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			<p class="title-">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="title-">Relationship between Dietary Energy Level, Silage Butyric Acid and Body Condition Score with Subclinical Ketosis Incidence in Dairy Cows</p>
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			<p class="Authors ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Authors ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-1">Abdollah</span><span class="CharOverride-1" xml:lang="en-US"> Samiei</span><span class="CharOverride-2">1, 2</span><span class="CharOverride-1" xml:lang="en-US">, Juan Boo Liang</span><span class="CharOverride-2">3*</span><span class="CharOverride-1" xml:lang="en-US">, Gholam Reza Ghorbani</span><span class="CharOverride-2">4</span><span class="CharOverride-1">, </span><span class="CharOverride-1" xml:lang="en-US">Hiroyuki Hirooka</span><span class="CharOverride-2">5</span><span class="CharOverride-1" xml:lang="en-US">, </span><span class="CharOverride-1" xml:lang="it-IT">Saeid Ansari-Mahyari</span><span class="CharOverride-2">4</span><span class="CharOverride-1" xml:lang="it-IT">, Hassan Sadri</span><span class="CharOverride-2">6, 7</span><span class="CharOverride-1">,</span><span class="CharOverride-1" xml:lang="it-IT"> Vincenzo Tufarelli</span><span class="CharOverride-2">8*</span></p>
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			<p class="Affiliations ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-3">1</span>Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Malaysia; <span class="CharOverride-3">2</span>Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Golestan Province, Iran; <span class="CharOverride-3">3</span>Laboratory of Animal Production, Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Universiti Purta Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, Malaysia; <span class="CharOverride-3">4</span>Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran; <span class="CharOverride-3">5</span>Departement of Animal Husbandry Resources, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku Kyoto, Japan; <span class="CharOverride-3">6</span>Institute of Animal Science, Physiology and Hygiene Unit, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany; <span class="CharOverride-3">7</span>Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran; <span class="CharOverride-3">8</span>Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, Section of Veterinary Science and Animal Production, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy.</p>
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			<p class="Abstract ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Abstract ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-4">Abstract</span> | Subclinical ketosis is one of the most prevalent metabolic disorders that usually occurs in cows during the first weeks of lactation. This study investigated the relationship between energy level, body condition score and silage butyric acid with incidence of subclinical ketosis (SCK) in dairy cows during the first month of postpartum. Fifty healthy pregnant Holstein cows from 10 commercial dairy farms were studied. Whole blood <span class="CharOverride-5">β</span>-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentration equal or more than 1,400 µmol/L, at least in two successive blood samplings was considered as SCK. The mean plasma <span class="CharOverride-5">β</span>-hydroxybutyrate concentration of SCK cows was 1,932 µmol/L whereas that for the healthy cows was 770 µmol/L. Diet nutrient was significantly affected by the farms studied. Crude protein, net energy for lactation, and non-fiber carbohydrates contents of the diets were lower, whereas that of neutral detergent fiber was higher than those recommended for lactating cows. The effect of farm on pH, lactic acid, propionic acid and lactic acid to acetic acid ratio of corn silage was significant. Effect of net energy for lactation was significant on SCK incidence. The incidence of SCK was not affected by body condition score, butyric silage, crude protein and non-fiber carbohydrates of the diets. Results show that the best way to prevent or minimize the incidence of SCK in dairy farms under commercial farming conditions as that of the present study would be to provide sufficient dietary energy to meet the needs of the cows, especially during the first month of postpartum when the SCK prevalence is normally high.</p>
		  <p class="Abstract ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Abstract ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-4">Keywords</span> | Body condition score, Butyrate, Cow, Dietary energy, Suclinical ketosis</p>
			<p class="Abstract ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
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			<p class="Editor----Citation"><span class="CharOverride-4">Editor</span> | Kuldeep Dhama, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Uttar Pradesh, India.</p>
			<p class="Editor----Citation"><span class="CharOverride-4">Received</span> | May 20, 2015; <span class="CharOverride-4">Revised</span> | May 23, 2015; <span class="CharOverride-4">Accepted</span> | May 24, 2015; <span class="CharOverride-4">Published</span> | May 25, 2015&#9;&#9;</p>
			<p class="Editor----Citation"><span class="CharOverride-4">*Correspondence</span> | Juan Boo Liang, Universiti Purta Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia; <span class="CharOverride-4">Email:</span> jbliang@upm.edu.my; </p>
			<p class="Editor----Citation">Vincenzo<span class="CharOverride-6"> </span>Tufarelli, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Valenzano, Bari, Italy; <span class="CharOverride-4">Email:</span> vincenzo.tufarelli@uniba.it</p>
			<p class="Editor----Citation"><span class="CharOverride-4">Citation</span> | Samiei A, Liang JB, Ghorbani GR, Hirooka H, Ansari-Mahyari S, Sadri H, Tufarelli V (2015). Relationship between dietary energy level, silage butyric acid and body condition score with subclinical ketosis incidence in dairy cows. Adv. Anim. Vet. Sci. 3(6): 354-361.  </p>
			<p class="Editor----Citation"><span class="CharOverride-4">DOI</span> | <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.14737/journal.aavs/2015/3.6.354.361"><span class="Hyperlink">http://dx.doi.org/10.14737/journal.aavs/2015/3.6.354.361</span></a></p>
			<p class="Editor----Citation"><span class="Editor---Citation CharOverride-4">ISSN (Online)</span> | 2307-8316; <span class="Editor---Citation CharOverride-4">ISSN (Print)</span> | 2309-3331</p>
			<p class="Editor----Citation"><span class="CharOverride-4">Copyright</span> © 2015 Samiei et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.</p>
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		<div class="Basic-Text-Frame">
			<p class="Heading-1--Introduction----">&nbsp;</p>
		  <p class="Heading-1--Introduction----">INTRODUCTION</p>
			<p class="Caps-on-First-Para ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Caps-on-First-Para ParaOverride-1"><span class="_idGenDropcap-1">G</span><span>enerally, </span>high producing dairy cows are challenged postpartum with large metabolic demands caused by the sudden increase in energy requirements due to the start of the lactation, which cannot be met by feed intake alone. It has been reported that the requirements for glucose and metabolizable energy increased two- to three-fold from 21 d before to 21 d after parturition (<a href="#Drackley-JK--Overton-TR--Douglas-GN--2001-"><span class="Hyperlink">Drackley, 2001</span></a>). As a result, during early postpartum, high producing cows, experience a negative energy balance (NEB) because of low energy intake relative to energy required for maintenance and milk production. In addition, because milk yield has been increased substantially in dairy breeds through improved nutrition, management, and genetic selection, an exacerbation of NEB is very likely to take place during this period (<a href="#Nocek-JE--1997-"><span class="Hyperlink">Nocek, 1997</span></a>). Cows mobilize body fat to compensate for this energy deficit. The extensive body fat mobilization and high energy demands predispose them to fatty liver and ketosis because of an inability to dispose of fatty acids via <span class="CharOverride-5">β</span>-oxidation or the limited capacity to export triacylglycerides (TAG) in the form of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) from liver (<a href="#Bell-AW--1995-."><span class="Hyperlink">Bell, 1995</span></a>). Ketosis is associated with an increased incidence of transition cow diseases, and reduced productive and reproductive performance (<a href="#McLaren-CJ--Lissemore-KD--Duffield-TF--Leslie-KE--Kelton-DF--B-Grexton--2006"><span class="Hyperlink">McLaren et al., 2006</span></a>; <a href="#Ospina-PA--Nydam-DV--Stokol-T--Overton-TR--2010"><span class="Hyperlink">Ospina et al., 2010</span></a>; <a href="#Chapinal-N--Carson-ME--LeBlanc-SJ--Leslie-KE--Godden-S--Capel-M--Santos-JE--Overton-MW--Duffield-TF"><span class="Hyperlink">Chapinal et al., 2012</span></a>; <a href="#Dubuc-J--Duffield-TF--Leslie-KE--Walton-JS--LeBlanc-SJ--2012"><span class="Hyperlink">Dubuc et al., 2012</span></a>). </p>
