Utilization of Kura Clover-Reed Canarygrass Silage Versus Alfalfa Silage by Lactating Dairy Cows

Alfalfa Silage Versus Red Clover Silage or a Mixture of Alfalfa and Red Clover Silage as the Sole Forage for Lactating Dairy Cows

Introduction The large proportion of CP in alfalfa silage (AS) that is present as NPN substantially reduces the efficiency of protein utilization by lactating dairy cows (Nagel and Broderick, 1992). Red clover silage (RCS) typically has a much lower content of NPN than AS (Albrecht and Muck, 1991). In a previous feeding study (Broderick and Sterrenburg, 1996 USDFRC Res. Sum.), we found that DMI...

Replacing alfalfa or red clover silage with birdsfoot trefoil silage in total mixed rations increases production of lactating dairy cows.

The objective of this study was to compare milk production and nutrient utilization in dairy cattle fed silage made from alfalfa (AL) or red clover (RC) versus birdsfoot trefoil (BFT) selected for low, normal, and high levels of condensed tannins. Condensed tannin contents of the 3 BFT silages were 8, 12, and 16 g/kg of DM by butanol-HCl assay. Twenty-five multiparous Holstein cows (5 fitted wi...

Performance of lactating dairy cows fed red clover or alfalfa silage.

The objective of this study was to compare utilization of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) by lactating dairy cows. Red clover and alfalfa were harvested and conserved as silage at two maturities in 2 consecutive yr. Each year, diets containing experimental forages and supplemental grain were fed to 16 multiparous Holstein cows in early lactation in a replicat...

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

Performance of lactating dairy cows fed alfalfa or red clover silage as the sole forage.

Three Latin square trials, with 20 (two trials) or 24 (one trial) multiparous lactating Holstein cows (four in each trial with ruminal cannulae), compared the feeding value of red clover and alfalfa silages harvested over 3 yr. Overall, the forages contained similar amounts of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber; however, red clover silage contained more hemicellulose, less ash and...