D26—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 17,1984
Silage acidity affects dairy feed intake
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Cattle
can sometimes be finicky at
feeding time, and one reason may
be the acidity of their diets.
Researchers at the University of
Maryland have found that animals
eat better when their corn silage
rations are slightly acidic - bet
ween pH 5 and 6. At pH levels
above and below this range, feed
intake is reduced, the researchers
say.
The study also indicates that
adding sodium bicarbonate to
silage at feeding time improves
feed intake and cattle per
formance.
Randy Shaver, doctoral can
didate at the University of
Wisconsin, conducted the research
while a graduate student at
Ration
Fresh whole plant corn
Fresh whole plant corn
acidified with HCL
Corn sijage
Com silage supplemented
with sodium bicarbonate
In a second study, the resear
chers compared intake of 640-lb.
Holstein heifers fed com silage to
which had been added either 2,4 or
6 percent sodium bicarbonate, on a
dry matter basis. A control group
received silage which had no
Ration
Control (no bicarb)
2% sodium bicarbonate
4% sodium bicarbonate
6% sodium bicarbonate
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Maryland. He compared con
sumption of 330-lb. Holstein steers
fed one of four rations; 1) fresh
whole plant corn, 2) fresh whole
plant corn acidified with
hydrochloric acid to a pH equalling
that of corn silage, 3) corn silage,
and 4) corn silage with ap
proximately 5 percent sodium
bicarbonate (dry matter basis)
added at feeding time to increase
pH to a level equalling that of fresh
whole plant corn.
Feed intake appeared to be
linked to pH of the feedstuffs. The
highest consumption rate was with
corn silage that had been sup
plemented with sodium bicarb.
Consumption was lowest with fresh
whole corn which had been
acidified (see following table).
Effect of Silage pH on Consumption
(Holstein Steers)
pH
5.20
3.66
3.86
5.94
bicarb added.
Again, consumption improved as
pH approached neutral. However,
at the highest level of bicarb, pH of
the silage was slightly alkaline,
and intake was reduced (see
following table).
Effect of Silage pH on Consumption
(Holstein Heifers)
pH
3.72
4.46
5.62
8.05
Trans.
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“This research shows that corn
silage pH is a factor affecting
intake, and that sodium bicar
bonate added to the ration can be
beneficial in keeping silage pH
within an optimum range of 5 or
6,” says Shaver. “Where silage
acidity is extremely high,
however, it may not be economical
to add as much bicarb as would be
needed to achieve the optimum pH
level. Producers will have to
analyze their own situations to see
if it pays to reduce silage acidity
by adding bicarb at feeding time.”
The study is one of several
planned at the University of
Maryland to further define the role
of sodium bicarbonate in cattle
feeding, according to Richard
Erdman, assistant professor of
animal science who participated in
the research.
“Many studies have shown a
response to sodium bicarbonate,
and we have assumed that buf
fering in the rumen has been the
reason for the response,” says
Erdman. “We’re interested in the
possibility that bicarb may also
improve palatabihty by keeping
pH of the ration at an optimum
level.”
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DYC wins flower award
DOYLESTOWN - Delaware
Valley College’s display at the
Philadelphia Flower Show has
been named the 1984 winner of the
Bulkley Medal.
“We’re delighted with the
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Chairman of the College’s Or
namental Horticulture Depart
ment. “It really is a great honor.
We haven’t won the Bulkley Medal
in a number of years. The award is
national in scope, so it goes beyond
being a local honor.”
The Bulkley Medal is awarded to
an exhibit of special merit and/or
educational value. It is sponsored
by the Garden Club of America.
The College’s theme at this
year’s show is “The Great
American Mail-Order Garden”. It
lets people see for themselves what
over 100 mail-order vegetables and
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flowers look like and how they
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As part of the project, students
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also part of the display long with a
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“I was very pleased with some of
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The Philadelphia Flower Show is
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