		  <p class="Caps-on-First-Para ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">On the other hand, excess body condition during close-up (4 weeks before calving) increases losses in body weight (BW) and body condition during lactation and decreases dry matter intake (DMI) and milk production (<a href="#Treacher-RJ--Reid-IM--Roberts-CJ--1986"><span class="Hyperlink">Treacher et al., 1986</span></a>). In addition, obesity at calving contributes to the development of metabolic diseases such as fat cow syndrome, mastitis, and fatty liver. Excess body condition score (BCS) prior to calving is an important risk factor for subsequent development of subclinical ketosis (SCK) during lactation (<a href="#Duffield-TF--Leslie-KE--Sandals-D--Lissemore-K--McBride-BW--Lumsden-JH--Dick-P--Bagg-R--1999"><span class="Hyperlink">Duffield et al., 1999</span></a>). <a href="#Gillund-P--Reksen-O--Gr-hn-YT--Karlberg-K--2001"><span class="Hyperlink">Gillund et al. (2001)</span></a> reported that cows with BCS ≥ 4.0 were at the highest risk, and had the highest <span class="CharOverride-5">β</span>-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentrations in plasma as compared to healthy and underweight cows prior to calving. In other word, the ketotic cows had higher BCS at calving and during the first weeks postpartum than the healthy cows, and significantly lost more body condition score over a prolonged period of time compared to the non-diseased cows (<a href="#Gillund-P--Reksen-O--Gr-hn-YT--Karlberg-K--2001"><span class="Hyperlink">Gillund et al., 2001</span></a>). Recently, <a href="#Akbar-H--Grala-TM--Riboni-MV--Cardoso-FC--Verkerk-G--McGowan-J--Macdonald-K--Webster-J--Schutz-K--Me"><span class="Hyperlink">Akbar et al. (2015)</span></a> reported that cows with high BCS at calving had greater concentrations of BHBA and hepatic expression of genes related to ketogenesis postpartum compared to cows with low BCS at calving. </p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">Some herds have persistent ketosis problems caused by feeding ketogenic silages (<a href="#Tveit-B--Lingass-F--Svendsen-M--Sjaastad-OV--1992"><span class="Hyperlink">Tveit et al., 1992</span></a>). Hay crop silages chopped too wet (insufficient wilting time or direct-cut silages) or those low in water-soluble carbohydrates favour the growth of <span class="CharOverride-8">Clostridium sp.</span> bacteria. <span class="CharOverride-8">Clostridium sp.</span> bacteria convert sugars or lactic acid to butyric acid. Butyric acid concentrations of more than 0.1% of DM in corn silage could result in its loss of DM and energy (51% and 18%, respectively) (<a href="#Muck-R--2006"><span class="Hyperlink">Muck, 2006</span></a>). <a href="#Oetzel-GR--2007"><span class="Hyperlink">Oetzel (2007)</span></a> reviewed the risk factors causing ketosis including silage butyric acid and suggested that daily doses of over 50 to 100 g of butyric acid can result in ketosis, and doses over 200 g of butyric acid may induce severe ketosis. He also concluded that about 450 to 950 g of butyric acid constantly induced severe ketosis in nearly any early lactation cows. </p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">Butyric silage risk increased in areas with high rainfall because high moisture promotes the growth of clostridium bacteria in silage. In the previous study (<a href="#Samiei-A--Liang-JB--Ghorbani-GR--Hirooka-H--Ansari-Mahyari-S--Sadri-H--2013-"><span class="Hyperlink">Samiei et al., 2013</span></a>), we investigated prevalence of ketosis among 1,002 Iranian Holstein cows from days 5 to 50 post calving in various parity and lactation stages in 13 regions of Iran. The results showed that prevalence of ketosis was higher in Golestan province, Shahrekord and Sari than the other regions. Golestan province is located near the Caspian Sea with high rainfall (between 560 to 680 mm) and thus the high incidence of keosis reported previously (<a href="#Samiei-A--Liang-JB--Ghorbani-GR--Hirooka-H--Ansari-Mahyari-S--Sadri-H--2013-"><span class="Hyperlink">Samiei et al., 2013</span></a>) in this province may be because cows are exposed to high incidence of butyric silage feeding, and to the poor nutritional management of the local farmers. </p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between energy level, BCS and butyric silage with SCK in dairy cows during the first month after calving in selected farms in the Golestan Province, Iran.</p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Heading-1--Introduction----">MATERIALS AND METHODS</p>
		  <p class="Heading-1--Introduction----">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Heading-2--History-in-MM-">Experimental Design</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">Fifty healthy pregnant Iranian Holstein cows were selected from 10 commercial dairy farms (average herd size was about 100 cows/farm) in Golestan province of Iran (<a href="#Table-1-"><span class="Hyperlink">Table</span><span class="Hyperlink"> 1</span></a>). The cows were selected based on the computer database and the advice of the veterinarians of the respective farms. The following criteria were taken into consideration for the selection of the cows: (i) health status (including free of laminitis, milk fever, acidosis and fatty liver), (ii) cows between third and sixth parities, (iii) milk yield of above the average yield of the farm (7,650 kg/cow for 305 days lactation), and (iv) body weights of between 534 to 808&#160;kg and BCS of between 3.25 to 3.75. </p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-4"><a id="Table-1-"></a>Table 1:</span> Average milk yield, body condition score (BCS), body weight (BW), and parity in the farms studied</p>
			<table width="657" height="255" class="Table-Style-1" id="table-1">
				<colgroup>
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
				</colgroup>
				<tbody>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">Farm</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">Milk yield</span><span class="CharOverride-11">1</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">BCS</span><span class="CharOverride-11">2</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">BW</span><span class="CharOverride-11">3</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">Parity</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">10,065</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.40</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">716</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.8</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">10,522</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.65</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">790</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4.0</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">11,000</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.90</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">667</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4.0</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">9,800</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.42</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">729</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4.4</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">5</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">10,500</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.05</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">633</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4.0</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">6</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">9,607</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.25</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">664</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4.4</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">7</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">10,300</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.35</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">638</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4.0</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">8</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">11,100</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.50</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">657</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.6</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">9</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">10,600</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4.25</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">740</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.6</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">10</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">9,950</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.95</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">704</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4.4</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
