Forage Quality and Concentrate for Cows in Early Lactation

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Abstract
The objective was to evaluate effects of alfalfa quality and concentrate proportion in diets during early lactation on milk production, milk composition, feed intake, and body weight. Sixty-eight Holstein cows (24 first lactation and 44 older cows) were assigned to one of four diets during the first 14 wk of lactation. Diets contained either early cut or normal cut alfalfa hay mixed with 30 or 50% concentrate. Forage quality and concentrate did not affect milk yield or dry matter intake for either older or first lactation cows. Milk fat percent was reduced by higher concentrates (3.7 versus 3.3%) but was not affected by forage quality for older cows. Milk protein was higher for early cut (3.2%) compared with normal cut (3.1%) hay. For first lactation cows, milk fat percent increased with declining forage quality (3.5 versus 3.9%) and increased with declining concentrate (3.6 versus 3.9%). Yields of milk components were not different for forage quality or concentrate except for higher yield of milk protein for early cut hay diets fed to older cows.
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