The effect of protein in the concentrate feed upon milk production and upon consumption and utilization of corn silage by lactating cows

The use of corn silage as a feed for dairy cows has been increasing rapidly for the past few years in Tennessee. Some of the reasons for this increase are that it is nutritious and palatable to dairy cows, it can be harvested under more adverse weather conditions than can other roughages, and it can be fed mechanically with very little labor. There is also a definite trend toward year-round dry lot feeding, especially for the larger herds. Silage fits into this type of operation quite well because it is easily stored, is succulent, and provides a high yield of feed per acre on suitable land. Since corn silage is lower in protein than mixed or legume hays, it is important to know if cows would benefit from added protein in the concentrate feed when they are being fed large amounts of corn silage. If this were true, farmers could gain by feeding extra protein along with their corn silage; but if it were not true, farmers would be wasting their money by feeding extra protein. This study was designed to determine the effect of added protein in the concentrate feed upon milk production and the consumption and utilization of corn silage by lactating cows.