				</tbody>
			</table>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
		  <p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-13">1 </span><span class="CharOverride-7">Average milk yield during 305 days; </span><span class="CharOverride-13">2 </span><span class="CharOverride-7">Average BCS at calving; </span><span class="CharOverride-13">3 </span><span class="CharOverride-7">Average BW at calving</span></p>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
		  <p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Heading-2--History-in-MM-">Blood Sampling and Analysis</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">Blood samples (about 10 mL) were collected from coccygeal vein in EDTA coated tubes on 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24 and 28 day in milk and were immediately transported to the laboratory in a cooler box with ice packs and processed within 1 h after collection. Blood samples were centrifuged at 2,000 × g for 20&#160;min and the plasma was stored at −20°C for later analysis. Blood samples were analyzed for BHBA using Ranbut D-3-hydroxybutyrate kit on the JENMAY Spectrophotometer (6105 UV) analyzer. Plasma BHBA was measured during the first milking month and those with plasma BHBA concentration of ≥ 1400 μmol/L, at least in two successive blood samplings (3 d interval), were considered subclinically ketotic (<a href="#Oetzel-GR--2004"><span class="Hyperlink">Oetzel, 2004</span></a>; <a href="#McArt-JA--Nydam-DV--Oetzel-GR--2012"><span class="Hyperlink">McArt et al., 2012</span></a>). </p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Heading-2--History-in-MM- ParaOverride-1">Corn Silage and Total Mixed Ration (TMR) Sampling </p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">The corn forage variety used was hybrid-704. Corn forage was cultivated in the month May and harvested in the month September. Generally, Iranian farmers harvest corn forage with a high moisture content (DM less than 26%) which is lower than the preferred 30 to 35% DM to achieve 95% DM in the final silage (<a href="#Kung-L--Shaver-R--2001"><span class="Hyperlink">Kung and Shaver, 2001</span></a>). Corn silage was sampled in five replicates from each of the 10 farms. Within farm, corn silage was taken from 10 to 15 locations of the respective silage bunker, mixed thoroughly and a sub-sample of 0.5 kg was transferred to the laboratory at the Animal Science Research Institute, Tehran, Iran and stored at -20°C pending chemical analysis including pH and fatty acids profile. Fatty acids were measured by a Gas Chromatography (GC, Agilent Technologies, 6890N, Abbott Co. USA).</p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">In this study, the TMR included barley grain, corn grain, soybean meal, canola meal, beet sugar pulp, wheat barn, vitamin and mineral premix, salt, NaHCO3, alfalfa hay, corn silage and wheat straw. The TMR samples were taken in eight replicates from each farm. Each replicate was taken from 10 locations from the distributed feed in the feed-bunk of fresh cows, mixed thoroughly and 0.5 kg was transferred to the laboratory and stored at -20°C for further analysis. Nutrient contents of the TMR were determined at the Animal Science Research Centre of Iran. Dry matter was analyzed by drying the samples in a conventional oven at 55°C for 24 h, ash by igniting the samples in duplicate at 600°C for 2 h in a muffle furnace (Method 942.05; AOAC, 1995), ether extract (EE, Method 920.39; AOAC, 1995), N (Method 984.13; <a href="#AOAC-International--1995-"><span class="Hyperlink">AOAC, 1995</span></a>), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF). Analysis of Ca and P were conducted using a Thermo Jarrell Ash IRIS Advantage inductively coupled with a plasma radial spectrometer (Model ICAP 61, Thermo Jarrell Ash, Ithaca, USA). Net energy for lactation (NE<span class="CharOverride-15">L</span>) and NFC of TMR were calculated using the following equations (<a href="#National-Reserch-Council--2001"><span class="Hyperlink">NRC, 2001</span></a>): </p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-2"><span class="CharOverride-8">NE</span><span class="CharOverride-16">L</span><span class="CharOverride-8">= [0.866 - (0.0077 × ADF)] × 2.2</span></p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-2"><span class="CharOverride-8">NFC =100 - (% CP + % EE + % Ash + % NDF)</span></p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-2">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">NE<span class="CharOverride-15">L</span> and NFC of corn silage were calculated using the following formulas (<a href="#National-Reserch-Council--2001"><span class="Hyperlink">NRC, 2001</span></a>):</p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-2"><span class="CharOverride-8">NE</span><span class="CharOverride-16">L</span><span class="CharOverride-8">= [1.044 × (0.0132 × ADF)] × 2.2</span></p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-2"><span class="CharOverride-8">NFC=100 - (%CP + %EE + %Ash + %NDF)</span></p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-2">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Heading-2--History-in-MM-">Determination of BW and BCS </p>
			<p class="Body-Text">Body condition score of the selected cows was determined using the scale of 1 to 5 (<a href="#National-Reserch-Council--2001"><span class="Hyperlink">NRC, 2001</span></a>). On a five-point scale, a score of 1 denotes a very thin cow, while 5 denotes an excessively fat cow. At the close-up period as well as on days 3, 14 and 28 postpartum BW was estimated using a Dalton meter that measured around chest and calculated BW. </p>
		  <p class="Body-Text">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Heading-2--History-in-MM-">Statistical Analysis</p>
			<p class="Body-Text">Statistical analysis was conducted using <a href="#SAS-Institute--2003-"><span class="Hyperlink">SAS (2003)</span></a> to assess the data. Dependent variables (BCS and BW) were analyzed to examine the farm effect as a fixed independent variable. As observations were repeated, the farm effect on dependent variables was also evaluated using repeated measures analysis. Correlation coefficients between BCS before calving and 3, 14 and 28 days postpartum were calculated. In order to find the effective factors on the incidence of ketosis, other parameters such as NEL, CP, NFC, BCS, milk yield and silage butyric acid concentration were considered in the study as independent factors. The models were submitted using GENMODE procedure in <a href="#SAS-Institute--2003-"><span class="Hyperlink">SAS (2003)</span></a>. One-way completely randomized design was used to examine the farm effect on DM, pH, lactic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and lactic acid to acetic acid ratio of silage.</p>
		  <p class="Body-Text">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Heading-1--Introduction----">RESULTS </p>
		  <p class="Heading-1--Introduction----">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">The overall mean plasma BHBA concentration, sampled on 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24 and 28 day in milk was 1,234 μmol/L. Fifty eight percent (58%) of the cows which had plasma BHBA concentration ≥ 1,400 µmol/L, at least in two successive blood samplings (3 d interval), were considered as suffering from SCK. The mean plasma BHBA concentration of SCK cows was 1,932 µmol/L while that for the healthy cows was 770 µmol/L.</p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">Mean DM and nutrient contents of TMR in the ten farms are shown in <a href="#Table-2-"><span class="Hyperlink">Table 2</span></a>. The nutrient contents of the TMR used were different among the farms. Overall, the above values suggested that CP, NE<span class="CharOverride-15">L</span>, NFC contents of the TMR were lower while that of NDF was higher than those recommended for lactating cows (<a href="#National-Reserch-Council--2001"><span class="Hyperlink">NRC, 2001</span></a>). The average DM in corn silage was less than 30% (ranged from 22 to 28%). Crude protein of corn silage ranged from 7 to 8% while the NDF content was higher than 50%. The NE<span class="CharOverride-15">L</span> was often less than 1 Mcal/kg. Mean NFC of corn silage in the 10 dairy farms studied was 28% DM (<a href="#Table-3-"><span class="Hyperlink">Table 3</span></a>). The average pH of the corn silage ranged from 3.50 to 4.05 (<a href="#Table-4-"><span class="Hyperlink">Table</span><span class="Hyperlink"> 4</span></a>). </p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-4"><a id="Table-2-"></a>Table 2:</span> Dry matter and chemical composition (on DM basis) of total mixed ration in the farms studied</p>
