the effects of macaroni wastes and steam-flaked barley feeding in transition period on health and lactation performance of holsteincows

thirty two multiparous holstein cows were used in a randomized block design to investigate the effects of feeding diets included two different source of nonfiber carbohydrate during the transition period on dry matter intake (dmi), lactational performance, blood metabolites and parturitional characteristics. cows received total mixed rations containing either macaroni wastes(mw) or steam-flaked barley (sfb) beginning 21 d prior to expected calving date. a common lactation total mixed ration was fed postpartum. cows fed mw had greater pre and postpartum dmi than cows fed sfb (p