Effects of Different Forage Types on Rumen Fermentation, Microflora, and Production Performance in Peak-Lactation Dairy Cows
Cheng Guo,
Yaqi Wu,
Shengli Li,
Zhijun Cao,
Yajing Wang,
Jiang Mao,
Haitao Shi,
Renhuang Shi,
Xiaoge Sun,
Yuhui Zheng,
Fanlin Kong,
Yangyi Hao,
Xiaofeng Xu
Affiliations
Cheng Guo
School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, No. 489, Helanshan West Road, Yinchuan 750021, China
Yaqi Wu
Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100094, China
Shengli Li
School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, No. 489, Helanshan West Road, Yinchuan 750021, China
Zhijun Cao
Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100094, China
Yajing Wang
Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100094, China
Jiang Mao
Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100094, China
Haitao Shi
Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100094, China
Renhuang Shi
Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100094, China
Xiaoge Sun
Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100094, China
Yuhui Zheng
Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100094, China
Fanlin Kong
Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100094, China
Yangyi Hao
Beijing Engineering Technology Research Center of Raw Milk Quality and Safety Control, State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100094, China
Xiaofeng Xu
School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, No. 489, Helanshan West Road, Yinchuan 750021, China
Forages are vital in maintaining the dietary structures of ruminants, and reducing their costs is important for improving dairy production efficiency. Thus, this study investigated the effects of dietary forage types on dry matter intake, production, rumen fermentation, and the microbial profile in peak-lactating cows. Eight cows (600 ± 25 kg) with days in milk (60 ± 10 days) were assigned to four groups using a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design: OG (oat hay + alfalfa hay + corn silage + concentrate), CW (Leymus chinensis + alfalfa hay + corn silage + concentrate), AS (alfalfa silage + oat hay + corn silage + concentrate), and AC (alkali-treated corn straw + alfalfa hay + corn silage + concentrate). The ruminal butyrate acid concentration was lower in the OG group than in the AS and AC groups post-feeding (12 h; p p Oscillospira and unknown microbes was higher in the CW group than in the other groups (p p p p L. chinensis increased the number of fibrillation helices related to fiber-decomposing bacteria and simultaneously increased unknown strains. Forage derived from alfalfa silage tended to increase milk protein levels. Alkali-treated corn straw could significantly increase the total rumination time and unit dry matter rumination time of dairy cows, which plays an important role in maintaining rumen health. The rational use of low-quality forage has broad prospects in China.