			<table width="657" height="468" class="Table-Style-1" id="table-2">
				<colgroup>
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
				</colgroup>
				<tbody>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td rowspan="2">
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">Item</span><span class="CharOverride-11">1</span></p>
						</td>
						<td colspan="10">
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-2"><span class="CharOverride-10">Dairy farms</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">5</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">6</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">7</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">8</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">9</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">10</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">DM</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">57.0 ± 5.54</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">49.8 ± 2.12</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">54.3 ± 2.90</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">52.6 ± 0.75</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">52.0 ± 1.73</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">54.7 ± 0.79</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">87.3 ± 1.95</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">45.1 ± 1.25</span><span class="CharOverride-18">c</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">49.3 ± 1.14</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">56.0 ± 0.91</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">CP</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">14.9 ± 0.58</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">13.9 ± 0.36</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">11.6 ± 0.58</span><span class="CharOverride-18">cd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">13.9 ± 0.29</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">14.6 ± 0.62</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">13.0 ± 0.49</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">15.5 ± 0.95</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">13.2 ± 0.28</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">10.9 ± 0.24</span><span class="CharOverride-18">d</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">15.3 ± 0.16</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">NE</span><span class="CharOverride-19">L</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.58 ± 0.02</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.50 ± 0.04</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.47 ± 0.06</span><span class="CharOverride-18">c</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.53 ± 0.02</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.53 ± 0.06</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.56 ± 0.01</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.47 ± 0.03</span><span class="CharOverride-18">c</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.50 ± 0.09</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.48 ± 0.01</span><span class="CharOverride-18">c</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.59 ± 0.06</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">NDF</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">44.4 ± 1.83</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">44.9 ± 2.33</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">48.9 ± 2.88</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">44.7 ± 2.05</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">45.2 ± 0.41</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">44.1 ± 0.8</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">43.4 ± 2.64</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">47.9 ± 0.65</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">45.5 ± 2.03</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">35.2 ± 0.51</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">ADF</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">29.1 ± 1.71</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">23.3 ± 2.57</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">25.5 ± 3.89</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">21.8 ± 1.48</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">21.8 ± 0.39</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">20.4 ± 0.62</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">25.2 ± 2.17</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">23.8 ± 0.55</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">25.2 ± 0.69</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">18.3 ± 0.30</span><span class="CharOverride-18">c</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">NFC</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">30.5 ± 2.31</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">30.0 ± 2.39</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">32.4 ± 3.66</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">31.5 ± 1.95</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">30.5 ± 1.09</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">35.8 ± 1.08</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">30.8 ± 2.35</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">29.7 ± 0.78</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">34.8 ± 1.91</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">41.2 ± 0.52</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">EE</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.84 ± 0.52</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.5 7± 0.31</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.36 ± 0.29</span><span class="CharOverride-18">cd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.11 ± 0.09</span><span class="CharOverride-18">d</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.51 ± 0.11</span><span class="CharOverride-18">cd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.25 ± 0.08</span><span class="CharOverride-18">d</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.22 ± 0.18</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.22 ± 0.35</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.61 ± 0.19</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bcd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.42 ± 0.09</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">Ash</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">7.31 ± 0.31</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">8.53 ± 0.73</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">5.76 ± 0.61</span><span class="CharOverride-18">d</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">8.88 ± 0.26</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">8.18 ± 0.53</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">5.88 ± 0.13</span><span class="CharOverride-18">cd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">8.06 ± 0.26</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">7.03 ± 0.21</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bcd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">7.30 ± 0.34</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">5.94 ± 0.18</span><span class="CharOverride-18">cd</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">Ca</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.72 ± 0.12</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.65 ± 0.05</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.44 ± 0.08</span><span class="CharOverride-18">c</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.80 ± 0.08</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.82 ± 0.05</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.76 ± 0.06</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.76 ± 0.03</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.73 ± 0.04</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.80 ± 0.02</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.91 ± 0.03</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">P</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.45 ± 0.03</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.30 ± 0.03</span><span class="CharOverride-18">cd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.25 ± 0.03</span><span class="CharOverride-18">d</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.32 ± 0.03</span><span class="CharOverride-18">cd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.35 ± 0.03</span><span class="CharOverride-18">cd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.37 ± 0.01</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.31 ± 0.038</span><span class="CharOverride-18">cd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.31 ± 0.02</span><span class="CharOverride-18">cd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.38 ± 0.02</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.47 ± 0.01</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
