Effects of supplemental hay and corn silage versus full-time grazing on ruminal pH and chewing activity of dairy cows.
Grazing young, highly digestible swards with and without supplemental hay or corn silage (5.5 kg of DM/d) offered overnight was tested for its effects on ruminal pH and chewing activity. A double 3 x 3 Latin square arrangement with 6 rumen-cannulated Brown Swiss cows (29 kg/d of milk) was applied. Herbage intake was quantified by controlled-release alkane capsules. Chewing activity was determined using an automatic microcomputer-based system for digital recording of the jaw movements. Except during milking, ruminal pH was measured continuously over 7 d by applying a device consisting of an indwelling pH electrode and a data-recording unit integrated in the cannula's cover. The grazing system had no significant effect on body weight, milk yield or composition (except milk urea), or total DM intake (13.5, 13.8, and 15.7 kg/d with full-time grazing, hay, and corn silage supplementation). No differences occurred for ruminating time per day and time per kilogram of DM intake. Full-time grazing cows spent more time eating per day (+26%) and time per kilogram of DM intake (+31%) than the other cows. Ruminal pH and time with pH <5.8 at night did not differ. Throughout the day, hay-supplemented cows had a significantly lower pH (-0.23) than full-time grazing cows, and the period of pH <5.8 was longer compared with corn-silage fed cows (77 vs. 11 min). Nocturnal supplement feeding gave no advantage over full-time grazing, and supplemental hay led to lower daytime pH.
Graf
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CM
Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux, Swiss Federal Research Station for Animal Production and Dairy Products (ALP), CH-1725 Posieux, Switzerland.
Kreuzer
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M
Dohme
F
F
D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis; D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D004435:Eating; D004566:Electrodes; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000032:analysis; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007774:Lactation; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D012417:Rumen / Q000737:chemistry*; D012820:Silage / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014508:Urea / Q000032:analysis; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry
D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D000641:Ammonia; D014508:Urea; D009584:Nitrogen; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid