Rapeseed meal as a protein source for high-production dairy cows on grass silage-and hay-based feeding

Authors

• Liisa Syrjälä-Qvist Department of Animal Husbandry University of Helsinki, 00710 Helsinki 71
• Mikko Tuori Department of Animal Husbandry University of Helsinki, 00710 Helsinki 71
• Jouko Setälä Department of Animal Husbandry University of Helsinki, 00710 Helsinki 71

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.72099

Abstract

Twenty-four dairy cows were used in an experiment in which 1) soybean meal, 2) rapeseed meal and 3) rapeseed meal plus urea were compared for feeding value, when given as protein sources in grass silage- and hay-based feeding. About 25 % of the digestible crude protein required for milk production was replaced with these protein sources. The rapeseed meal was mainly of the Span variety. The rapeseed meal composed 13% of a concentrate mixture also containing barley, oats and molassed beet pulp. The daily consumption of rapeseed meal was up to 1.2kg/cow, the average being 1.0kg/cow. As a protein source the rapeseed meal was almost equivalent to the soybean meal. There were no significant differences between the groups in the intake or utilization of the feeds, milk production or milk composition, or liveweight changes. The replacement of silage protein with rapeseed meal or with soybean meal improved the utilization of the protein of the whole ration for milk production.