Lactation Trial From the University of Wisconsin
at River Falls

Compliments of Nutrition Research

Comparison of TMF94 to a Widely Grown "Dual-Purpose" Pioneer Hybrid
as Silage and High Moisture Grain for Lactating Dairy Cows

This lactation trial was conducted by the University of Wisconsin at River Falls. Mature Holstein cows were assigned to each of four ration treatments for a period of 21 days. Rations consisted of 42% corn silage, 11% high moisture shelled corn, 7.8% alfalfa hay, 12.3% soybean meal, 10.4% whole cottonseed, 10.4% distillers grains and 6.1% supplement. The only difference among the four diets was the type of silage – TMF or "dual-purpose", and the type of high moisture grain used – TMF or Pioneer.

Milk production averaged 93.4 lb. per cow per day during the trial. Cows fed rations containing TMF high moisture grain consumed more dry matter and produced milk with greater protein concentration than cows fed Pioneer grain. When comparing silages, cows fed rations containing TMF silage produced more milk protein and 3 lb. more milk per day than cows fed "dual-purpose" silage.

Bottom line: Feeding TMF silage could increase the annual gross income of a 100-cow dairy operation by $14,235 (3 lb. per day increase in milk production * 365 days * $13/cwt milk price)

-End-