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Dairy

Impact of TMR preservation with Selko TMR on dairy milk production and feeding behavior during warm weather

Key take aways from this article

  • Spoilage and heating of TMR reduces the nutritional value and affect palatability, especially during warm weather
  • Selko TMR preserves the quality of TMR during the day, which is reflected in an improved milk production
  • Cows receiving untreaded TMR showed more signs of feed selecting behavior, indicating a reduced palatability of the ration

Support TMR palatability and dairy milk production by keeping TMR fresh with Selko TMR

This study aimed to assess the effects of Selko TMR on the performance, rumen fermentation, and feeding behavior of dairy cattle during the warm weather season. The research, conducted at Kempenshof Ruminant Research Centre, included the entire herd of 120 animals, blocked by days in milk and parity. Despite an unexpected lack of difference in dry matter intake, Selko TMR demonstrated a tendency to increase milk yield by 1.7 kg in week 5, leading to significantly higher yields of milk solids. Feeding behavior analysis revealed that Selko TMR-fed cows spend less time eating, demonstrating potential improvements in TMR palatability.

Description Inclusion rate Selko TMR Parity Days in milk
T1 - Negative control - 2.8 ± 1.6 221 ± 123
T2 - Selko TMR liquid 2 kg. / ton TMR 2.8 ± 1.5 219 ± 128
Description Inclusion rate Selko TMR Parity Days in milk
T1 - Negative control - 2.8 ± 1.6 221 ± 123
T2 - Selko TMR liquid 2 kg / ton TMR 2.8 ± 1.5 219 ± 128

Table 1. Treatment groups

Material and methods

The study was carried out with 120 lactating dairy cows, of which eight were fistulated, at the Trouw Nutrition dairy research centre (Kempenshof, the Netherlands). Cows were blocked based on parity and days in milk. Both groups of 60 dairy cows were fed the same diet based on a mixture of grass and corn silage, mixed into a TMR, and the first week was considered an adaptation period. The treatment group received TMR including 2 kg/t of Selko-TMR (Treatment table). Both groups were fed once a day for a total study period of 7 weeks.

Figure 1. Average weekly TMR Dry Matter Intake (kg/day) of cows receiving TMR preserved with Selko-TMR versus the control group. Bars with different superscripts differ significantly (p=0.02)

Figure 2. Average Milk Yield per cow per day (kg/day) of cows receiving TMR preserved with Selko-TMR versus the control group. Points marked with * differ by p=0.07

Results

Average daily temperatures were between 20 and 30 °C (= 68-86 °F) during the study and maximum temperatures reached up to just above 35 °C (= 95 °F). The temperature heat index was regularly above 72, suggesting that the cows were suffering from heat stress. Dry matter intake (DMI) and the volatile fatty acids (VFA) profile of the rumen fluid did not differ significantly. The DMI of the TMR was significantly lower in the Selko-TMR group during the adaptation period (Figure 1; -1.3 kg/day; p=0.02).

At the start of the study, there was an insignificant difference of 0.3 kg/day (p=0.52) in milk production between the treatment groups. This difference tended to increase towards the end of the study with the cows fed the TMR with Selko-TMR producing 1.7 kg/day more milk compared to the control group (p = 0.07; Figure 2).

As a result, a similar trend was found for milk protein, fat, and lactose yield with significantly higher yields (kg per day) at different time points in the Selko-TMR group. Body condition scores showed no differences. Rumen VFA, rumen pH, and health parameters remained consistent between groups.

Figure 3. Higher feed intake rate (gr. wet feed/min) of cows receiving TMR with Selko TMR compared to control

Figure 4. Shorter visit durations (sec) of cows receiving TMR with Selko TMR compared to control.

Selko TMR-fed cows exhibited faster eating, with fewer visits per day compared to the control group. The feeding pattern varied throughout the day, indicating a potential impact of Selko TMR on feeding behavior. Selko TMR fed cows visited and spend less time at the feeding station compared to the control group.

The intake rate (g wet/min) was significantly lower in the control group during the night, afternoon and evening (Figure 3; p <0.01). The visit durations were shorter in Selko TMR group during the whole day (p=0.04) but most profound at morning (p =0.004) and afternoon (p=0.0006); (Figure 4.)

Conclusion

The study suggests that Selko TMR, despite not influencing dry matter intake, may contribute to improved milk yield and composition, along with altered feeding behavior. The control group visited the feeding station more times per day and spend more time eating which indicates more feed selecting behaviour as most of the feeding behaviour measures demonstrate that cows with more visits per day, spend less time at each feeder visit with a lower intake per visit or meal (Cavani et al. 2022).

The observed rise in milk production and decreased signs of feed selection are likely attributed to the enhanced palatability and nutritional value of the TMR preserved by Selko-TMR.

Ligia Cavani, William E. Brown, Kristen L. Parker Gaddis, Robert J. Tempelman, Michael J. VandeHaar, Heather M. White, Francisco Peñagaricano, Kent A. Weigel; Estimates of genetic parameters for feeding behavior traits and their associations with feed efficiency in Holstein cows, Journal of Dairy Science, Volume 105, Issue 9, 2022, Pages 7564-7574, ISSN 0022-0302

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Selko-TMR is a blend of organic acids reducing growth of yeasts, moulds, Enterobacteriaceae and Salmonella in silage of dairy cows. The reduction in growth of micro-organisms delays increases in temperature of the TMR for at least 6 hours, Silages treated with Selko-TMR maintain their feeding value and palatabilty, resulting in a higher intake of dry matter.

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