Influence of Feeding Schedule, Type of Forage, and Ratio of Flaked Corn to Forage on Rumen Fermentation

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Abstract
Fistulated steers were fed corn silage or Coastal Bernmda hay with four ratios of a flaked corn mixture (20:80, 40:60, 60:40, and 80:20). The rations were fed in four equal portions at six-hour intervals. This method of feeding created an even level of rumen fermentation and resulted in nonsignificant differences in volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration at various sam- pling periods. Corn silage resulted in a higher concentration of VFA than hay at all ratios of forage to grain. The high concentration of Na in the rumen fluid indicated a dominant role for the mineral in buffering VFA in the rmnen. In a second trial, corn silage and the grain nfixture was fed at a grain-to-silage ratio of 60:40 in three sequences: 1) four equal feeds at six-hour intervals, 2) grain at 7 AM and 7 e~ and silage at 1 P~ and 1 A~,and 3) all grain at 7 A~ and 1/3rd of silage at 1 PM, 7 PM, and 1 AM. Feeding Schedules 2 and 3 significantly increased the production of propionic acid. Feeding all grain at 7 A~ created a significantly different pattern of fermentation than the other rations. The data indicate that feed- ing programs can be developed which should permit high levels of grain feeding without reducing milk fat percentage. energy appearing as volatile fatty acids, a knowledge of the factors that control the ¥FA in the rumen is necessary for evaluating feeds and rations. Our investigation was initiated to study the influence of feeding schedule, hay vs. silage and ratio of flaked corn to forage, on rumen fermentation under specific feeding and sam- pling conditions. Experimental Procedures