@article{article_1636941, title={Roughage quality and its impact on milk composition in dairy farms}, journal={Mediterranean Veterinary Journal}, volume={10}, pages={465–471}, year={2025}, DOI={10.24880/meditvetj.1636941}, author={Pekağırbaş, Hatice and Köksal, Bekir Hakan}, keywords={Dairy farm, disease-free farm, milk yield, milk composition, roughage quality.}, abstract={This study investigated the effects of roughage quality on milk yield and composition in disease-free dairy farms in the Çine District of Aydın, Turkey. Milk samples were collected from dairy cows, along with feed samples including alfalfa hay, corn silage, and total mixed ration (TMR), from disease-free farms. Milk samples were analyzed for protein and fat content, while feed samples were evaluated for dry matter, crude protein, crude ash, crude fiber, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL). Statistical analyses, including Chi-square, Student’s t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test, were employed to assess the data. Roughage quality was classified as high or medium based on relative feed value with farm sizes ranging from 59 to 167 cattle. No significant differences were observed between roughage quality and factors such as farm owner education level, farm capacity, average milk yield, TMR mixer type, or corn silage maturity and usage. However, a significant difference (P <0.05) was detected in the 19 mm particle size fraction of corn silage using the Penn State Particle Separator. TMR samples showed no significant quality-related differences across particle sizes. Nutrient content of corn silage, alfalfa hay, and factory feed was similar between quality groups, but TMR nutrient analysis revealed significant differences in NDF, ADF, and ADL values between high and medium-quality roughage groups, with higher fiber values in the medium-quality group (P=0.026, 0.050, and 0.007, respectively). Milk fat percentage was significantly higher in the high-quality roughage group (4.27±0.07) compared to the medium-quality group (3.54±0.09; P <0.05). The study concluded that roughage quality significantly influences milk fat percentage, emphasizing the importance of high-quality roughage for optimizing milk composition.}, number={2}, publisher={Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University}, organization={The authors acknowledge the support provided by [Aydın Adnan Menderes University Scientific Research Project Department (ADU-BAP), project number: VTF-21032] for this research.}