The effect of adding a compound feed to herbage, at the time of ensiling, on intake and milk yield

Abstract

SUMMARYThe idea that the addition of compound feed to grass at ensilage can result in adequate preservation of the crop without the need for an acid additive, and that less compound feed would then need to be given when the silage is subsequently fed, was tested with dairy cows. Two diets were compared: (1) a conventional grass silage, to which acid had been added at the time of ensiling, plus concentrates supplied at the time of feeding, and (2) grass silage, to which a compound feed had been added at the time of ensiling, plus a lower rate of concentrates. Each diet was fed to 12 lactating cows for 82 days.The total intake of dry matter was 17·3 kg per cow per day on diet 1 and 18·3 kg on diet 2. Daily milk yields per cow were 24·5 and 26·1 kg, respectively, with similar milk composition. The estimated diet costs per kg of milk were 9·3 p on (1) and 8·3 p on (2). It is concluded that the addition of compound feed to grass at ensilage is worth considering on dairy farms as an alternative to conventional grass silage, but that a more comprehensive study is needed.