References

AOAC, 1990. Official Methods of Analysis. 15th Edn., Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington, DC., USA., pp: 200-210.

Allen, M.S., 2000. Effects of diet on short-term regulation of feed intake by lactating dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci., 83: 1598-1624.
CrossRef  |  PubMed  |  Direct Link  |  

Bal, M.A., R.D. Shaver, A.G. Jirovec, K.J. Shinners and J.G. Coors, 2000. Crop processing and chop length of corn silage: Effects on intake, digestion and milk production by dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci., 83: 1264-1273.

Beauchemin, K.A. and W.Z. Yang, 2005. Effects of physically effective fibre on intake, chewing activity and ruminal acidosis for dairy cows fed diets based on corn silage. J. Dairy Sci., 88: 2117-2129.
PubMed  |  

Beauchemin, K.A., 1991. Effects of dietary neutral detergent fiber concentration and alfalfa hay quality on chewing, rumen function and milk production of dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci., 74: 3140-3151.
Direct Link  |  

Beauchemin, K.A., W.Z. Yang and L.M. Rode, 2003. Effects of particle size of alfalfa-based dairy cow diets on chewing activity, ruminal fermentation and milk production. J. Dairy Sci., 86: 630-643.
PubMed  |  

Broderick, G.A. and J.H. Kang, 1980. Automated simultaneous determination of ammonia and total amino acids in ruminal fluid and in vitro media. J. Dairy Sci., 63: 64-75.
CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  

Calberry, J.M., J.C. Plaizier, M.S. Einarson and B.W. McBride, 2003. Effects of replacing chopped alfalfa hay with alfalfa silage in a total mixed ration on production and rumen conditions of lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci., 86: 3611-3619.
PubMed  |  

Cao, Z.J., S.L. Li, J.J. Xing, M. Ma and L.L. Wang, 2008. Effects of maize grain and lucerne particle size on ruminal fermentation, digestibility and performance of cows in midlactation. J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr., 92: 157-167.
CrossRef  |  PubMed  |  

China NY/t34, 2004. Feeding Standard of Dairy Cattle. China NongYe HangYe Biaozhun/Tuijian-34, China Agricultural Publisher, Beijing, China.

Clark, P.W. and L.E. Armentano, 1999. Influence of particle size on the effectiveness of the fibre in corn silage. J. Dairy Sci., 82: 581-588.

Combs, D.K. and L.D. Satter, 1992. Determination of markers in digesta and faeces by direct-current plasma emission-spectroscopy. J. Dairy Sci., 75: 2176-2183.
PubMed  |  

Coppock, C.E., D.L. Bath and B. Harris, Jr., 1981. From feeding to feeding systems. J. Dairy Sci., 64: 1230-1249.

Dairy Association of China, 2009. China Dairy Yearbook 2008. China Agriculture Press, Beijing, China.

DeVries, T.J. and M.A.G. von Keyserlingk, 2009. Feeding method affects the feeding behavior of growing dairy heifers. J. Dairy Sci., 92: 1161-1168.
CrossRef  |  PubMed  |  Direct Link  |  

Fahey, Jr., G.C. and L.L. Berger, 1988. The Ruminant Animal. Prentice Hall, New Jersey, Englewoods Cliffs.

Heinrichs, A.J., D.R. Buckmaster and B.P. Lammers, 1999. Processing, mixing and particle size reduction of forages for dairy cattle. J. Anim. Sci., 77: 180-186.
PubMed  |  

Johnson, L., J.H. Harrison, D.J. Robutti, M. Swift, B. Mahanna and K. Shinners, 2002. Corn silage management I. Effects of hybrid, maturity, mechanical processing, on chemical and physical characteristics. J. Dairy Sci., 85: 833-853.
PubMed  |  

Kononoff, P.J. and A.J. Heinrichs, 2003. The effect of corn silage particle size and cottonseed hulls on cows in early lactation. J. Dairy Sci., 86: 2438-2451.
PubMed  |  

Kononoff, P.J. and A.J. Heinrichs, 2003. The effect of reducing alfalfa haylage particle size on cows in early lactation. J. Dairy Sci., 86: 1445-1457.
PubMed  |  

