ChileanJAR

Corn silage mixed in different proportions with red clover silage was evaluated using dairy cows at the Carillanca Regional Research Center of the National Agricultural Research Institute (INIA), located in Temuco, Chile (38º 41’ South lat., 72º 25’ West long. at 200 m.o.s.l.). Eight autumn calving cows were assigned to each treatment for 70 days. The treatments consisted of three isonitrogenous rations: TI, 100% corn silage; TII, 66% corn silage and 33% red clover silage; and TIII, 33% corn silage and 66% red clover silage. In addition, all cows received 4 kg of alfalfa and 6 kg concentrate. The experimental design was a completely randomized block design and the statistical analysis was performed using repeated means. There was a significant statistical difference (P<0.05) observed in milk production between TIII and the other treatments, which disappeared when corrected to 3.5% milk fat. There were no treatment differences in milk composition. There were significant differences in dry matter intake and live weight between TI and the other treatments. The body condition was significantly different between treatments and the cows in TIII were the only ones who lost body condition as a result of being lighter from the beginning of the experiment. Finally, blood serum measures showed a significant difference for the enzyme (AST) aspartate amino transferace between TIII and the other treatments. There were no treatment differences in serum protein and serum albumin.