Effects of ear corn silage supplementation on milk production and milk fatty acid profiles in grazing dairy farms

• Published in: Animal science journal 2020-01, Vol.91 (1), p.e13454-n/a
• Main Authors: Mitani, Tomohiro, Asakuma, Sadaki, Shinoda, Yuka, Ueda, Yasuko, Aoki, Yasuhiro, Oshita, Tomoko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural production; Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena - physiology; Animals; Cattle - metabolism; Cattle - physiology; Composition; Corn; Corn silage; Cow's milk; Dairy farming; Dairy farms; Dairying; Diet - veterinary; Dietary Supplements; ear corn silage; Farm management; Farms; fatty acid profile; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids - analysis; Female; Grazing; grazing farm; Herbivory - physiology; Lactation - physiology; Milk; Milk - metabolism; Milk production; Polls & surveys; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Silage; Substitutes; Summer; Supplements; Urea; Zea mays
• ISSN: 1344-3941; 1740-0929
• DOI: 10.1111/asj.13454

This study investigated the effects of substituting ear corn silage (ECS) for commercial formula feed on milk production and milk fatty acid profiles in grazing dairy farms during the summer season. A field survey was conducted on five grazing dairy farms in every summer month of 2017, 2018, and 2019. Three of the five farms substituted fresh ECS for the commercial formula feed at a ratio of 2:1 from July of each year (ECS farms). Other farms maintained the same feeding management as before (non‐ECS farms). An interview survey was conducted on each farm to calculate feed intake and milk yield per cow. Feed and milk samples were collected in each survey. Milk compositions and milk fatty acid profiles were determined. The substitution of ECS for the commercial formula feed did not affect milk yield or milk composition, but ECS farms maintained low levels of milk urea compared with non‐ECS farms (p