Nutritive value, silage fermentation characteristics, and aerobic stability of grass-legume round-baled silages at differing moisture concentrations with and without manure fertilization and microbial inoculation.

For baled silages, production of clostridial fermentation products can be exacerbated by exceeding normal moisture targets (45% to 55%), and/or by the application of dairy slurry before harvest. Our objectives were to test a microbial inoculant as a mitigant of clostridial products in high-moisture, grass-legume (52% ± 13.8% cool-season grasses, 44.

Effects of harvest date and growth stage on triticale forages in the southwest USA: kinetics of in vitro disappearance of fiber and dry matter.

Recently, there has been interest in including triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) within forage programs in the southwest USA. Our objectives were to evaluate in vitro disappearance kinetics of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and dry matter (DM) for cultivars identified during 2019 as positively or negatively deviant from typical cultivars, based specifically on regressions of 48-h in vitro disappearance of NDF on growth stage (GRST). All NDF analyses included the use of heat-stable α-amylase and sodium sulfite, as well as correction for residual ash (asNDFom).

Effects of harvest date and growth stage on triticale forages in the southwest United States: agronomic characteristics, nutritive value, energy density, and in vitro disappearance of dry matter and fiber.

Recently, there has been increased interest in including triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) or other winter cereals within forage programs throughout the southwest United States. Our objectives were to screen 14 diverse triticale cultivars for agronomic and nutritive characteristics with specific emphasis on identifying normal, as well as deviant, responses to the calendar date and plant maturity for forages seeded in December and harvested from late February throughout May at Maricopa, AZ. Fourteen cultivars were established in a randomized complete block design with each cultivar represented within each of three field blocks.

Effect of diet energy level and genomic residual feed intake on bred Holstein dairy heifer growth and feed efficiency.

The objective of this study was to determine growth, feed intake, and feed efficiency of postbred dairy heifers with different genomic residual feed intake (RFI) predicted as a lactating cow when offered diets differing in energy density. Postbred Holstein heifers (n = 128, ages 14-20 mo) were blocked by initial weight (high, medium-high, medium-low, and low) with 32 heifers per block. Each weight block was sorted by RFI (high or low) to obtain 2 pens of heifers with high and low genomically predicted RFI within each block (8 heifers per pen).

Evaluation of warm season annual forages for forage yield and quality in the north-central United States.

Grazing-based dairy operations require productive, high-quality forages capable of supporting the nutritional needs of mid-lactation dairy cows. Our objectives were to evaluate primary and regrowth harvests of two cultivars of sudangrass (SU), sorghum-sudangrass (S×SU), and pearl millet (PM) forages for growth and nutritive characteristics within the specific context of suitability for grazing by dairy cows. Three harvest cycles, including primary and regrowth cycles in 2016, and a single harvest cycle of primary growth in 2017, were evaluated at two locations (Prairie du Sac and Marshfield, WI).

Runoff water quality after low-disturbance manure application in an alfalfa-grass hay crop forage system.

The impacts of low-disturbance manure application (LDMA) on runoff water quality in hay crop forages are not well known. Our objective in this study was to determine surface runoff losses of total nitrogen (TN), ammonium N (NH -N), nitrate N (NO -N), total phosphorus (TP), dissolved reactive P (DRP), and suspended sediment from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)-grass plots in central Wisconsin after surface broadcasting manure and LDMA compared with no application.

Effects of feedbunk restrictions and push-up frequency on the growth performance of Holstein dairy heifers offered a forage-based diet with a limit-feeding strategy.

Conceptually, there are 2 feeding strategies for avoiding over-conditioning, which can be problematic for gravid dairy heifers that have reduced dietary energy density requirements relative to younger animals: (1) diluting the ad libitum-fed diet with low-energy forages; or (2) offering a diet of greater nutrient density but intentionally restricting the DM available for consumption (limit-feeding). Our objectives for this study were to evaluate the effects of feedbunk restriction and feed push-up frequency on the growth performance of gravid Holstein dairy heifers. A total of 128 Holstein heifers (434 ± 46.

Fermentation characteristics and nutritive value of baled grass silages made from meadow fescue, tall fescue, or an orchardgrass cultivar exhibiting a unique nonflowering growth response.

