Evaluation of carinata meal included in a total mixed ration fed ad libitum to dairy heifers.

Document Type

Abstract

Publication Date

2018

Publisher

American Dairy Science Association

Journal

Journal of Dairy Science

Volume

101

Issue

Suppl. 2

Pages

389-390

Language

en.

Keywords

carinata meal, dairy heifer, growth performance

Abstract

Our objective was to determine the effects on growth performance of dairy heifers when fed carinata meal in a TMR containing corn silage. Previous research from our group has found that limit-feeding carinata meal at 10% of the total diet in the concentrate mix with grass hay as the major forage maintained heifer growth. A 12-wk randomized complete block design study was conducted using 24 Holstein heifers [242.4 ± 34 d of age; BW 272.8 ± 45 kg]. Treatments were (1) control (CON) a TMR with grass hay, corn silage, and soybean meal and dried distillers grains with solubles as major concentrate ingredients; and (2) a TMR with 10% (DM basis) carinata meal (CRM) replacing a portion of the soybean meal in the grain mix. Diets were fed for ad libitum intakes and formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Rations were fed to target 10% refusal rate and intakes were measured using Calan gates. Frame sizes, BW, and body condition scores (BCS) were measured on 2 d during wk 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12. Data were analyzed in MIXED procedures of SAS 9.4 with repeated measures. Heifer DMI was greater (P < 0.01) for CON (9.2, and 8.4 kg/d for CON and CRM, respectively; SEM = 0.25). Body weights (327.0 and 327.1 kg; SEM = 2.53), ADG (1.09 and 1.05 kg/d; SEM = 0.05), and gain: feed (0.12 and 0.13; SEM = 0.01) were similar (P > 0.05) between treatments. Withers height (128.0 and 128.1 cm; SEM = 0.28), body length (119.5 and 120.0 cm; SEM = 0.44) and BCS (2.99 and 2.97; SEM = 0.02) were also similar (P > 0.05). Greater heart girth (P < 0.01) was found for the CON heifers (153.3 cm and 152.0 cm; SEM = 0.39). Differences were not found (P = 0.18) for paunch girth (187.0 cm and 187.8 cm; SEM = 1.90) between 390 J. Dairy Sci. Vol. 101, Suppl. 2 treatments. The CRM fed heifers had greater (P < 0.01) hip width (40.0 cm and 40.4 cm; SEM = 0.24). Results indicated that replacing soybean meal with carinata meal at 10% of the ration and feeding as a TMR for ad libitum consumption maintained heifer body frame growth while decreasing DMI. Carinata meal shows potential as a feedstuff to be included in TMR fed to dairy heifers.

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