Preliminary studies on the effect of flavouring agents on the dry-matter intake of silage by lactating dairy cows

In a switchback design trial (trial 1), 12 British Friesian cows in weeks 17-25 of lactation were given for 9 weeks grass silage diets with, without and with the flavouring agent Simax 100 (main ingredients caramel, maple syrup, orange oil, vanilla and citrunella) 5 ml/cow daily in 3-week periods (group A) or without, with and without Simax 100 5 ml/cow daily (group B). Silage and total DM intakes were increased (P<0.01) with Simax from 7.4 to 8.0 and from 12.5 to 13.1 kg/day, respectively. Milk yield, fat and lactose contents of milk were not affected by flavouring. In a 2 x 4 design trial (trial 2), 80 British Friesian cows in weeks 17-25 of lactation were given low- or high- quality grass silage without or with Palatol (main ingredients ethyl vanillin, isopropyl alcohol, cyclotene, furfuraldehyde 2-methylvaleric acid) 20 ml/cow daily, molasses 1 kg/cow or molasses 1 kg + Talin (a protein sweetener + flavour enhancer extracted from the fruit of Thaumatoccus daniellii) (3 mg/kg molasses). Cows fed on high-quality grass silage had higher (P<0.001) intake (+0.8 kg/day) and produced more milk (+0.8 kg/day) than those fed low-quality grass silage. DM intake of low- and high-quality silage was increased by 9.6 and 8.3%, respectively, with Palatol. Molasses and molasses + Talin both increased DM intake of the low-quality silage by 5.5% but did not affect intake of high-quality silage. For both low- and high-quality silage Palatol increased total DM intake by increasing silage intake whereas increased total DM intake with molasses and molasses + Talin was attributed to the additional molasses. Milk yield and milk composition were not affected by flavouring agents.