Throughout central Wisconsin, many soils are poorly drained, and perennial cool-season grasses are often planted as monocultures or in mixed stands with alfalfa because of the poor persistence of alfalfa under these growing conditions. Our objectives were to compare the fermentation characteristics and nutritive value of perennial cool-season grasses {meadow fescue [Schedonorus pratensis (Huds.) P.

Physiological effects of starter-induced ruminal acidosis in calves before, during, and after weaning.

The objectives were to nutritionally induce or blunt ruminal acidosis in young calves and to compare indicators of rumen and systemic health. Ten bull calves (n = 5/diet) were ruminally cannulated at 3 wk of age and received milk replacer and 1 of 2 calf starter diets that were designed to cause (AC; pelleted, 42.7% starch, 15.

Comparison of feeding diets diluted with sorghum-sudangrass silage or low-quality grass on nutrient intake and digestibility and growth performance of Holstein dairy heifers.

This study was carried out to evaluate the nutrient intakes and growth of dairy heifers offered an alfalfa silage-corn silage diet (CON; 14.3% crude protein, 61.1% total digestible nutrients, 47.

Effects of sample size on neutral detergent fiber digestibility of triticale forages using the Ankom Daisy Incubator system.

Accurate and precise determinations of fiber digestibility are essential for proper diet formulation for dairy cows. Our objectives were 3-fold: (1) regress in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD) values from 48 triticale forages determined at multiple endpoints ranging from 12 to 240 h with Ankom Daisy Incubator system (Ankom Technology Corp., Macedon, NY) methods using 0.

Efficacy of recycled sand or organic solids as bedding sources for lactating cows housed in freestalls.

Our objective was to compare the composition of bedding materials and manure, cow welfare and hygiene assessments, measures of milk production and quality, and incidence of mastitis during a 3-yr trial with lactating Holstein cows housed in a freestall barn containing 4 identical pens with 32 freestalls/pen. Bedding systems evaluated included deep-bedded organic manure solids (DBOS), shallow-bedded manure solids spread over mattresses (MAT), deep-bedded recycled sand (RSA), and deep-bedded new sand (NSA). The experiment was designed as a 4 × 4 Latin square with 4 bedding systems and 4 experimental periods, but was terminated after 3 yr following discussions with the consulting statistician; therefore, data were analyzed as an incomplete Latin square.

Effect of diet energy density and genomic residual feed intake on prebred dairy heifer feed efficiency, growth, and manure excretion.

The objective of this study was to determine the growth, feed efficiency, and manure excretion of prebred dairy heifers with differing predicted genomic residual feed intakes (RFI) when offered diets differing in energy density. Prebred Holstein heifers (n = 128, ages 4 to 8 mo) were blocked by weight (low, medium-low, medium-high, or high) with 32 heifers per block. Heifers in each weight block were grouped by RFI and randomly assigned to obtain 2 pens of high (HRFI) and 2 pens of low RFI (LRFI) heifers within each block (8 heifers/pen).

Ruminal in situ disappearance and whole-tract digestion of starter feeds in calves before, during, and after weaning.

Ten bull calves (n = 5/diet) were cannulated at 3 wk of age and used in a 2 × 2 factorial design with repeated measures over time to compare rumen and whole-tract degradability of 2 calf starter diets and to describe an in situ technique for estimating ruminal degradability of diets in calves at different ages. Calves received milk replacer and 1 of 2 starter diets through wk 7. Mean birth weight was 38.

Effects of growth stage and growing degree day accumulations on triticale forages: 2. In vitro disappearance of neutral detergent fiber.

The use of winter triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) in dairy-cropping systems has expanded greatly in recent years, partly because of its value as a forage crop but also to improve land stewardship by providing winter ground cover. Our objectives were to use 2-pool and 3-pool nonlinear models to characterize in vitro disappearance of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and then describe the relationship between estimated parameters from those models with plant growth stage or growing degree days (GDD) >5°C for winter triticale forages harvested during 2016 and 2017 in Marshfield, Wisconsin. Forages were harvested from replicated field plots each year at growth stages ranging from stem elongation to soft dough.

Effects of growth stage and growing degree day accumulations on triticale forages: 1. Dry matter yield, nutritive value, and in vitro dry matter disappearance.

The use of triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) in dairy-cropping systems has expanded greatly in recent years, partly to improve land stewardship by providing winter ground cover. Our objective was to establish relationships relating indices of nutritive value with growth stage or accumulated growing degree days >5°C for triticale forages grown in central Wisconsin. Replicated 3.

