Corn Silage Supplementation for Maximum Intake and Milk Production

Abstract

Four feeding trials and one digestion trial were used to evaluate methods of corn silage supplementation. Sixty Jersey cows (30 in each of 2 yr) were used to compare 1) corn silage as the only forage, 2) corn silage plus alfalfa hay, and 3) corn silage plus alfalfa low-moisture silage. Milk and 4% fat-corrected-milk production were less on corn silage alone than when either alfalfa hay or alfalfa lowmoisture silage was added to the ration. Forage dry matter intake was lower on corn silage alone than on corn silage plus alfalfa low-moisture silage. Fifty-four Holstein cows (30 in trial 1; 24 in trial 2) were used to compare 1) corn silage as the only forage, 2) corn silage plus alfalfa hay, and 3) urea-treated corn silage. Milk production, 4% fat-corrected-milk, and intake of dry matter were more on corn silage plus alfalfa hay than on either corn silage or urea-treated corn silage. Eighteen Jersey heifers were used in a total collection digestion trial to determine the digestibility of 1) corn silage, 2) corn silage plus alfalfa low-moisture silage, and 3) alfalfa low-moisture silage. Digestibilities of dry matter and fiber were higher on corn silage plus alfalfa low-moisture silage than on either silage fed alone.