<b>Animal performance and economic return from replacing corn silage by elephant grass silage in Holstein cow diets</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v28i2.849

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to evaluate Holstein cow performance, considering milk yield and composition, and economic efficiency from replacing corn silage by elephant-grass silages treated with bacterial and enzyme-bacterial inoculants. Nine multiparous cows, in the middle of lactation were used. The experimental design was a Latin square (3 x 3; three silages). Chemical and bromatologic analysis and DM and NDF digestibility were conducted for all the silages. Chemical and bromatologic analysis showed higher values for corn silage. However, there was no difference (P > 0.05) for dry matter intake, milk yield and composition among the silages. Economic analysis showed higher return using elephant-grass silages, fact resulting from lower production costs and milk yield. This could be the result of inoculants utilization and its action over cell wall in elephant grass silage, because total ration digestibility was similar for all three silages.