Effect of the grass silage particle size offered as TMR on the ruminal thiamine concentration in high-yielding dairy cows.

Publication Type

Contribution to conference

Authors

Tafaj, M., Zebeli, Q., Schollenberger, M., Junck, B. and Drochner, W.

Year of publication

2004

Published in

J. Anim. a. Feed Sci.,

Editor

Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Foulum

Page (from - to)

219-222

Conference name

Symposium on Ruminant Physiology

Conference location

Kopenhagen, Dänemark

Conference date

30.08.-04.09.2004

Keywords

dairy cow, particle size, rumen digesta, thiamine

The thiamine concentration was studied in solid and fluid rumen digesta of three Holstein cows, fitted with rumen cannulae and fed grass silage-based TMR with three particle sizes (25, 11 and 5.5 mm). The decrease of the particle size led to an increase of the thiamine concentration in solid (P<0.05) and fluid rumen digesta. Thiamine concentration was increased (R2=0.56, P<0.001) as digestible organic matter intake increases. The pH (mean 5.81) did correlate negatively (R2=0.21 to 0.26, P<0.001) to the thiamine concentration of rumen. Thiamine concentration of the rumen digesta did reflect in great extent the changes of rumen conditions.