Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-x5gtn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-08T00:26:51.338Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of fine grinding or sodium hydroxide treatment of wheat, offered as part of a concentrate supplement, on the performance of lactating dairy cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

C. S. Mayne  and
J. G. Doherty
C. S. Mayne
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, Co. Down BT26 6DR
J. G. Doherty
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, Co. Down BT26 6DR
Get access

Abstract

A study was conducted to examine the effect of fine grinding or sodium hydroxide treatment of wheat, and increasing concentrate food level, on milk production. Two concentrates based either on ground wheat (450 g/kg, GW) or sodium hydroxide treated wheat (500 g/kg, SW) were offered at four concentrate levels of 2·5, 5·0, 7·5 and 10·0 kg dry matter (DM) per day to 24 dairy cows in a three-period, change-over design experiment. On average, across all concentrate food levels, silage DM intake was significantly (P < 0·01) higher with the SW concentrates, reflecting a significantly lower silage substitution rate with SW relative to GW concentrates (P < 0·01). Milk yield was also significantly higher with the SW concentrates (P < 0·05), although marginal responses to increased concentrate food level were similar (P > 0·05). Milk protein concentration increased linearly with increasing concentrate food level (P < 0·001), with a significantly greater response with the GW relative to the SW concentrate (0·59 v. 0·24 g/kg (P < 0·05) increase per kg additional concentrate). However, milk protein concentration was also significantly lower with the GW concentrate at low food levels (P < 0·05). Milk fat concentrations were similar with the two concentrate types with significant reductions in milk fat concentration with increasing concentrate food level (P < 0·05). Blood urea (P < 0·001) and β-hydroxybutyrate (P < 0·05) concentrations were significantly lower in animals offered the SW concentrate. Apparent digestibility coefficients were unaffected by either concentrate type or concentrate food level (P > 0·05), although modified acid-detergent fibre apparent digestibility was significantly reduced with increasing concentrate food level (P < 0·001). Results indicate that, at similar levels of concentrate feeding, silage intake and milk yield were significantly greater with SW compared with GW concentrates (P < 0·05 or greater). Increases in milk protein concentration with increasing concentrate food level were significantly greater with GW than with SW concentrates (P < 0·05).

Keywords

alkali treatmentconcentratesdairy cowsmilk productionwheat
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 63 , Issue 1 , August 1996 , pp. 11 - 19
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Agnew, K. W. 1992. An examination of the effects of diet and feeding method on the composition of milk of lactating dairy cows. Ph.D. thesis, Queen's University, Belfast.Google Scholar
Agnew, K. W., Mayne, C. S. and Doherty, J. G. 1996. An examination of the effect of method and level of concentrate feeding on milk production in dairy cows offered a grass silage based diet. Animal Science 63: 21–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barnes, B. J. and Ørskov, E. R. 1981. Utilization of alkali-treated grain. 2. Utilization by steers of diets based on hay or straw and mixed with either NaOH-treated or rolled barley. Animal Feed Science and Technology 6: 347–354.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kung, L., Jesse, B. W., Thomas, J. W., Huber, J. T. and Emery, R. S. 1983. High moisture ground ear corn, high moisture barley or sodium hydroxide treated barley for lactating cows: milk production and ration utilization. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 63: 155–162.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lawes Agricultural Trust. 1990. Genstat 5 reference manual. Rothamsted Experimental Station, Rothamsted.Google Scholar
McMurray, C. H., Logan, E. F., McParland, P. J., McRory, F. J. and O'Neill, D. G. 1978. Sequential changes in some blood components in the neonatal calf. British Veterinary Journal 134: 590–597.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mansbridge, R. J., Blake, J. S. and Spechter, H. H. 1994. The effect of increasing starch intake and source in supplements fed three times a day to dairy cows on silage intake, milk yield and milk composition. Proceedings of the 44th annual meeting of the European Association of Animal Production, Edinburgh, p. 116.Google Scholar
Mayne, C. S. and Gordon, F. J. 1984. The effect of type of concentrate and level of concentrate feeding on milk production. Animal Production 39: 65–76.Google Scholar
Mayne, C. S. and Gordon, F. J. 1985. The effect of concentrate-to-forage ratio on the milk yield response to supplementary protein. Animal Production 41: 269–279.Google Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland and Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland. 1975. Energy allowances and feeding systems for ruminants. Technical bulletin no. 33, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London.Google Scholar
Moran, J. B. 1986. Cereal grains in complete diets for dairy cows: a comparison of rolled barley, wheat and oats and of three methods of processing oats. Animal Production 43: 27–36.Google Scholar
Mould, F. L., Ørskov, E. R. and Mann, S. O. 1983. Associative effects of mixed feeds. 1. Effects of type and level of supplementation and the influence of the rumen fluid pH on cellulolysis in vivo and dry matter digestion of various roughages. Animal Feed Science and Technology 10: 15–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Mara, F., Murphy, J. J. and Rath, M. 1992. The effect of level and source of starch and method of processing cereals on milk production of dairy cows. Animal Production 54: 111 (abstr.).Google Scholar
Ørskov, E. R. 1976. The effect of processing on digestion and utilization of cereals by ruminants. Proceedings of Nutrition Society 35: 245–252.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ørskov, E. R., Barnes, B. J., MacDearmid, A., Williams, P. E. V. and Innes, G. M. 1981. Utilization of alkali-treated grain. 3. Utilisation by steers of NaOH-treated and rolled barley in silage-based diets. Animal Feed Science and Technology 6: 355–365.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ørskov, E. R. and Fraser, C. 1975. The effect of processing of barley based supplements on rumen pH, rate of digestion and voluntary intake in sheep. British Journal Nutrition 34: 493–500.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ørskov, E. R. and Greenhalgh, J. F. D. 1977. Alkali treatment as a method of processing whole grain for cattle. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 89: 253–255.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ørskov, E. R., Soliman, H. S. and MacDearmid, A. 1978. Intake of hay by cattle given supplements of barley subjected to various forms of physical treatment with alkali. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 90: 611–615.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Patterson, H. D. and Lucas, H. L. 1962. Change-over designs. Technical bulletin, North Carolina Agriculture Experiment Station, no. 147.Google Scholar
Rowlands, G. J. 1980. A review of variations in the concentrations of metabolites in the blood of beef and dairy cattle associated with physiology, nutrition and disease, with particular reference to the interpretation of metabolic profiles. World Review of Nutrition and Dietetics 35: 172–235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sriskandarajah, N., Ashwood, A. and Kellaway, R. C. 1980. Effects of rolling and alkali treatment of barley grain supplements on forage intake and utilization by steers and lactating cows. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 95: 555–562.CrossRefGoogle Scholar