2019 Volume 64 Issue 4 Pages 225-231
The effects of substituting high moisture shelled corn (HMSC) for flaked corn (FC) on digestibility, nitrogen balance, production performance, and blood constituents of lactating dairy cows were investigated. A crossover trial using six lactating cows was conducted. Cows were fed ad libitum mixed rations consisting of grass silage, concentrate mixture, soybean meal, and FC or HMSC. The digestibility of crude protein was higher and that of starch tended to be higher for cows fed rations with HMSC than with FC. Although there was no difference between diets regarding the nitrogen intake, the fecal nitrogen excretion was lower and the retention of nitrogen was higher for cows fed rations with HMSC than with FC. No significant effects of the substitution were observed on the intake, lactation performance, and blood constituents. These results show that substituting HMSC for FC had no adverse effects on the production performance and blood constituents, but improved the digestibility and nitrogen utilization of dairy cows. Thus, HMSC can be used as a domestic concentrate feed for dairy cows in Japan.
