Feeding high amounts of almond hulls to lactating cows

California is the leading state for production of almonds, with more than 400,000 bearing hectares orchards that produced approximately 1 billion kilograms shelled nuts in 2017. Almond hulls (AH) are a regional by-product feedstuff fed predominantly to dairy cattle California. A 2012 study surveyed 40 farms and found 39 out 104 total mixed rations contained AH, mean daily feeding rate 1.45 kg/cow. In 2017, 2 AH was produced. At kg/cow daily, even if all 1.7 million lactating cows consuming there will be surplus on market as 130,000 nonbearing come into nut production. Therefore, potential varying amounts investigated using 12 Holstein 4 primiparous 8 multiparous cows. The dietary treatments were containing 0, 7, 13, or 20% AH. used 12.8% crude fiber (as-is basis), which below 15% legal limit set by feed regulations. Diets formulated so inclusion increased, amount steam-flaked corn soyhull pellets decreased soybean meal increased. Experimental design replicated × Latin square. Diet had cubic effect actual milk yield, energy-corrected dry matter intake, 7% diet having highest values 13% lowest. percent yield solids yields lactose fat did not differ diet, but protein declined linearly increased inclusion, linearly. Apparent total-tract digestibilities organic higher diet. Total percentage day spent ruminating Overall, this work demonstrated can at amounts, up support high levels increasing (up 20%) could lead improved digestibility