				</tbody>
			</table>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
		  <p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-20">1</span><span class="CharOverride-21">DM</span><span class="CharOverride-22"> = dry matter; </span><span class="CharOverride-21">CP</span><span class="CharOverride-22"> = crude protein; </span><span class="CharOverride-21">NE</span><span class="CharOverride-23">L</span><span class="CharOverride-22"> = net energy for lactation, Mcal/kg; </span><span class="CharOverride-21">NDF</span><span class="CharOverride-22"> = neutral detergent fiber; </span><span class="CharOverride-21">ADF</span><span class="CharOverride-22"> = acid detergent fiber; </span><span class="CharOverride-21">NFC</span><span class="CharOverride-22"> = non-fiber carbohydrates; </span><span class="CharOverride-21">EE</span><span class="CharOverride-22"> = ether extract;  </span><span class="CharOverride-20">a-d</span><span class="CharOverride-22"> Different superscripts within a row indicate statistical significance at P</span><span class="CharOverride-24"> </span><span class="CharOverride-22">&lt; 0.05.</span></p>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
		  <p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-4"><a id="Table-3-"></a>Table 3: </span>Dry matter and chemical composition of corn silage in the farms studied</p>
			<table width="657" height="544" class="Table-Style-1" id="table-3">
				<colgroup>
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
				</colgroup>
				<tbody>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td rowspan="2">
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">Item</span><span class="CharOverride-11">1</span></p>
						</td>
						<td colspan="9">
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-2"><span class="CharOverride-10">Dairy farms</span></p>
						</td>
						<td />
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">5</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">6</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">7</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">8</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">9</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">10</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">DM</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">23.2 ±</span><span class="CharOverride-12"> </span><span class="CharOverride-12"> 1.35</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">22.6 ± 0.72</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">28.9 ± 0.50</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">24.1 ± 0.8</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">28.1 ± 2.30</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">28.0 ± 0.33</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">25.6 ± 1.15</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">24.7 ± 0.67</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">25.7 ± 0.67</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">28.6 ± 0.40</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">CP</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">7.86 ± 0.21</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">7.56 ± 0.19</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">6.92 ± 0.10</span><span class="CharOverride-18">c</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">7.78 ± 0.19</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">7.86 ± 0.36</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">8.25 ± 0.07</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">7.37 ± 0.16</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">7.47 ± 0.16</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">8.53 ± 0.58</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">7.86 ± 0.18</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">NE</span><span class="CharOverride-19">L</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.97 ± 0.02</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.91 ± 0.01</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abcd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.83 ± 0.02</span><span class="CharOverride-18">cd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.0 2 ± 0.08</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.82 ± 0.04</span><span class="CharOverride-18">d</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.85 ± 0.01</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bcd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.96 ± 0.09</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.94 ± 0.09</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.92 ± 0.03</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abcd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.91 ± 0.02</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abcd</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">NDF</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">58.3 ± 0.68</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">51.6 ± 3.02</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">54.1 ± 1.10</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">62.1 ± 3.24</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">51.9 ± 1.8</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">53.1 ± 0.93</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">54.3 ± 5.30</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">53.3 ± 5.30</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">56.5 ± 0.43</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">56.0 ± 0.48</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">ADF</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">32.2 ± 0.75</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">30.3 ± 0.47</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abcd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">27.7 ± 0.9</span><span class="CharOverride-18">cd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">34.0 ± 2.74</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">27.3 ± 1.5</span><span class="CharOverride-18">d</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">28.1 ± 0.30</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bcd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">31.8 ± 0.30</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">30.8 ± 0.30</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">30.5 ±1.16</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abcd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">30.1 ± 0.69</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abcd</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">NFC</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">24.1 ± 0.59</span><span class="CharOverride-18">c</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">33.7 ± 2.89</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">30.6 ± 0.89</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">18.4 ± 3.10</span><span class="CharOverride-18">c</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">32.3 ± 2.32</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">31.7 ± 0.90</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">29.2 ± 4.99</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">26.3 ±0.50</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">26.4 ± 0.55</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">27.4 ± 0.09</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">EE</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.47 ± 0.22</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.82 ± 0.10</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.43 ± 0.04</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.74 ± 0.21</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.63 ± 0.02</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.45 ± 0.05</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.45 ± 0.15</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.54 ±</span><span class="CharOverride-12"> </span><span class="CharOverride-12">0.10</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.58 ± 0.10</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.67 ±</span><span