Short-Term Effects of Dietary Fiber Level on Feed Intake and Production by Well-Fed Cows

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Abstract
In each of two 51 -day Latin-square trials, 11 different Holstein cows were fedall they would eat of corn silage, alfalfa hay, and concentrates. Proportions of forage and concentrates were varied so that the levels of dietary fiber were 16.8, 15.8, and 15.2% in Trial 1. In Trial 2 fiber levels were 18.7, 15.7, and 14.1%. There were no significant differences among treatments with respect to intake of dry matter, although energy concentration apparently was low enough to cause loss in body weight at the highest fiber levels. Intake of dry matter, in grams per kilogram of body weight to the 0.75 power, ranged between 153.0 and 159.5 in Trial 1, and 156.1-165.5 in Trial 2. Average milk production ranged between 27.3 and 34.3 kg and was not different between treatments. There was no effect on milk fat or solids-not-fat percentages.