Dairy Feeding of
Rice Hay - 2010

 

 

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Project Leader and Principal  Investigators

Glenn Nader, UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor, Butte, Sutter, and Yuba counties

 

 

 

This project continues studies of rice straw used as a feed supplement in dairy rations. Research in 2010 focused on two areas:
  • Dairy demonstrations of rice hay forage in replacement heifer rations
  • Comparison of rice straw and wheat straw in replacement heifer rations

Dairy demonstrations

The first objective of 2010 work for this project was to expose more dairy owners and consulting nutritionists to the positive aspects of mixing and feeding rice straw.

Five dairies in Madera, Tulare, and Kings counties took part in evaluating two different types of rice straw —sickle-chopped or slicer-baled. Dairies were supplied with a half load of both rice straws and encouraged to feed the straw to animals at their own discretion.

Dairy operators generally reported better experiences with both types of straw than previously. Rice straw feeding levels varied widely, from two to seven pounds/head/day. All dairies fed straw to heifers, while one also included it in a dry-cow ration. The rice straw substituted for other ration ingredients such as wheat straw, wheat hay, a corn silage/alfalfa hay mix, or cotton-gin trash. Four of the dairies used vertical mixers and one used a horizontal mixer.

Evaluation of the two rice straw products showed a number of differences in chemical composition, as well as feeding experiences by the dairies. Sickle-chopped rice straw had higher silica and crude protein levels, while the dairies rated it lower in mixability and overall experience. Overall, slicer-baled straw was preferred over sickle-chopped straw.

The project leader recommends new terminology to better communicate feeding quality to dairy operators and nutritionists. For instance, particle length may need to be specified because dairies need field-processed straw 6 inches or less in length to allow for proper mixing in feed wagons.

Rice-wheat comparison

Wheat straw is the traditional bulk filler used in dairy heifer-growing rations and is the major competition for rice straw. A Central Valley dairy cooperated in a study comparing intake of rice straw versus wheat straw and the effect on several measures of feeding performance. Four pens containing 180 heifers in each were used in the trial. Animals were rotated to a new pen once a month. Heifer age ranged from 14 to 18 months. A prescribed quantity of feed was placed in each pen’s feeding bunk. The experiment consisted of two 28-day periods.

Dry matter intake was significantly less in the heifers consuming the rice straw-based diet compared to wheat straw. The project leader said this is likely due to the effect of rumen fill from the rice straw in the diet. As a consequence of reduced feed intake, these heifers had reduced rates of skeletal growth, as measured by hip width, tailhead height, and heifer-frame score.

 

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