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- Title
Cactus Cladodes and Sugarcane Bagasse Can Partially Replace Earless Corn Silage in Diets of Lactating Dairy Cows.
- Authors
Medeiros, Izaac P. S.; Guido, Sebastião I.; Gama, Marco A. S.; Silva, Carlos H. M.; Siqueira, Michelle C. B.; Silva, Camila S. da; Netto, Antonio J.; Felix, Silas B.; Rabelo, Milena N.; Santos, Thayane V. M.; Leite, Maria A. M.; Ferreira, Marcelo A.
- Abstract
Simple Summary: Forage serves as the primary nutritional resource for livestock; however, the consistent availability of high-quality forage is hindered by seasonal variations in environmental conditions, particularly in semiarid regions. In response to this challenge, silage derived from corn plants without ears (hereafter referred to as earless corn silage or ECS) has emerged as a strategic means for enhancing the income of green corn producers in Brazil. Notably, ECS has transitioned from a byproduct to a marketable feed with prices comparable to those of conventional corn silage. Under this scenario, forages adapted to such arid conditions, such as cactus cladodes (CC), are imperative. However, CC must be associated with feedstuffs possessing elevated fiber content. Coproducts, such as sugarcane bagasse (SB), present a viable solution for ameliorating the low neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content in CC-based diets. While SB is classified as a low-quality roughage, its key advantage lies in its availability during periods of forage scarcity and its cost-effectiveness. Our research demonstrates the feasibility of substituting, even partially, ECS with a combination of CC and SB, offering an excellent alternative for milk producers. By embracing CC as the most readily producible forage in semiarid regions, producers can reduce their reliance on external inputs, leveraging the utilization of this forage alongside ingredients with increased fiber content, such as SB, which is both economically advantageous and accessible. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of replacing earless corn silage (ECS) with cactus cladodes (CC; Opuntia spp.) and sugarcane bagasse (SB) on nutrient intake, digestibility, feeding behavior, milk yield (MY), and composition of lactating dairy cows. Ten Holstein cows, weighing 571 ± 97.0 kg and producing 23.0 ± 4.4 kg of milk per day, were assigned to two contemporaneous 5 × 5 Latin squares. Treatments consisted of five levels of ECS replacement with CC plus SB (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%). The results showed a linear increase in dry matter (DM) intake (p < 0.05) (15.98 and 18.73 kg/day) and a quadratic increase (p < 0.05) in crude protein and energy intake (2.97 kg/day and 27.52 Mcal/day at 95.4 and 88.6% substitution, respectively). Apparent DM digestibility increased (p < 0.05), but fiber digestibility decreased linearly (p < 0.05). Treatments had a quadratic effect (p < 0.05) on MY and fat-corrected MY (24.17 kg/day and 21.9 kg/day at 63.9% and 38.6% CC plus SB, respectively). Milk fat (3.26 and 2.35%) and total solids content decreased linearly (p < 0.05), whereas the percentages of protein, lactose, and nonfat solids increased (p < 0.05). Additionally, the CC–SB diets linearly reduced the time spent on feeding and rumination and total chewing time. For Holstein cows fed common semiarid diets, milk production can be maximized by replacing 38.6% of ECS with CC plus SB.
- Subjects
BRAZIL; MILK yield; MILKFAT; DAIRY cattle; SUGARCANE; FEED analysis; SILAGE; BAGASSE
- Publication
Dairy, 2024, Vol 5, Issue 1, p33
- ISSN
2624-862X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/dairy5010003