The effect of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) silage chop length and inclusion rate within a total mixed ration on the ability of lactating dairy cows to cope with a feed withholding and refeeding challenge

Thomson, A., Humphries, D., Crompton, L. and Reynolds, C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4152-1190 (2018) The effect of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) silage chop length and inclusion rate within a total mixed ration on the ability of lactating dairy cows to cope with a feed withholding and refeeding challenge. Journal of Dairy Science, 101 (5). pp. 4180-4192. ISSN 0022-0302 doi: 10.3168/jds.2017-13926

Abstract/Summary

Cows fed diets containing a lower concentration of alfalfa silage (replacing corn silage) experienced greater reductions in rumen pH following a six hour feed witholding/refeeding challenge than those fed higher alfalfa concentration diets and also suffered greater short-term milk loss on the day of the challenge. Lower rumen pH in animals fed a long chop length compared to a shorter chop length raised questions over the effect of long forage particles in the diet during and following short-term feed deprivation. This research highlights the importance of maintaining feeding routines and ensuring adequate feed access throughout the day in dairy systems.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/75349
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Agriculture, Policy and Development > Department of Animal Sciences > Animal, Dairy and Food Chain Sciences (ADFCS)- DO NOT USE
Uncontrolled Keywords	alfalfa, chop length, acidosis, feed witholding, rumen challenge
Publisher	Elsevier
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