Effects of Feeding Unlike Forages, Singly and in Combination, on Voluntary Dry Matter Consumption and Performance of Lactating Cows

Three groups of six lactating dairy cows each were fed: a) grass-legume silage, ad libitum; b) succulent pasture, ad libitum; and c) silage, ad libitum plus 1 hr of pasture daily. Milk production, weight gains, and forage consumption of those fed the combination of forages were significantly greater than expected. Most of the beneficial interaction was attributed to an increase in forage consumption. Digestibility was not affected by the combination. However, some increase hi efficiency of digested nutrients could not be excluded.