The effect of replacing conventional alfalfa hay with lower-lignin alfalfa hay on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, and energy utilization in lactating Jersey cows

Lower-lignin (LoL) varieties of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) have been developed in recent years, and have the potential to positively impact animal performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of increasing the proportion of LoL alfalfa hay in diets fed to lactating dairy cows. Research plots were planted with a conventional variety (CON; Dairyland Hybriforce 3400), and 2 LoL varieties (LLG; 54HVX42 and LLB; Aflorex HiGest 460). After harvest, the LoL varieties were blended in equal proportions for feeding. Twelve multiparous Jersey cows (100 ± 4 d in milk) were used in a 3 × 3 Latin square with 3 periods of 28 d. Cows were assigned to 3 diets containing 0 (CNTRL), 16.1 (MdLL), and 32.2% (HiLL) of the diet DM as LoL alfalfa hay, which replaced CON. The CON alfalfa had average CP, NDF, and lignin contents (DM basis) of 20.5 ± 1.15, 42.1 ± 1.37, and 6.81 ± 0.57%, respectively, while the LoL alfalfa averaged 19.8 ± 0.75, 39.9 ± 1.56, and 6.07 ± 0.28%, respectively. No difference was observed in DMI (20.4 ± 0.61 kg/d). No difference in milk yield was observed, averaging 31.0 ± 1.02 kg/d across treatments. Similarly, no difference was observed in ECM yield (averaging 36.2 ± 1.43 kg/d). Feed conversion (ECM/DMI) tended to increase linearly with LoL alfalfa inclusion (1.74 to 1.80 ± 0.03). No difference was observed for milk fat yield and content (1.39 ± 0.075 kg/d and 4.51 ± 0.219%) or milk protein yield and content (1.06 ± 0.041 kg/d and 3.43 ± 0.096%). Total methane production quadratically decreased from CNTRL to MdLL then increased to HiLL (441, 389, 412 ± 18.2 L/d, respectively). No differences were observed on total-tract digestibility of DM (averaging 67.2 ± 0.55%) and NDF (averaging 50.9 ± 1.56%). No difference was observed in the concentration of DE, ME or NEL was observed averaging 2.82 ± 0.021, 2.51 ± 0.027, and 1.72 ± 0.030 Mcal/kg respectively. Our results suggest that replacing CON alfalfa with LoL alfalfa has no effects on milk production, milk composition, or nutrient digestibility but may improve feed efficiency.

Use of nitrogen from ammoniated alfalfa hay, urea, soybean meal, and animal protein meal by lactating cows

Midbloom alfalfa hay was baled (16% moisture) and treated with approximately 2% anhydrous NH3 (percentage of DM). Concentrations (percentage of DM) of total N (4.7% vs. 3.4%), NPN (1.3% vs. 0.4%), soluble N (14.8% vs. 8.2%), RUP (6.3% vs. 4.8%), and NDF (52.5% vs. 45.7%) were higher 3 wk after ammoniation than before treatment. Diets (15% CP) that provided 26% of total CP from N added to hay by ammoniation, urea, soybean meal, or a commercial blend of animal protein meals were fed to lactating cows. All diets provided concentrations of CP and RUP as recommended by the NRC, but diets with ammoniated hay, urea, and soybean meal provided only 70% of NRC recommendations for RUP (100% for the animal protein diet). Apparent digestibilities of DM, N, and fiber fractions were not affected by diet. Diet did not affect N balance, but cows fed the urea diet excreted more N in urine and had higher concentrations of ruminal NH3 and plasma urea than did cows fed ammoniated hay. Production (30 kg/d) and composition of milk and DMI were largely unaffected by diet. Diverse sources of dietary N did not greatly influence N utilization by dairy cows.

Monosaccharide digestibility by dairy cows fed diets high in concentrate and containing alfalfa silages

Alfalfa was ensiled by the conventional wilting process or as a mixture of 70% fresh alfalfa plus 30% wheat straw treated with SO2. The effects of these silages on the digestibility of monosaccharide constituents of the TMR by dairy cows was examined. Ten cows in early lactation were divided into two groups of 5 that had similar performance data at the onset of the experiment. Cows were fed for ad libitum intake for 28 d a TMR composed of 70% concentrates, 15% alfalfa hay, and 15% silage. The alfalfa silage had lower glucose, xylose, and total carbohydrates than the silage of alfalfa plus wheat straw treated with SO2. Digestibilities of DM (70 to 71%), OM (72%), and total carbohydrate (83%) were similar in the two TMR. The digestibilities of NDF carbohydrate for both TMR were similar. Regardless of treatment, NDF glucose was more digestible than NDF xylose and NDF uronic acid and less digestible than NDF arabinose, galactose, and mannose. The digestibility of total neutral detergent-soluble carbohydrates was 89% in both TMR, but those of neutral detergent-soluble xylose, mannose, and galactose were lower than those of neutral detergent-soluble glucose, arabinose, and pectin.