Interest in Shredlage® continues to grow. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison recently completed a second controlled feeding experiment at the UW-Madison’s Arlington dairy research farm. This Q & A provides an update on corn Shredlage based on the experiment results.
Q: First, what is Shredlage?
A: Shredlage is corn silage harvested with a self-propelled forage harvester (SPFH) equipped with an aftermarket processor having cross-grooved processing rolls set for 2- to 3-mm roll gap and greater roll speed differential than has typically been used (32% versus 21%). Also, the developer of this processor recommends that the SPFH be set for a longer theoretical length of cut (TLOC; 26 to 30 mm) than has typically been used in the past (19 mm TLOC).
So far the processor has been adapted for Claas choppers, although shredder roll kits have been made available for the other makes of choppers. During the 2014 harvest approximately 600 Shredlage processors and shredder roll kits were in operation, according to the developer of the Shredlage processor.
Q: What were the key findings from the first feeding trial?
A: In the first study we used a conventional corn silage hybrid harvested as either corn Shredlage (30-mm TLOC) or conventional-processed (19-mm TLOC) corn silage. Key findings were as follows:
- The percentage on the top screen of the Penn State shaker box was greater for corn Shredlage (32% versus 6% as-fed particles retained on the top screen of the shaker box) and for the TMR which contained corn Shredlage (16% versus 4% as-fed particles retained on the top screen of the shaker box); we observed no sorting of either TMR when fed.
- Fat- and energy-corrected milk tended to be 2.3 lbs./day per cow greater on average across the treatment period for cows fed the corn Shredlage treatment, while feed efficiency and milk composition were unaffected by treatment.
- Corn silage processing score or the percentage of starch passing through a 4.75-mm sieve was greater for corn Shredlage (75% versus 60%) and total tract starch and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility were greater for cows fed the corn Shredlage treatment.
Q: What were the experimental methods for the second feeding trial?
A: We evaluated:
1) the response to corn Shredlage in a brown midrib (BMR) corn silage hybrid, and
2) whether the greater TLOC setting on the SPFH for the harvest of corn Shredlage increased the physically-effective fiber (peNDF) content of the silage.
Mid-lactation Holstein cows were used in a 16-week continuous-lactation experiment in our university dairy herd, with 15 replicated pens of 8 cows each. The respective treatment TMR contained 45% (DM basis) from either SHRD or KP. Both TMR treatments contained 10% alfalfa silage and 45% (DM basis) of the same concentrate mix comprised of dry ground shelled corn, corn gluten feed, solvent and expeller soybean meal, rumen-inert fat, minerals, vitamins, and monensin. Additionally, a third treatment TMR (KPH) was included in the experiment to focus on the peNDF question. This ration was formulated with 35% KP, 10% alfalfa silage, 10% chopped hay, and 45% (DM basis) of the same concentrate ingredients adjusted in proportions in the mix to balance dietary crude protein and starch concentrations across the three treatments.
Q: What were the processing score and particle size results?
A: As a side note, the SHRD and KP were similar in average dry matter (DM; 39%) content and pH (3.9).
Corn silage processing scores on feed-out samples averaged 72% for SHRD and 68% for KP with less variation observed for SHRD over the duration of the experiment. For SHRD, all processing scores were above 65%. However, for KP 43% of the samples obtained on a weekly basis throughout the feeding trial were at or below a processing score of 65%.
For the TMR fed throughout the trial, the proportion of as-fed particles on the top screen of the shaker box was greater for SHRD than KP or KPH. Our measurements of weigh-backs during the trial indicated minimal sorting and no differences in sorting among the three treatments.
Q: Was there a difference in the performance of the cows?
A: Averaged over the treatment period, milk yield was 2.5 lb/day per cow greater for SHRD than KP with the SHRD cows averaging 113 lb/day; feed efficiency was similar for the two treatments. Milk yield was 5.9 lb/day per cow lower and feed efficiency was reduced for KPH compared to KP.
Milk fat content was greater for KPH (3.7%) than KP or SHRD (3.3%). Rumination activity measured using the SCR rumination collars averaged 8.4 hours per day and was not different among the treatments. Using milk fat content and rumination activity data to assess peNDF suggests that the peNDF content of SHRD was not improved despite its longer TLOC and increased percentage of as-fed particles on the top screen of the shaker box compared to KP.
Milk fat yield was not statistically different among the treatments but was numerically greatest for KPH and lowest for KP. Similar to the milk yield differences, milk protein and lactose yields were greatest for SHRD and lowest for KPH.
Body condition score (3.1 on average) and body-weight change (1.2 lb/day per cow on average) were similar among the three treatments. Fecal samples are being analyzed for determination of total tract dietary starch and neutral detergent fiber digestibility of the three treatments.
Conclusions
In summary, the lactation performance response to corn Shredlage using a BMR corn hybrid was of similar magnitude to the response observed in our earlier trial with a conventional corn hybrid. Despite a longer TLOC setting on the SPFH and increased particle size for corn Shredlage relative to conventional-processed corn silage, milk fat content and rumination activity were not increased. Evaluate particle size and processing score of corn Shredlage to determine the best ration formulation strategies.
Find the Wisconsin Team Forage Focus on Forage fact sheet, Update in Corn Shredlage for Dairy Cows, at http://fyi.uwex.edu/forage/fof/. Authors are Lauryn Vanderwerff, Luiz Ferraretto, Gustavo Salvati and Randy Shaver, Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Extension.
