Kf. Knowlton et al., LASALOCID AND PARTICLE-SIZE OF CORN GRAIN FOR DAIRY-COWS IN EARLY LACTATION .1. EFFECT ON PERFORMANCE, SERUM METABOLITES, AND NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY, Journal of dairy science, 79(4), 1996, pp. 557-564
The effects were examined of corn grain particle size and the ionophor
e lasalocid on performance, blood parameters, and nutrient digestibili
ty of early lactation cows. Smaller corn particle size was expected to
result in faster rate of digestion and ruminal fermentation of starch
. Eight multiparous and 4 primiparous cows in early lactation were fed
diets (44% forage) with cracked or ground, dried shelled corn grain a
nd with or without lasalocid (360 mg/d per cow). The experiment was a
replicated (n = 3) 4 x 4 Latin square design with 21-d periods and a 2
x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Lasalocid tended to improve
DMI. Lasalocid and ground corn decreased body condition loss and milk
fat and increased milk protein. Ground corn tended to increase milk yi
eld but had no effect on 4% FCM, lactose, and BW. For all cows, milk y
ield, 4% FCM, lactose, and BW were unaffected by lasalocid; however, s
ubsequent analysis of individual squares revealed that milk yield of p
rimiparous cows increased with lasalocid. Ground corn increased total
tract starch digestibility and decreased NDF digestibility. Interactio
ns between lasalocid and particle size of corn grain were observed onl
y for change in serum insulin concentration before and after meals.