class="CharOverride-12"> </span><span class="CharOverride-12">0.07</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">Ash</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">8.15 ±</span><span class="CharOverride-12"> </span><span class="CharOverride-12">0.44</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">5.32 ± 0.33</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">7.00 ± 0.36</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">10.1 ± 2.07</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">6.32 ± 0.39</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">5.53 ± 0.12</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">7.77 ± 0.29</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">7.67 ± 0.29</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">7.02 ± 0.42</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">7.06 ± 0.37</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">Ca</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.30 ± 0.14</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.78 ± 0.10</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.90 ± 0.11</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.98 ± 0.17</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.95 ± 0.04</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.27 ± 0.24</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.19 ± 0.12</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.86 ± 0.05</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.83 ± 0.06</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.89 ± 0.06</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">P</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.18 ± 0.008</span><span class="CharOverride-18">dc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.14 ± 0.007</span><span class="CharOverride-18">d</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.20 ± 0.01</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.25 ± 0.01</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.22 ± 0.008</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.26 ± 0.04</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.20 ± 0.008</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.22 ± 0.01</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.23 ± 0.01</span><span class="CharOverride-18">abc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.24 ± 0.005</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
				</tbody>
			</table>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
		  <p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-20">1</span><span class="CharOverride-21">DM</span><span class="CharOverride-22"> = dry matter; </span><span class="CharOverride-21">CP</span><span class="CharOverride-22"> = crude protein; </span><span class="CharOverride-21">NE</span><span class="CharOverride-23">L</span><span class="CharOverride-22"> = net energy for lactation, Mcal/kg; </span><span class="CharOverride-21">NDF</span><span class="CharOverride-22"> = neutral detergent fiber; </span><span class="CharOverride-21">ADF</span><span class="CharOverride-22"> = acid detergent fiber; </span><span class="CharOverride-21">NFC</span><span class="CharOverride-22"> = non-fiber carbohydrates; </span><span class="CharOverride-21">EE</span><span class="CharOverride-22"> = ether extract;  </span><span class="CharOverride-20">a-d</span><span class="CharOverride-22"> Different superscripts within a row indicate statistical significance at P</span><span class="CharOverride-24"> </span><span class="CharOverride-22">&lt; 0.05.</span></p>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
		  <p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-4"><a id="Table-4-"></a>Table 4:</span> Volatile fatty acids profile of corn silages in the farms studied</p>
			<table width="657" class="Table-Style-1" id="table-4">
				<colgroup>
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
				</colgroup>
				<tbody>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td rowspan="2">
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">Item</span></p>
						</td>
						<td colspan="2" />
						<td colspan="9">
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">Dairy farms</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1</span></p>
						</td>
						<td colspan="2">
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">5</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">6</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">7</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">8</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">9</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">10</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">pH</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.71 ± 0.01</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td colspan="2">
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.57 ± 0.03</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.55 ± 0.03</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4.04 ± 0.10</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.80 ± 0.05</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.78 ± 0.05</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.67 ± 0.05</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.69 ± 0.09</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.74 ± 0.04</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.56 ± 0.03</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">Lactic acid (L)</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.68 ± 0.36</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td colspan="2">
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.11 ± 0.31</span><span class="CharOverride-18">c</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">8.06 ± 2.60</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">6.38 ± 0.98</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4.01 ± 0.57</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.67 ± 0.50</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4.33 ± 0.47</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.78 ± 0.35</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">5.04 ± 0.47</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">8.70 ± 2.22</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">Acetic acid (A)</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4.09 ± 0.67</span></p>
						</td>
						<td colspan="2">
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.70 ± 0.27</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.86 ± 0.29</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.45 ± 0.26</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4.39 ± 1.08</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4.05 ± 0.31</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.52 ± 0.37</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.78 ± 0.40</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4.72 ± 0.10</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.68 ± 0.45</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">Propionic acid  </span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.38 ± 0.02</span><span class="CharOverride-18">cd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td colspan="2">
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.56 ± 0.09</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.47 ± 0.23</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.26 ± 0.01</span><span class="CharOverride-18">cd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.23 ± 0.05</span><span class="CharOverride-18">d</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.82 ± 0.16</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.72 ± 0.16</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.34 ± 0.02</span><span class="CharOverride-18">cd</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.45 ± 0.2</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">Butyric acid</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td colspan="2">
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.38 ± 0.07</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.01 ± 0.31</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.53 ± 0.09</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.95 ± 0.07</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">L:A</span><span class="CharOverride-18">1</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.02 ± 0.1</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td colspan="2">