Effects of overstocking at the feedbunk on the growth performance and sorting characteristics of a forage-based diet offered for ad libitum intake to replacement Holstein dairy heifers.

Various forms of overcrowding are common in heifer-rearing operations. Our objectives for this study were to evaluate the effects of overstocking at the feedbunk (100, 133, 160, or 200% of capacity) on the growth performance, feedbunk sorting behaviors, and hygiene of 128 gravid Holstein heifers (475 ± 55.3 kg) consuming an alfalfa haylage and corn silage diet diluted with processed wheat straw at an inclusion rate of 25.

Silage review: Recent advances and future technologies for baled silages.

Although the concept of ensiling large-round or large-square bales dates back to the late 1970s, many refinements have been made to both equipment and management since that time, resulting in much greater acceptance by small or mid-sized dairy or beef producers. This silage preservation technique is attractive to producers for several reasons, but the primary advantage is a reduced risk of weather damage to valuable forage crops compared with preservation as dry hay. Most core principles for making high-quality precision-chopped silages also apply to baled silages; among these, establishing and subsequently maintaining anaerobiosis are priorities.

Voluntary intake and digestibility by sheep of alfalfa ensiled at different moisture concentrations following fertilization with dairy slurry.

Dairy slurry is used commonly as an animal-sourced fertilizer in agronomic production. However, residual effects of slurry application on intake and digestibility of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) silage from subsequent harvests are not well known.

Effects of straw processing and pen overstocking on the growth performance and sorting characteristics of diets offered to replacement Holstein dairy heifers.

Our objectives were to evaluate the effects of pen-stocking density and straw processing on the growth performance, feed-bunk sorting behaviors, and hygiene of Holstein dairy heifers. Two corn silage-alfalfa haylage diets diluted with wheat straw were offered; diet composition was identical, except that one diet contained short (well-processed) straw (SS; 46.0% neutral detergent fiber, 12.

Effects of feeding alfalfa stemlage or wheat straw for dietary energy dilution on nutrient intake and digestibility, growth performance, and feeding behavior of Holstein dairy heifers.

Feeding high-quality forage diets may lead to excessive weight gains and over-conditioning for dairy heifers. Restriction of energy density and dry matter intake by using low-energy forages, such as straw, is a good approach for controlling this problem. Alfalfa stems contain high fiber and moderate protein content and have the potential to be used to replace straw to reduce dietary energy.

Nutritive value and fermentation characteristics of alfalfa-mixed grass forage wrapped with minimal stretch film layers and stored for different lengths of time.

A key aspect of managing baled silages is to quickly achieve and then rigorously maintain anaerobic conditions within the silage mass. The concept of inserting an O-limiting barrier (OB) into plastic commercial silage wraps has been evaluated previously, yielding mixed or inconclusive results. Our objective for this study was to maximize the challenge to a commercial polyethylene bale wrap, or the identical wrap containing an OB, by using minimal plastic (4 layers), and then extending storage periods as long as 357 d.

Net effects of nitrogen fertilization on the nutritive value and digestibility of oat forages.

Applications of soil amendments containing N are part of routine forage-management strategies for grasses, with a primary goal of increasing forage yield. However, the effects of N fertilization on forage nutritive value, estimates of energy density, and in vitro dry matter or neutral detergent fiber disappearance sometimes have been erratic or inconsistent. Our objectives were to evaluate the effects of N fertilization on the nutritive value of a single cultivar (ForagePlus, Kratz Farms, Slinger, WI) of fall-grown oat fertilized at planting with 20, 40, 60, 80, or 100 kg of N/ha of urea or 2 rates of dairy slurry (42,300 or 84,600 L/ha).

Storage characteristics, nutritive value, and fermentation characteristics of alfalfa packaged in large-round bales and wrapped in stretch film after extended time delays.

The production of baled silage is attractive to producers because it offers advantages over dry hay, particularly by limiting risks associated with wet or unstable weather conditions. Our objectives were to test the effects of delayed wrapping on silage fermentation, storage characteristics, and the nutritive value of baled alfalfa silages. To accomplish this, large-round bales of alfalfa were wrapped in plastic film within 4h of baling (d 0), or after delays of 1, 2, or 3 d.