Effect of Ratio of Corn Silage to Grass-Legume Silage with High Concentrate During Dry Period on Milk Production and Health of Dairy Cows

Abstract

Four corn silage: gross legume silage: concentrate totally mixed diets 1) 75:25:0; 2) 48.75:16.25:35; 3) 50:50:0; and 4) 32.5:32.5:5.35 were fed to Holsteins in second and third lactation for two complete lactations. Cows fed diets 1 or 2 during dry period were fed diet 2 during lactation. Diets did not affect length of dry period or lactation, calf weight, milk protein percent, or milk fat percent. Feeding concentrate during dry period increased gain from .63 to 1.11 kg/day. Feeding higher grass-legume silage diets 3 and 4 increased gain during lactation from .25 to .35 kg/day. On a mature equivalent basis, cows fed high corn silage diets 1 and 2 produced more milk (7,105 versus 6,663 kg), protein (236 versus 216 kg), fat (267 versus 245 kg), solids-not-fat (612 versus 564 kg), and a higher solids-not-fat percent (8.62 versus 8.50%) than diets 3 and 4. Diets did not alter health or reproduction. Production and weight gains favored feeding diet 1 during dry period and diet 2 during lactation.