The effect of particle size of ensiled rice on dry matter intake and milk production of dairy cows

Abstract

The effects of partly mixed ration (PMR) containing ensiled rice with different crushed particle sizes on feed intake, lactation performance, plasma metabolites and ruminal fermentation characteristics of dairy cows were investigated. The ensiled rice was crushed using a double-roller crusher with a crushing roll interval of 1.0 mm (cracked rice) or 0.2 mm (ground rice), respectively. The proportion of ensiled rice that passed through a 2 mm sieve was 13.5% in the cracked rice and 54.2% in the crushed rice. Six lactating Holstein cows were used in a 2×2 cross over design and fed PMR containing 18% of each ensiled rice as dry matter basis. There was no difference in feed intake, milk yield and milk composition of the experimental cows between the two groups. There was no significant difference in plasma metabolites and of experimental cows between the two groups.