Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of concentrate-to-forage ratio (C:F) on the performance, blood profile, and milk physicochemical characteristics of mid-lactation cows fed a corn silage-based diet. Twenty four Holstein cows, with BW 575 ± 70 kg, body condition score (BCS) 3.1 ± 0.2, milk yield 18.4 ± 3.0 kg, and days in milk (DIM) 121 ± 21 were randomly allocated into three treatments with C:F ratios of 35:65, 45:55, and 55:45 on a dry matter (DM) basis. Data was submitted to analyses of variance and regression. Increasing C:F from 35 to 55 % linearly enhanced milk production (22 to 23.6 kg day−1) and serum urea nitrogen (16.8 to 19.6 mg/dL), while it linearly reduced lactose and fat in milk (4.8 to 4.6 %; 3.9 to 3.6 %, respectively). Body weight, BCS, milk acidity, ethanol stability, coagulation time, and milk and blood mineral contents did not differ among treatments. During the last period of measurements, increased C:F reduced urinary pH and milk urea nitrogen. Changes of concentrate-to-forage proportion from 35 to 55 % increased milk yield, altered chemical composition without changing BW, BCS, acidity, stability, and mineral content of milk and blood attributes.
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Acknowledgements
This experiment was supported by the CNPq, Brazilian National Research Council. Authors thank the dairy farm owner and all employees for the assignment of cows and use of their facilities; F. Guaragni, from Piá Dairy for a help in contacting the dairy farmers; L. H. Sandri, L. E. Sandri and Barrera, graduating students.
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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Machado, S.C., McManus, C.M., Stumpf, M.T. et al. Concentrate: forage ratio in the diet of dairy cows does not alter milk physical attributes. Trop Anim Health Prod 46, 855–859 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-014-0576-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-014-0576-7