no./d). However, ruminating index (no./kg DM intake) remained unchanged, irrespective of wilting and chop length of the silages or physiological state of the animals. These results are interpreted to indicate that the time lag for functional density of feed particles in the reticulorumen to increase, as affected by ruminating activity, not rate of reduction of the particle size, limits voluntary intake of grass silage by cattle.

Animals↗