The Determination of Chemical and Microbiological Characteristics of Total Mixed Ration Feeds Used in a Dairy Cattle Farm

Abstract

The study was conducted over a 10-month period in a private dairy farm where a Total Mixed Ration (TMR) feeding system was implemented. The research material consisted of TMR samples taken from the mixer wagon and feed bunks. The mixer wagon used in the farm had an average capacity of 1 ton, and the TMR composition included grass hay, straw, triticale, sunflower meal, corn silage, molasses, salt, a vitamin-mineral premix, and dairy concentrate feed. In the collected TMR samples, several analyses were conducted, including pH, dry matter (DM), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), and microbiological evaluations such as lactic acid bacteria, yeast, and mold counts. Additionally, during each sampling period, ambient temperature and temperature fluctuations at the feed bunks were recorded. The results of the study highlighted the critical importance of feed bunk monitoring, particularly during periods of high ambient temperatures. These findings emphasize the need for more frequent and careful feed management practices under elevated thermal conditions to maintain feed quality and animal performance.

Keywords

• Total mixed ration
• Mold
• Yeast
• Temperature

Özel BirSüt Sığırcılık İşletmesinde Kullanılan Toplam Rasyon Karışımı Yemlerin Kimyasal ve Mikrobiyolojik Özelliklerinin Belirlenmesi

Öz

Bu araştırma, toplam rasyon karışımı (TRK) sisteminin uygulandığı özel bir süt sığırcılığı işletmesinde 10 aylık bir süre boyunca gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışmanın materyalini, işletmede hazırlanan TRK yemlerinden mikser vagon ve yemliklerden belirli aralıklarla alınan örnekler oluşturmuştur. Araştırmanın yürütüldüğü işletmede mikser vagonun kapasitesi yaklaşık 1 ton olup, TRK; çayır otu, saman, tritikale, ayçiçeği küspesi, mısır silajı, melas, tuz, vitamin-mineral premiksi ve süt yeminden oluşmaktadır. TRK örneklerinde pH, kuru madde (KM), suda çözünebilir karbonhidrat (SÇK) gibi kimyasal analizlerin yanı sıra laktik asit bakteri sayısı, maya ve küf gibi mikrobiyolojik analizler de yapılmıştır. Numune alım dönemlerinde çevre sıcaklığı ve yemliklerdeki sıcaklık değişimleri düzenli olarak kaydedilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, özellikle çevre sıcaklığının yüksek olduğu dönemlerde yemlik kontrollerinin daha sık ve dikkatli bir şekilde yapılmasının önemini ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Toplam rasyon karışımı
• Küf
• Maya
• Sıcaklık

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