| Abstract |
Simple Summary The dairy sector faces toward the challenge of increasing its production due to the growing demand for food. At the same time, it should be more efficient in the use of natural resources, replacing usual agricultural practices for others that are more sustainable. Feeding systems based on forages are economically more competitive than those based on concentrates. Therefore, to improve the dairy sector profitability, complying at the same time with environmental requirements, the change actions should be oriented to modify the traditional Italian ryegrass crop by the inclusion of other species with similar yield, but more sustainably and in a way that can be integrated into the dairy cows' feed without affecting milk yield and quality. Based on the above, this study was proposed in order to identify a winter crop to supply a quality livestock feed, which involves a reduction of production inputs, allowing the recycling of nutrients and the preservation of natural resources. It is intended that the results obtained will help farmers to achieve competitiveness in the dairy sector linked to quality, food safety and innovation, reducing production costs, increasing profitability, and improving the functional components of milk, seeking economic and environmental sustainability of the dairy production sector. The livestock sector must find solutions to reduce the feeding costs and meet the challenge for a more sustainable production system in line with the European Green Deal requirements. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of including legume silage on voluntary intake in dairy cows, milk production, and composition. Three total mixed rations (TMR) based on faba bean (FB), Italian ryegrass (IR), or faba bean-Italian ryegrass intercrop (FBIR, 60:40) silages were used in feeding trials of dairy cows during two consecutive years. Nine Friesian cows were randomly allocated in three groups, following a 3 x 3 Latin square design with three diets for three periods. TMR were offered ad libitum in addition to eighteen hours of grazing daily and extra concentrate during milking. No differences were observed in dry matter intake. Diets did not affect milk production or composition, except for urea content, with a higher urea excretion in FB diet. Fatty acid profile was different in milk from cows feeding FB, with a significantly lower content of saturated fatty acids and a higher content of conjugated linoleic acid than milk produced with FBIR and IR diets. |