High-moisture silage from mixed pasture herbage as a feed for lactating dairy cows

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Abstract
Silages made from direct-cut pasture herbage ensiled in stacks (i), bunkers (ii), and by vacuum compression (iii) have been evaluated as sole feedstuffs for milking cows in two series of experiments. Total nitrogen, ammonia-nitrogen, and pH were highest in (i), from which significantly more dry matter (D.M.) was consumed, and more milk of significantly higher fat percentage was produced, than from (ii) or (iii)|but these differences were too small to influence appreciably choice of the method of ensiling. Voluntary intakes of silage D.M. ranged between 2.2 and 3.0% of live weight. Feed requirements for maintenance and lactation have been calculated and are discussed relative to others previously obtained for pasture herbage.

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