EVALUATION OF WHOLE CROP OAT SILAGE AS A BASAL FORAGE FOR LACTATING COWS

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Abstract
Corn silage ensiled at 33% dry matter (DM) (Treatment CS); oats harvested at the milk stage of maturity and ensiled with oat grain (Treatment OG); oats harvested at the milk stage of maturity and wilted prior to ensiling (Treatment OM) and oats harvested at the soft dough stage of maturity and ensiled (Treatment OSD) were fed to each of 16 lactating cows during four successive 49-day periods, according to a switchback design. The silages as fed contained 34.5, 34.2, 31.9 and 36.6% dry matter (DM) and 8.6, 14.0, 14.4 and 10.5% protein for Treatments CS, OG, OM, and OSD, respectively. Forage dry matter (DM) intake was significantly greater (P < 0.01) on Treatment OG than on CS, and significantly less (P < 0.01) on Treatment OM than on either CS, OG or OSD. Milk yield was significantly higher (P < 0.05) on Treatment OG than on OM. Milk protein percent was higher (P < 0.05) on Treatment CS than on OSD, and lactose percent was lower (P < 0.01) on Treatment CS than on OG. There was no significant effect (P > 0.05) of treatment on the acetate:propionate ratio in the rumen fluid. However, molar percent of rumen butyrate was significantly (P < 0.05) lower on Treatment OM than on either CS or OG. The apparent digestibilities of silage DM were 58.6, 58.0, 60.8, and 52.9, and of silage crude protein were 43.3, 65.3, 63.8, and 55.0 for Treatments CS, OG, OM, and OSD, respectively. Efficiencies of conversion of dietary energy and protein to milk energy and protein were also calculated.

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