U.S.D.A. Dairy Forage Research Centre, University of Wisconsin, Madison153706, USA.
*Present address- Division of Dairy Cattle Nutrition, National Dairy Research Institute, karnal 132 001, India.
Online published on 5 January, 2012.
Three Holsteln, rumen fistuluted lactating cows (639-732 kg) fed on a ration containing 40:60 concentrate roughage ratio in a Latin square switch over experiment for a period of 10 d. The brome grass hay was fed as such in group A and in pelleted form In groups B and C. In group C, artificial saliva was infused continuously into the rumen. The average intake of feed was 17.65+1.26, 17.85+1.11 and 15.91±1,27 kg/d and milk yield was 15.97+2.38, 16.43+2.00 and 17.93±2.23 kg/d in groups A, B and C, respectively (P<0.05), Rumen volume depicted a decrease on feeding pelleted hay and much more on infusion of artificial saliva. However, the DM percentage in rumen contents remained unaffected by treatments indicating its passible role in passage of particles from rumen.
