Feeding Value of Calcium Carbonate–Treated Corn Silage for Dairy Cows

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Abstract
Tenlactating cows were used to compare the feeding value of calcium carbonate (CaCO3)-treated corn silage with normal corn silage. A single-reversal design with 7-wk periods was employed. Cows were fed corn silage as their only roughage, and grain according to 4% fat-corrected milk (FCM) production. The feeding of CaCO3-treated silage had no significant effect on milk, 4% FCM, or per cent solids-not fat (SNF) produced by the cows. The milk fat percentage was lower in milk from cows fed CaCO3-treated silage (P<.10). Voluntary dry matter (D.M.) consumption of normal corn silage was significantly greater (P< .01) than that of CaCO3-treated corn silage. The average body weight gain was greater (P<10) for cows fed normal corn silage. Corn silage treated with CaCO3 (13.6 lb/ton) had a higher pH (3.92 vs. 3.73), more total organic acids (11.24 vs. 6.52% of D.M.), and a lower carotene content (5.26 vs. 9.09 mg/lb D.M.) than normal corn silage.