The value of artificially dried grass, silage made with added molasses and A.I.V. fodder in the diet of the dairy cow and their effect on the quality of the milk, with special reference to the value of the non-protein nitrogen

Abstract

An experiment has been carried out with dairy cows to measure the value of artificially dried grass, silage made with added molasses and A.I.V. fodder (silage made with mineral acid in quantity sufficient to bring the pH of the mass to between 3·0 and 4·0) in the diet, on the yield and quality of the milk. A preliminary period of 3 weeks when all cows were on the control diet was followed by an experimental period of 17 weeks. There were four treatments: a control ration consisting of hay, roots and concentrates; one in which artificially dried grass replaced part of the concentrates; a third in which molassed silage was fed; and a fourth including A.I.V. fodder. There were originally five blocks of four cows each, the four treatments being randomised in each block, each block of cows standing together in the cowshed to eliminate any possible effect of position. One block went dry after 8 weeks, but the remaining four blocks completed the experiment.