Effect of Potato By-Product on Production Responses of Dairy Cows and Total Mixed Ration Stability

Abstract

Vegetable by-products have great potential for use as animal feeds and thus could improve the sustainability of the food system. The objective was to evaluate the milk production potential of potato by-product (PBP) replacing cereal grains in grass silage-based total mixed ration (TMR). Additionally, a laboratory scale experiment was conducted to assess the effect of PBP and chemical preservatives on the aerobic stability of TMRs. A change-over dairy cow feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the inclusion of 135 g/kg (on a dry matter (DM) basis) of PBP in TMR. Additionally, the aerobic stability of TMR was evaluated by preparing TMRs with increasing levels of PBP and treated with different doses of formic and propionic acid or salt-based preservatives. The inclusion of PBP in dairy cow diets decreased feed intake, but organic matter digestibility was greater in the PBP diet, resulting in only slightly decreased production (milk protein 1435 vs. 1363 g/day, p < 0.05; milk lactose 1716 vs. 1606 g/day, p < 0.05). The aerobic stability of TMR was negatively affected by the inclusion of PBP, but it could to a limited extent be prolonged using chemical preservatives. The inclusion of PBP decreased feed intake and milk production to some extent when included in the diet of high-producing dairy cows. The utilization of PBP may, however, be justified from a sustainability point of view, as it provides a way to circulate the nutrients of a non-human edible feed material back into the food chain.