Changes in Milk Production and Metabolic Parameters by Feeding Lactating Cows Based on Different Ratios of Corn Silage: Alfalfa Hay with Addition of Extruded Soybeans

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different ratios of corn silage (CS): alfalfa hay (AH), and extruded soybeans (ESB) on milk yield, milk composition, blood metabolites, and fatty acids in milk fat and plasma. Ninety multiparous Holstein cows were arranged in a randomized block design experiment which lasted 14 weeks. Treatments were arranged as a $3{\times}3$ factorial with 0%, 5% or 10% ESB (dry matter basis) and three forage treatments: I) 30% CS, 10% AH and 10% Leymus chinense hay (LC); ii) 20% corn silage, 20% alfalfa hay and 10% LC; iii) 10% CS, 30% AH and 10% LC. Cows were allowed to consume a total mixed ration ad libitum. There was no change of dry matter intake when cows were fed the experimental diets. As more AH was added to the diets, milk yield, milk protein content and yield, and trans9, cis11-conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) concentrations in milk fat and plasma increased. When ESB were supplemented to the diets, milk yield, and trans9, cis11-CLA concentration in milk fat and plasma increased. When 10% ESB was added to the diet containing 30% AH the trans9, cis11-CLA content (1.46 g/100 g of total fatty acids) in milk was the highest among all treatments. These results suggests that AH could replace part of a CS diet and be a good forage source of diet for dairy cows to improve milk yield and milk composition. Meanwhile, ESB could be included in the diet with high AH to improve production performance of dairy cows.