Effects of Forage Species on Milk Protein Production by Lactating Dairy Cows

Eighteen multiparous early lactation Holstein cows were assigned to a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square with 28-d periods to evaluate milk protein production potential when corn silage (CS) or small grain silage (SGS) was added to diets based on alfalfa silage (AS). Treatments consisted of all AS, a mixture of AS and CS, or a mixture of AS and SGS. Treatment diets were isonitrogenous, isofibrous, and contained maximal amounts of carbohydrates to challenge the milk protein production of cows under intensive milk production systems fed these forages. Lactation performance, milk composition, nutrient intakes, and diet digestibilities were measured. There were no significant differences in milk yield of the cows fed diets containing AS, CS, or SGS. Cows fed diets containing all AS-produced milk with a higher fat percentage than did cows fed CS, and cows fed diets containing all AS produced more milk fat and protein than cows fed CS or SGS. There were no significant differences in the percentage of casein, whey protein, or true protein in milk when cows were fed AS, CS, or SGS. There were also no significant differences in the percentage or production of lactose or solids-not-fat when cows were fed diets containing different silages. Similarly, there were no significant differences in DMI or dietary DM digestibility by cows when fed diets containing different silages. Data suggest that adding CS or SGS to AS-based diets does not improve DMI, lactation performance, or milk protein production of lactating cows.