Effect of Ratio of Corn Silage to Grass-Legume Silage with High Concentrate During Dry Period on Milk Production and Health of Dairy Cows

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Abstract
Four corn silage:grass legume silage:concentrate totally mixed diets (1) 75:25:0; (2) 48.75:16.25:35; (3) 50:50:0; and (4) 32.5:32.5:5.35 were fed to Holsteins in 2nd and 3rd lactation for 2 complete lactations. Cows fed diets 1 or 2 during dry period were fed diet 2 during lactation. Diets did not affect length of dry period or lactation, calf weight, milk protein percent, or milk fat percent. Feeding concentrate during dry period increased gain from 0.63-1.11 kg/day. Feeding higher grass-legume silage diets 3 and 4 increased gain during lactation from 0.25-0.35 kg/day. On a mature equivalent basis, cows fed high corn silage diets 1 and 2 produced more milk (7105 vs. 6663 kg), protein (236 vs. 216 kg), fat (267 vs. 245 kg), solids-not-fat (612 vs. 564 kg), and a higher solids-not-fat percent (8.62 vs. 8.50%) than diets 3 and 4. Diets did not alter health or reproduction. Production and weight gains favored feeding diet 1 during dry period and diet 2 during lactation.