Elsevier

Journal of Dairy Science

Volume 85, Issue 1, January 2002, Pages 217-226
Journal of Dairy Science

Article
Influence of Corn Processing and Frequency of Feeding on Cow Performance1,2

https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(02)74070-8Get rights and content
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Abstract

Twenty cows, including five fitted with rumen cannulae, were used to study the influence of corn processing and frequency of feeding on milk yield and ruminal fermentation characteristics. Cows were assigned to five treatments in a 5 × 5 Latin square experiment. Each period was 3 wk. Cows were fed 45% forage and 55% grain in a total mixed ration. Diets contained 35% corn either coarsely ground and fed once a day (1×), finely ground (FGC) fed 1×, steam-flaked (SFC) fed 1×, FGC fed four times a day (4×), or SFC fed 4×. Processing of corn and frequency of feeding had no influence on dry matter intake. Digestibility of starch was increased 6 and 3 percentage units by feeding SFC corn compared with coarsely and finely ground corn, respectively. Cows fed SFC or FGC produced 4% more milk with lower fat content compared with coarsely ground corn. Increasing the feeding frequency did not improve milk fat content. The fat-corrected milk yield was not different among treatments. Feeding SFC resulted in a low acetate-to-propionate ratio in the rumen fluid than FGC. Cows fed SFC produced 45 and 115 g more milk protein per cow/d than cows fed FGC or coarse, respectively. With the value of increased milk protein observed in this study, it would be more economical to feed SFC or finely ground corn to dairy cows compared with coarse ground. The breakeven price of flaking corn in this study was $32 and $12/metric tonne compared with coarse and FGC, respectively. Based on a survey conducted by the authors, the price of flaking corn in the United States ranged between $7 to $22/metric tonne during year 2000.

Key words

corn
cow
milk
protein

Abbreviation key

CGC
coarsely ground corn
CGl×
coarsely ground corn fed once daily
FGC
finely ground corn
FG-1×
finely ground corn fed once daily
FG-4x
FGC fed four times daily
SFC
steam-flaked corn
SF-4×
SFC fed four times daily

Cited by (0)

1

Approved as journal paper number 7394 of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, Utah State University, Logan.

2

Trade names and the names of commercial companies are used in this report to provide specific information. Mention of a trade name or manufacturer does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the Utah State University or an endorsement over products not mentioned.