Kononoff, P.J., A.J. Heinrichs and H.A. Lehman, 2003. The effect of corn silage particle size on eating behavior, chewing activities and rumen fermentation in lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci., 86: 3343-3353.
PubMed  |  

Kononoff, P.J., H.A. Lehman and A.J. Heinrichs, 2002. Technical note-a comparison of methods used to measure eating and ruminating activity in confined dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci., 85: 1801-1803.
PubMed  |  

Krause, K.M. and D.K. Combs, 2003. Effects of forage particle size, forage source and grain fermentability on performance and ruminal pH in midlactation cows. J. Dairy Sci., 86: 1382-1397.
PubMed  |  

Krause, K.M., D.K. Combs and K.A. Beauchemin, 2002. Effects of forage particle size and grain fermentability in midlactation cows. II. Ruminal pH and chewing activity. J. Dairy Sci., 85: 1947-1957.
PubMed  |  

Li, D.Y., 2006. Effects of TMR on ruminal fermentation characteristic and microbial population in growing period. China Anim. Husbandry Vet. Med., 32: 18-21.
Direct Link  |  

Maekawa, M., K.A. Beauchemin and D.A. Christensen, 2002. Effect of concentrate level and feeding management on chewing activities, saliva production and ruminal pH of lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci., 85: 1165-1175.
CrossRef  |  PubMed  |  Direct Link  |  

Mertens, D.R., 1997. Creating a system for meeting the fibre requirements of dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci., 80: 1463-1481.
PubMed  |  

Onetti, S.G., R.D. Shaver, S.J. Bertics and R.R. Grummer, 2003. Influence of corn silage particle length on the performance of lactating dairy cows fed supplemental tallow. J. Dairy Sci., 86: 2949-2957.
PubMed  |  

Orskov, E.R., 1999. Supplement strategies for ruminants and management of feeding to maximize utilization of roughages. Prev. Vet. Med., 38: 179-185.

SAS, 2001. Users Guide Statistics. 2nd Edn., SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC.

Schwab, E.C., R.D. Shaver, K.J. Shinners, J.G. Lauer and J.G. Coors, 2002. Processing and chop length effects in brown-midrib corn silage on intake, digestion and milk production by dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci., 85: 613-623.
PubMed  |  

Soita, H.W., D.A. Christensen and J.J. McKinnon, 2000. Influence of particle size on the effectiveness of the fibre in barley silage. J. Dairy Sci., 83: 2295-2300.
PubMed  |  

Sudweeks, E.M., L.O. Ely, D.R. Mertens and L.R. Sisk, 1981. Assessing minimum amounts and forms of roughage in ruminant diet: Roughage value index system. J. Anim. Sci., 53: 1406-1407.

Uden, P., P.E. Colucci and P.J. van Soest, 1980. Investigation of chromium, cerium and cobalt as digesta flow markers in rate of passage studies. J. Sci. Food Agric., 31: 625-632.
CrossRef  |  Direct Link  |  

Wangsness, P.J., L.E. Chase, A.D. Peterson, T.G. Hartsock, D.J. Kellmel and B.R. Baumgardt, 1976. System for monitoring feeding behavior of sheep. J. Anim. Sci., 42: 1544-1549.

Yang, W.Z. and K.A. Beauchemin, 2006. Increasing the physically effective fibre content of dairy cow diets may lower efficiency of feed use. J. Dairy Sci., 89: 2694-2704.
PubMed  |  

Yang, W.Z., K.A. Beauchemin and L.M. Rode, 2001. Effects of grain processing, forage to concentrate ratio and forage particle size on rumen pH and digestion by dairy cow. J. Dairy Sci., 84: 2203-2216.
CrossRef  |  PubMed  |  Direct Link  |  

Yang, W.Z., K.A. Beauchemin and L.M. Rode, 2002. Effects of particle size of alfalfa-based dairy cow diets on site and extent of digestion. J. Dairy Sci., 85: 1958-1968.
PubMed  |  

van Soest, P.J., 1994. Nutritional Ecology of the Ruminant. 2nd Edn., Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, Pages: 476.

van Soest, P.J., J.B. Robertson and B.A. Lewis, 1991. Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. J. Dairy Sci., 74: 3583-3597.
CrossRef  |  PubMed  |  Direct Link  |