Evaluation of Barley Silage Harvested at Boot and Soft Dough Stages

• Published in: Journal of dairy science Vol. 74; no. 1; pp. 167 - 176
• Main Authors: Acosta, Y.M., Stallings, C.C., Polan, C.E., Miller, C.N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Savoy, IL Elsevier Inc 01.01.1991; Am Dairy Sci Assoc; American Dairy Science Association
• Subjects: barley silage, growth stages, cutting height; Biological and medical sciences; Feed and pet food industries; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; B-LF; SD-Hi; barley silage, growth stages, cutting height; SD-Lo; B-HF; NDIN; Silage; Dairy industry; Feed; Digestibility; Milk
• ISSN: 0022-0302; 1525-3198
• DOI: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78158-7

Barley (Hordeum vulgare, L.) harvested at boot (May 7, 1988) and soft dough (June 6, 1988) stages of maturity was ensiled for nutritive comparisons. Boot stage was wilted, and soft dough was direct-cut at 15 (low) and 25cm (high) above ground Yields were 3690, 8750, and 6287kg DM/ha for boot, soft dough-low, and soft dough-high, respectively. Apparent digestibilities of DM, CP, and ADF were 74.7, 75.4, and 70.8% for boot; 61.9, 50.5, and 44.7% for soft dough-low; and 62.3, 47.2, and 49.7% for soft dough-high, respectively, when fed to heifers. The TDN was 71.2, 62.0, and 62.8% of DM for boot, soft dough-low, and soft dough-high, respectively. Thirty-six lactating Holstein cows were fed silages to supply 75 or 60% of diet DM for 60 d. Milk yields were greater for high-vs. low concentrate diets and averaged 28.3 vs. 25.7 kg/d for boot, 26.3 vs. 24.8 kg/d for soft dough-low, and 26.9 vs. 25.7 kg/d for soft dough-high, respectively. No differences among diets were significant for DM intake or 4% FCM. Even through apparent digestibilities of DM, CP, and ADF were greater for boot stage silage, milk production was not significantly affected by stage of maturity at harvest under summer conditions.