Corn Silage Supplementation for Maximum Intake and Milk Production

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Abstract
Feeding trials (4) and 1 digestion trial were used to evaluate methods of corn silage supplementation; 60 Jersey cows (30 in each of 2 yr) were used to compare corn silage as the only forage, corn silage plus alfalfa hay and corn silage plus alfalfa low-moisture silage. Milk and 4% fat-corrected-milk production were less on corn silage alone than when either alfalfa hay or alfalfa low-moisture silage was added to the ration. Forage dry matter intake was lower on corn silage alone than on corn silage plus alfalfa low-moisture silage; 54 Holstein cows (30 in trial 1; 24 in trial 2) were used to compare corn silage as the only forage, corn silage plus alfalfa hay and urea-treated corn silage. Milk production, 4% fat-corrected-milk, and intake of dry matter were more on corn silage plus alfalfa hay than on either corn silage or urea-treated corn silage. Jersey heifers (18) were used in a total collection digestion trial to determine the digestibility of corn silage, corn silage plus alfalfa low-moisture silage and alfalfa low-moisture silage. Digestibilities of dry matter and fiber were higher on corn silage plus alfalfa low-moisture silage than on either silage fed alone.