PACIFIC NORTHWEST SOFT WHITE WHEAT FOR LACTATING COWS

Pelleted grain rations containing 93, 83, 73, 63, 53, and 20% steam-rolled soft white wheat were compared in digestion, lactation, and acceptability trials. The alfalfa hay to grain ratio in the double-reversal lactation trial was 55:45, with a crude fiber level of 15%. Daily kilograms of 4% fat-corrected milk and percentages of fat, protein, and solids-not-fat averaged 21.6, 3.7, 3.6, and 8.8, respectively. In the acceptability trial, grain rations were fed ad libitum and hay restricted to 1% of body weight. Treatment means of kilograms of fat-corrected milk and percentages of fat, protein, and solids-not-fat were 20.6, 2.6, 3.3, and 8.4, respectively. All grain rations were consumed in equal amounts in the lactation trial, and no preference was shown for any of six rations in the acceptability trial. Other than slight differences (P < 0.05) in fat test due to treatment in the lactation trial, production of 4% fat-corrected milk and milk composition were unaffected by level of wheat within each trial. Both 4% milk production and fat percentage were higher in the lactation trial than in the acceptability trial. © 1969, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.