Microbiome analysis of dairy cows fed pasture or total mixed ration diets

Performance of lactating dairy cows fed varying levels of total mixed ration and pasture.

Two, 8-week experiments, each using 30 lactating Holstein cows, were conducted to examine performance of animals offered combinations of total mixed ration (TMR) and high-quality pasture. Experiment 1 was initiated in mid October 2004 and Experiment 2 was initiated in late March 2005. Cows were assigned to either a 100% TMR diet (100:00, no access to pasture) or one of the following three formu...

Intake of High Producing Holstein Cows Grazing Pasture or Fed a Total Mixed Ration

(week 4). Intake was estimated in week 4 by dosing twice daily with 5 g Cr 2 O 3 for 10 days. Fecal samples were collected twice daily on days 7 to 11 of Cr 2 O 3 dosing, with pre-grazing pasture being sampled on days 6-10 of dosing. Fecal output, calculated from fecal chromium concentrations, and in vitro digestibility (IVDMD) were used to calculate intake (Parker et al. 1989). The intake of c...

Metabolic Adaptations Due to the Inclusion of Pasture in the Diet of Dairy Cows Fed Total Mixed Ration during Early Lactation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolic adaptations due to the inclusion of pasture in the diet of dairy cows fed on a total mixed ration (TMR) ad libitum during early lactation. Multiparous cows (n = 18) were used in a randomized complete block design and were randomly assigned according to parity, BW and BCS to one of two feeding strategies from calving to 60 DIM: 1) cows fed TMR ...

Metabolic and endocrine profiles and hepatic gene expression of Holstein cows fed total mixed ration or pasture with different grazing strategies during early lactation

BACKGROUND In dairy mixed production systems, maximizing pasture intake and total mixed ration (TMR) supplementation are management tools used to increase dry matter and energy intake in early lactation. The objective was to evaluate metabolic and endocrine profiles and hepatic gene expression of Holstein cows fed either TMR ad libitum (without grazing) or diets combining TMR (50 % ad libitum D...

Effect of yeast culture supplementation of alfalfa silage or alfalfa hay fed to lactating dairy cows