SHORT COMMUNICATION
Rumen characteristics of grazing dairy cows
supplemented with sulla and maize silages
in summer
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1
Unité Mixte de Recherches Production du Lait (UMRPL), Institut National de la Recherche,
Agronomique (INRA), 35590, St-Gilles, France
2
Dexcel Limited, Private bag 3221, Hamilton, New Zealand
3
Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University,
Private bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Publication date: 2004-08-30
Corresponding author
A. V. Chaves
Unité Mixte de Recherches Production du Lait (UMRPL), Institut National de la Recherche,
Agronomique (INRA), 35590, St-Gilles, France
J. Anim. Feed Sci. 2004;13(Suppl. 1):43-46
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the effects of silage supplementation of grazing dairy cows. Forage
mixtures used in the four week trial with rumen fistulated cows in five treatments enabled rumen
sampling to determine effects of diet on rumen parameters. Five groups of ten cows were grazed on
a restricted daily allowance of 18 kg dry matter (DM) pasture/cow, and four groups received sulla
silage (S) or maize silage (M) alone or in mixtures to make up 40% of total intake. A sixth group
was given an unrestricted (38 kg DM/cow.day) pasture allowance. Samples of rumen liquor data
demonstrated significant effects of supplement.