Animal Science Abstract
Use of empirical models that describe the response of lactating dairy cattle to varying ratios of silage to concentrate as described in terms of metabolizable energy intake: the prediction of milk yield and its constituents from a combination of two empirical models
V. B. Woods1,A, D. J. Kilpatrick2 and F. J. Gordon1,2
AE-mail: vanessa.woods@dardni.gov.uk
1Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Hillsborough, Co. Down BT26 6DR, UK2Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland and The Queen's University of Belfast BT9 5PX, UK
Abstract
Grass silage constitutes a major proportion of the food offered to high producing dairy cows in the western regions of the European Union. In order to achieve optimal milk yield and quality from high genetic merit dairy cows, it is common practice to offer concentrates in addition to grass silage at feeding. The aim of the current study was to combine two existing empirical models in order to allow prediction of the response in milk production to offering varying ratios of grass silage and concentrates to high genetic merit dairy cows, allowing for the fact that grass silage quality can vary. Results have demonstrated that it is possible to predict, with reasonable precision, the milk production response to various combinations of grass silage and concentrates in the diet. This will facilitate investigation of production and economic responses of offering increased levels of concentrates in the diet on milk yield, milk quality and milk value.
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