Animals and diets

To access the dietary and host-related impact on the rumen microbiome a Latin square design using three rumen cannulated lactating Jersey cows was applied. Animals were fed rotationally with three different diets for ad libitum consumption and free access to drinking water. Feed was given once daily at 7.30 a.m. Based on dry matter, diets consisted of 52% concentrate mixture and 48% of either corn silage, grass silage, or grass hay. The concentrate was composed of 19% wheat, 19% barley, 7% soybean meal, 6% molasses, and 1% vitamin mineral premix. The corn silage-based diet was supplemented with urea to obtain a balanced nitrogen content in comparison to the grass silage- and hay-based diets. The chemical characteristics of the experimental diets are shown in Table ​Table11.

The measured chemical characteristics of the three forage sources and the thereof calculated properties of the final total mixed rations fed to the cows.

CS, corn silage; GS, grass silage; H, grass hay.