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.85 ± 0.1</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.07 ± 0.59</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.89 ± 0.32</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.97 ± 0.06</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.94 ± 15</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.23 ± 0.15</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.03 ± 0.12</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1.06 ± 0.08</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.30 ±  0.32</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
				</tbody>
			</table>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
		  <p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-13">1</span><span class="CharOverride-7">Lactic acid to acetic acid ratio; </span><span class="CharOverride-13">a-d</span><span class="CharOverride-7"> Different superscripts within a row indicate statistical significance at P &lt; 0.05</span></p>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
		  <p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-4"><a id="Table-5-"></a>Table 5: </span>Spearman’s correlation coefficients between fatty acids profile of corn silages</p>
			<table width="657" height="186" class="Table-Style-1" id="table-5">
				<colgroup>
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
				</colgroup>
				<tbody>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td />
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">pH</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">DM</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-10">Lactic acid (L)</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">Acetic acid (A)</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">Propionic acid</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">Butyric acid</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">L :A</span><span class="CharOverride-11">1</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">pH</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">DM</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-0.20</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">L</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-0.02</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.22</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">A</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.02</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-0.19</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.09</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">P</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-0.28</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.33</span><span class="CharOverride-18">*</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.45</span><span class="CharOverride-18">**</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.12</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">B</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.47</span><span class="CharOverride-18">*</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-0.02</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.06</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.03</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.05</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">L:A</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.07</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.27</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.88</span><span class="CharOverride-18">**</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.33</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.44</span><span class="CharOverride-18">**</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.96</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
				</tbody>
			</table>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
		  <p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-13">1</span><span class="CharOverride-7">Lactic acid to acetic acid ratio; *Significant at P &lt; 0.05; **Significant at P &lt; 0.01</span></p>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
		  <p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-4"><a id="Table-6-"></a>Table 6:</span> Body condition score (BCS) of cows during postpartum period in the farms studied</p>
			<table width="658" height="255" class="Table-Style-1" id="table-6">
				<colgroup>
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
				</colgroup>
				<tbody>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td width="65">
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">Farms</span></p>
						</td>
						<td width="134">
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">Day 1</span></p>
						</td>
						<td width="147">
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">Day 3</span></p>
						</td>
						<td width="147">
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">Day 14</span></p>
						</td>
						<td width="145">
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">Day 28</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.35 ± 0.38</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.10 ± 0.38</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.70 ± 0.33</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.35 ± 0.29</span><span class="CharOverride-18">c</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.05 ± 0.21</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.80 ± 0.21</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.55 ± 0.21</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.40 ± 0.14</span><span class="CharOverride-18">c</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.65 ± 0.34</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.40 ± 0.34</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.15 ± 0.34</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.90 ± 0.42</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.70 ± 0.37</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.45 ± 0.37</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.85 ± 0.22</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.25 ± 0.25</span><span class="CharOverride-18">c</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">5</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.50 ± 0.73</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.25 ± 0.73</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.95 ± 0.78</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.65 ± 0.74</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">6</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.40 ± 0.38</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.25 ± 0.38</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.75 ± 0.31</span><span class="CharOverride-18">c</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.50 ± 0.25</span><span class="CharOverride-18">c</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">7</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.25 ± 0.35</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.05 ± 0.33</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ab</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.70 ± 0.33</span><span class="CharOverride-18">bc</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.40 ± 0.29</span><span class="CharOverride-18">c</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">8</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.90 ± 0.22</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.65 ± 0.22</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.25 ± 0.25</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.90 ± 0.42</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">9</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4.25 ± 0.25</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">4.00 ± 0.25</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.50 ± 0.18</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.10 ± 0.29</span><span class="CharOverride-18">c</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">10</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.90 ± 0.22</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.70 ± 0.21</span><span class="CharOverride-18">a</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.40 ± 0.14</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">3.25 ± 0.18</span><span class="CharOverride-18">b</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
				</tbody>
			</table>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
