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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #128487
Title: BROWN MIDRIB-3 CORN SILAGE AS THE MAJOR FORAGE FOR TRANSITION COWS

Author
item SANTOS, H - UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
item MOREIRA, V - UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
item WU, Z - UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
item Satter, Larry

Submitted to: Journal of Dairy Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/28/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The objective was to evaluate brown midrib (bm3) corn silage as a forage for transition cows. Cows (29 primiparous and 83 multiparous) were divided into three groups and balanced according to lactation number and 305d ME milk (multiparous). Two of the three groups were combined for one of two prepartum trts. Cows were placed in trt groups 3-4 wk (mean=23 days) before their projected calving date. The two prepartum diets contained 65 forage and 35% concentrate, with corn silage (CS) providing 60% and alfalfa silage (alf) 40% of the forage (DM basis). The control CS (Dekalb 512 RR) was stored in two tower silos, and the bm3 (Cargill F657) stored in a bag silo. After calving the three groups, two of which were fed control CS prepartum, were assigned to three postpartum diets for 4-5 wk (mean=33d). The control diet (control 55 F) contained 55% forage and 45% concentrate, with 58% of the F as control CS and the balance as alf. The second and third postpartum diets contained 65% F, 58% of which was CS and 42% alf. One of these was the control CS (control 65 F) and the other was bm3 CS (bm3 65 F). Cows fed control CS prepartum were fed control CS postpartum. Cows were fed a TMR once daily in a tie stall barn. Changes in body weight and body condition score were similar across treatments before and after calving. DMI and post-calving health did not differ between trts. Milk production was similar across trts for primiparous cows, but multiparous cows produced 2 kg/d more with the bm3 trt (P=.09).