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Grain source and marginal changes in forage particle size modulate digestive processes and nutrient intake of dairy cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 January 2012

S. M. Nasrollahi ,
M. Khorvash ,
G. R. Ghorbani ,
A. Teimouri-Yansari ,
A. Zali  and
Q. Zebeli
S. M. Nasrollahi*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Sciences, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran
M. Khorvash
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Sciences, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran
G. R. Ghorbani
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Sciences, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran
A. Teimouri-Yansari
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal Science and Aquacultures, University of Agriculture and Natural Resource Science of Sari, Sari, Iran
A. Zali
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 3158711167-4111, Karaj, Iran
Q. Zebeli
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Nutrition, Vetmeduni, 1210 Vienna, Austria
*
†E-mail: smnasrolahi@gmail.com
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Abstract

This study investigated the effects of, and interactions between, dietary grain source and marginal changes in alfalfa hay (AH) particle size (PS) on digestive processes of dairy cows. A total of eight Holstein dairy cows (175 days in milk) were allocated in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with four 21-day periods. The experiment was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two levels of theoretical PS of AH (fine = 15 mm or long = 30 mm) each combined with two different sources of cereal grains (barley grain alone or barley plus corn grain in a 50 : 50 ratio). Results showed that cows consuming diets supplemented with corn had greater dry matter and nutrient intakes (P < 0.01), independent of forage PS. In addition, the apparent digestibility of fiber fractions was greater for diets supplemented with corn (P = 0.01). The feeding of barley grain-based diets was associated with greater apparent digestibility of non-fiber carbohydrates, and this variable was even greater when long AH was fed (P = 0.04). Moreover, the feeding of long AH resulted in longer time spent eating (P = 0.03) and higher pH (P < 0.01), as well as a tendency for higher acetate-to-propionate ratio in the rumen fluid (P = 0.06) at 3 h post feeding. In conclusion, the results indicated that the marginal increase of PS of AH may prolong eating time and improve rumen fermentation, particularly in diets based on barley grain. Partial substitution of barley grain by corn can improve feed intake and fiber digestibility in mid-lactation dairy cows.

Keywords

physically effective NDFhay particle sizebarleycorn
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 6 , Issue 8 , August 2012 , pp. 1237 - 1245
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2012

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