@article{MAKHILLJAVA201211243920,
    title = {Responses in Milk Yield, Milk Composition and Rumen Fermentation in Lactating Cows Receiving a Corn Straw or Mixed Forage Diet},
    journal = {Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances},
    volume = {11},
    number = {24},
    pages = {4678-4683},
    year = {2012},
    issn = {1680-5593},
    doi = {javaa.2012.4678.4683},
    url = {https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?issn=1680-5593&doi=javaa.2012.4678.4683},
    author = {Weng,Bu,Li,Zhang and},
    keywords = {Forage quality,milk production,milk composition,rumen fermentation,China},
    abstract = {An experiment was conducted to investigate responses in milk 
  production, milk composition and rumen fermentation of dairy cows receiving 
  a corn straw or mixed forage diet. Ten primiparous and rumen-cannulated Holstein 
  dairy cows averaging 127±13 days in milk (mean±SD) were randomly 
  assigned to CS (37.1% corn straw as sole forage) or MF diet (3.7% Chinese wildrye+28.4% 
  alfalfa hay+26.5% corn silage as mixed forage). Feed intake, body weight, body 
  condition score and milk production were monitored. Milk fat, protein, lactose 
  and total solids were analyzed by near-infrared analysis. Samples of rumen fluid 
  were collected via cannula every 6 h over a 72 h duration to analyze pH, ammonia-N 
  and VFA concentrations. Results showed that cows fed MF diet significantly increased 
  dry matter intake (p<0.01) as well as yields of milk (p<0.05), 4% FCM 
  (p<0.01), milk fat (p<0.05), lactose (p<0.05) and total solids (p<0.05). 
  Cows fed MF diet had higher (p<0.01) ruminal acetate concentrate and ratio 
  of acetate to propionate and lower concentrations of ammonia-N (p<0.01), 
  propionate (p<0.05), butyrate (p<0.01), isobutyrate (p<0.01), valerate 
  (p<0.01) and isovalerate (p<0.01) than cows fed CS diet. Collectively, 
  these results suggest that cows fed MF diet improve DMI and milk production. 
  In addition, cows fed CS diet had minor differences in rumen pH and total VFA 
  concentration which may suggest that corn straw played an important role in 
  maintaining rumen function when cows were fed this higher concentrate diet.}
    }