Effect of Yeast Culture and Sodium Bicarbonate on Milk Yield and Composition in Dairy Cows

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Abstract
Effect of dietary added yeast culture with or without NaHCO3 supplementa- tion on milk production responses of 20 midlactation Holstein cows was deter- mined in a 10-wk experiment. The con- trol diet consisted of 40% corn silage and 60% concentrate on a DM basis. At the end of 2-wk preliminary period, cows were randomly assigned to either 0 or .75% sodium bicarbonate (DM basis) for the remainder of the study. Cows within each NaHCO3 group received either 0 or 1% dietary added yeast culture (DM ba- sis) during wk 3 through 6 and applica- tion of yeast culture treatments were re- versed during wk 7 through 10. Yeast culture and NaHCO 3 had no effect on DM intake, milk yield, or milk composi- tion. However, there was a tendency for increased milk protein percent with added yeast culture and a tendency for increased daily production of 4% FCM and gross efficiency of FCM production with added yeast culture and NaHCO3. Dietary sup- plemented yeast culture either alone or in combination with NaHCO3 had no bene- ficial effect on milk production and DM intake of midlactation cows fed 40% corn silage diets.