Silages containing buckwheat and chicory: quality, digestibility and nitrogen utilisation by lactating cows

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Forage Quality
• Dairy Nutrition

Background:

• Investigating alternative forages for dairy cow diets is crucial for sustainable livestock production.
• Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) and chicory (Cichorium intybus) are potential forage crops for silage.
• Ryegrass (Lolium multilorum) is a common control forage in dairy nutrition studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the suitability of silages containing buckwheat and chicory for dairy cow nutrition.
• To evaluate the impact of these alternative silages on feed intake, milk production, and nutrient utilization.
• To compare the feeding value of buckwheat and chicory silages against a control ryegrass silage.

Main Methods:

• Swards of buckwheat, chicory, and ryegrass were harvested and ensiled without additives.
• Diets containing varying proportions of buckwheat and chicory silages were fed ad libitum to late-lactating cows.
• Feed intake, fecal output, milk yield, and milk composition were recorded during a 15-day feeding trial.

Main Results:

• Ensilability was good for buckwheat and ryegrass, but less so for chicory due to high ash content.
• Buckwheat silage had higher fiber and lignin, and lower crude protein and ether extract than other silages.
• No significant effects on intake, body weight, or milk yield/composition were observed, but buckwheat silage improved nitrogen utilization for milk protein.

Conclusions:

• Silages containing buckwheat and chicory can be incorporated into dairy cow diets as forage components.
• While offering potential benefits in nitrogen utilization, these silages exhibit a lower overall feeding value compared to ryegrass silage.
• Further research may be needed to optimize the use of buckwheat and chicory silages in dairy cattle feeding.