Response of early lactation dairy cows fed diets varying in source of nonstructural carbohydrate and crude protein

Seventy-six high producing Holstein cows were randomly assigned in a 2 x 2 factorial to evaluate two sources of nonstructural carbohydrates (corn and barley), which supposedly differed in degradability of starch with two sources of CP degradability (soybean meal and urea) in the concentrate mix during wk 4 through 14 postpartum. Total mixed diets, formulated to be isonitrogenous at 16% CP, contained (DM) 40% corn silage, 10% alfalfa hay, and 50% of the respective concentrate mix. Nonstructural carbohydrate degradability was similar for concentrate mixes containing corn or barley. Production of milk (32.2 and 31.8 kg/d) was similar, but production of 4% FCM (29.1 and 27.4 kg/d) and SCM (29.1 and 27.5 kg/d) was decreased for cows fed barley due to lower percentages of fat (3.39 and 3.22) and SNF (8.65 and 8.59). Percentages of protein (3.09 and 3.08) were similar for cows fed corn and barley diets. Degradability of CP did not affect production of milk (31.9 and 32.0 kg/d), 4% FCM (28.5 and 28.0 kg/d), and SCM (28.4 and 28.2 kg/d) for cows fed soybean meal and urea. Dry matter intake was lower for cows fed barley (20.7 and 19.2 kg/d), but intakes (20.1 and 19.8 kg/d) were similar for cows fed soybean meal and urea. Providing an alternative nonstructural carbohydrate source (barley versus corn) did not increase utilization of a more readily degradable CP source (urea versus soybean meal).