| Popis: |
Five multiparous Holstein cows averaging 526 kg of body weight and 85 days of lactation were assigned in a 5 x 5 latin square design for the evaluation of the replacement of corn silage by sugar cane and whole cottonseed. Cows were fed a 50:50 concentrate:forage diet (dry matter basis-DM). Treatments were defined by the replacement of corn silage by chopped sugar cane (whole plant) according to the following proportions: 100:0 (control), 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100, based on dry matter roughage. In each treatment, 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% of whole cottonseed were added to the dietary DM, respectively. Dry matter intake (DMI) of cows fed 100, 75, and 50% corn silage diets was higher (P < 0.05) than the DMI of cows fed 25 and 0% corn silage. Milk production was higher (P < 0.05) for cows fed 100, 75 and 50% corn silage than for cows fed 25 or 0% corn silage. Milk fat concentration was higher (P < 0.05) for cows fed 50, 25 or 0% corn silage than for cows fed 100 or 75% corn silage. Milk protein concentration was not affected (P > 0.05) by inclusion of sugar cane and whole cottonseed. Corn silage can be replaced by sugar cane up to 50% of roughage level without negative effect on performance of dairy cows producing up to 18 kg milk/day. |
