TY - JOUR
T1 - Chemical Drying Agents for Alfalfa Hay
T2 - Effect on Nutrient Digestibility and Lactational Performance
AU - Ziemer, C. J.
AU - Heinrichs, A. J.
AU - Canale, C. J.
AU - Varga, G. A.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors wish to thank Church and Dwight Co., Inc. and Agway, Inc. for partial support of this research and Penn State Farm Services for harvest and spraying of hays.
PY - 1991
Y1 - 1991
N2 - Effects of chemical drying agents for hay on plasma profile, lactational performance, and nutrient digestibility by cows were studied. First-cutting alfalfa (late bud) was harvested as hay and treated when cut by applying untreated control, a commercial drying agent (7.64 kg/ha), or a mixture of active ingredients, potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate (7.47 kg/ha). Six multiparous Holstein cows (120 to 150 d postpartum) were fed diets (two cows per treatment) containing 55% hay and 45% concentrate (DM basis) in a balanced two period changeover design. Plasma profiles were similar for all cows, regardless of hay treatment. There were no differences in milk yield, milk fat, or milk protein percentages for control, drying agent, or mixture. Intake of DM was not different among treatments. Apparent digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, NDF, and ADF were not different among treatments. Treatment of alfalfa hay with chemical drying agents did not alter plasma profile, milk production, or nutrient digestibility in midlactation cows.
AB - Effects of chemical drying agents for hay on plasma profile, lactational performance, and nutrient digestibility by cows were studied. First-cutting alfalfa (late bud) was harvested as hay and treated when cut by applying untreated control, a commercial drying agent (7.64 kg/ha), or a mixture of active ingredients, potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate (7.47 kg/ha). Six multiparous Holstein cows (120 to 150 d postpartum) were fed diets (two cows per treatment) containing 55% hay and 45% concentrate (DM basis) in a balanced two period changeover design. Plasma profiles were similar for all cows, regardless of hay treatment. There were no differences in milk yield, milk fat, or milk protein percentages for control, drying agent, or mixture. Intake of DM was not different among treatments. Apparent digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, NDF, and ADF were not different among treatments. Treatment of alfalfa hay with chemical drying agents did not alter plasma profile, milk production, or nutrient digestibility in midlactation cows.
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U2 - 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78445-2
DO - 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78445-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 1918541
AN - SCOPUS:0026211599
SN - 0022-0302
VL - 74
SP - 2674
EP - 2680
JO - Journal of dairy science
JF - Journal of dairy science
IS - 8
ER -