Effect of Different Fats Mixed with Barley or Soybean Meal on Feed Intake and Milk Production of Dairy Cows

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Abstract
Twelve animals in midlactation were offered grass silage for ad libitum intake and supplements of either barley or soybean meal with addition of either no fat or about .4 kg/d of either tallow or soybean oil. Silage dry matter intake did not differ when supplements were given alone but addition of fat slightly reduced silage intake. Soybean oil depressed milk fat content and both fats depressed milk protein content. Soybean meal gave a higher milk yield than barley, and fat addition always increased milk yield although effect was small. It is concluded that soybean meal increased ration digestibility giving higher milk yield without increasing silage dry matter intake.