The objective of this study was to compare the feeding effects of imported timothy hay, domestic Italian ryegrass silage (IRGS) and IRG dried by hot-air dry system (IRGHDS) under basic total mixed ration (bTMR) on rumination activity, milk production, and milk composition in lactating dairy cows. Eighteen Holstein dairy cows were divided into three groups: control (bTMR + imported timothy hay), treatment 1 (bTMR + IRGS) and treatment 2 (TMR + IRGHDS) groups. The study was conducted over a total period of 24 days, including a 10 days adaptation period and a 14 days main experimental period. The results indicate body weight was not significantly different between the three groups (p>0.05), and rumination time was significantly higher in the treatment 1 group compared with the control group (p<0.001). Milk fat, protein, and lactose were not significantly different between the three groups (p>0.05), however, somatic cell counts were significantly lower in the treatment 1 group compared with the control group (p<0.001). As a result of the economic feasibility analysis, it is expected that feeding TMR using IRGS and IRGHDS will increase profit by 402.8 won/day and 331.4 won/day per cow compared to imported timothy hay. Therefore, IRGS and IRGHDS can be used as substitutes for imported timothy hay in feeding lactating dairy cows.

This study was conducted to evaluate the milk productivity and nutrient balance in organic dairy farms located at Gochang-gun of Korea with different feed sources. The total number of organic dairy farms was 12 in 2012, 13 in 2013, and 14 in 2014. The numbers of farms and dairy herds were increased each year. The average milk yields in 2012, 2013, and 2014 were 25.5, 24.6, and 24.4 kg/d, respectively. The average milk fat contents in 2012, 2013, and 2014 were 3.5%, 3.6%, and 3.7%, respectively. The average milk protein contents in 2012, 2013, and 2014 were 3.3%, 3.4%, and 3.4% in 2012, 2013, and 2014, respectively. Although the average milk yield of organic dairy farms was 9 kg/cows/d less than the average milk yield of other dairy farms in Korea, milk fat and protein contents of organic dairy farms were higher than those of other dairy farms. Alfalfa hay, oat hay, corn silage, rye grass silage, Sudan grass silage, rice straw, and barley silage were commonly used as forage sources in organic dairy farms. The average silage intake (15.6 kg/cow/d) of organic dairy farms in 2013 was higher (P < 0.05), while the average hay intake (5.1 kg/cow/d) in 2014 was higher (P < 0.05) than that of other feed intake. Net energy for lactation (NEL) and metabolizable protein (MP) were calculated in accordance with NRC (2001). Net energy for lactation intake was higher (P < 0.05) while MP intake was lower (P < 0.05) than NRC recommendation values in 2013 and 2014. These results indicate that domestic organic dairy farms should use feed considering energy and protein balance recommended by NRC.

This study was conducted to evaluate roughage to concentrate ratio on the changes of productivity and metabolic profiling in milk. Six lactating Holstein cows were divided into two groups, T1 group was fed low-concentrate diet (Italian ryegrass to concentrate ratio = 8:2) and T2 group was fed high-concentrate diet (Italian ryegrass to concentrate ratio = 2:8). Milk samples were collected and its components and metabolites were analyzed by 1H-NMR (Nuclear magnetic resonance). The result of milk components such as milk fat, milk protein, solids-not-fat, lactose and somatic cell count were not significantly different between two groups. In carbohydrate metabolites, trehalose and xylose were significantly higher (P<0.05) in T1 group, however lactose was not significantly different between two groups. In amino acid metabolites, glycine was the highest concentration however, there was no signifi-cant difference observed between two groups. Urea and methionine were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the T2 group. In lipid metabolites, carnitine, choline and O-acetylcarnitine there were no significant difference observed between the two groups. In benzoic acid metabolites, tartrate was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T2 group. In organic acid metabolites, acetate was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T1 group and fumarate was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T2 group. In the other metabolites, 3-methylxanthine was only significantly higher (P<0.05) in T2 group and riboflavin was only significantly higher (P<0.05) in T1 group. As a result, milk components were not significantly different between two groups. However, metabolites concentration in the milk was significantly different depends on roughage to concentrate ratio.