		  <p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-13">a-c </span><span class="CharOverride-7">Different superscripts within a row indicate statistical significance at P &lt; 0.05</span></p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">Only one farm had silage lactic acid concentration of more than 6%, and the silage acetic acid content in all the farms was more than 3%. Propionic acid concentration in all the silage samples studied was more than 0.25%. In four farms, silage butyric acid concentration was higher than that of normal corn silage (less than 0.1%). The ratio of lactic acid to acetic acid in silage was often less than 2 (<a href="#Table-4-"><span class="Hyperlink">Table 4</span></a>). Butyric acid concentration had a significant positive correlation with silage pH in the corn silage (p&lt;0.05; <a href="#Table-5-"><span class="Hyperlink">Table 5</span></a>). In addition, there was a significant correlation between propionic acid and lactic acid concentrations in corn silage (p&lt;0.01). A significant correlation was observed between lactic acid to acetic acid ratio with propionic acid and lactic acid values in the corn silage (p&lt;0.01). Mean BCS at calving ranged from 3.25 to 4.25 (<a href="#Table-6-"><span class="Hyperlink">Table 6</span></a>). The minimum and maximum BCS before calving were 2.75 and 4.5, respectively. The BCS declined at least 0.6 unit and at most, 1.16 unit during the first month after calving. The mean change in BCS during one month after calving was more than 0.5 unit in all the farms studied. The average BW loss ranged from 37 to 83 kg during the same period. Body condition score at calving had a high correlation with BCS during 3, 14 and 28 days post calving (p&lt;0.01) (<a href="#Table-7-"><span class="Hyperlink">Table 7</span></a>). In addition, BCS on days 3, 14 and 28 after calving were also significantly correlated (p&lt;0.01). </p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-4"><a id="Table-7-"></a>Table 7: </span>Spearman’s Correlation coefficients for BCS at calving and 3, 14 and 28 days in milk</p>
			<table width="658" height="117" class="Table-Style-1" id="table-7">
				<colgroup>
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
				</colgroup>
				<tbody>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td />
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">At calving</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">d 3 </span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">d 14 </span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">d 28</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">At Calving</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">d 3</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.87**</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">d 14</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.77**</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.92**</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12"> 28</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.71**</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.81**</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.90**</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">1</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
				</tbody>
			</table>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
		  <p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-7">*Significant at P &lt; 0.05; **Significant at P &lt; 0.01</span></p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">The averaged NE<span class="CharOverride-15">L</span>, BCS at calving, silage butyric acid, CP, NFC and milk yield were 1.48 Mcal/kg, 3.65, 0.34% DM, 13.43% DM, 30.55% DM and 30.03 kg/d in SCK cows. On the other hand, the above values for healthy cows were 1.57 Mcal/kg, 3.5, 0.21% DM, 14.02% DM, 34.05% DM and 33.71 kg/d, respectively. Effect of NE<span class="CharOverride-15">L</span> was significant (<span class="CharOverride-8">p</span>&lt;0.05) on SCK incidence, while BCS, butyric silage, CP and NFC had no significant effect on SCK incidence (<a href="#Table-8-"><span class="Hyperlink">Table 8</span></a>). The effects of milk yield tended to be significant for incidence of SCK (<a href="#Table-8-"><span class="Hyperlink">Table 8</span></a>). </p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-4"><a id="Table-8-"></a>Table 8:</span> Effect of silage butyric acid, net energy for lactation (NE<span class="CharOverride-15">L</span>), body condition score (BCS), crude protein (CP), non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC), and milk yield of subclinical ketotic cows</p>
			<table width="658" height="186" class="Table-Style-1" id="table-8">
				<colgroup>
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
					<col />
				</colgroup>
				<tbody>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">Parameter</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">Estimate</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">Standard Error</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-10">Chi-Square</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">Intercept</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-32.5690</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">12.6824</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">6.59*</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">Butyric silage</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.7481</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.7481</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.78</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ns</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">NE</span><span class="CharOverride-19">L</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">21.9917</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">9.3095</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">5.58*</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">BCS</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-0.6073</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.8483</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.51</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ns</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">CP</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-0.1773</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.2117</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.70</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ns</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-1">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">NFC</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">-0.0493</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.1045</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.22</span><span class="CharOverride-18">ns</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
					<tr class="_idGenTableRowColumn-2">
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">Milk yield</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.1357</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">0.0796</span></p>
						</td>
						<td>
							<p class="Basic-Paragraph"><span class="CharOverride-12">2.90</span><span class="CharOverride-18"> ns</span></p>
						</td>
					</tr>
				</tbody>
			</table>
			<p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
		  <p class="Figure--and-Table-Heading ParaOverride-1"><span class="CharOverride-7">*Significant at P &lt; 0.05</span></p>
			<p class="Heading-1--Introduction----">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Heading-1--Introduction----">DISCUSSION</p>
		  <p class="Heading-1--Introduction----">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text">Postpartum high-yielding dairy cows are typically in a state of negative energy balance (NEB) because the amount of energy required for maintenance of body tissue functions and milk production exceeds the amount of energy the cows can consume. The degree of NEB in the early postpartum period and the recovery rate are critical for both, the health status and productivity of cows. Insufficient energy supply postpartum may result in a higher risk for metabolic disorders including ketosis (<a href="#Andersson-L--1988"><span class="Hyperlink">Andersson, 1988</span></a>). The deleterious effects of ketosis on animal health, and productivity are well documented in the literature (<a href="#McLaren-CJ--Lissemore-KD--Duffield-TF--Leslie-KE--Kelton-DF--B-Grexton--2006"><span class="Hyperlink">McLaren et al., 2006</span></a>; <a href="#Ospina-PA--Nydam-DV--Stokol-T--Overton-TR--2010"><span class="Hyperlink">Ospina et al., 2010</span></a>; <a href="#Chapinal-N--Carson-ME--LeBlanc-SJ--Leslie-KE--Godden-S--Capel-M--Santos-JE--Overton-MW--Duffield-TF"><span class="Hyperlink">Chapinal et al., 2012</span></a>; <a href="#Dubuc-J--Duffield-TF--Leslie-KE--Walton-JS--LeBlanc-SJ--2012"><span class="Hyperlink">Dubuc et al., 2012</span></a>). The recommended NEL and CP requirements for fresh cows by <a href="#National-Reserch-Council--2001"><span class="Hyperlink">NRC (2001)</span></a> are 1.73 Mcal/kg and 16.5 to 17.5%, respectively, but the above nutrient contents in the TMR used in the farms in this study (averaged 1.53 Mcal/kg and 13.7%, respectively; <a href="#Table-2-"><span class="Hyperlink">Table 2</span></a>) were lower than the recommended values by <a href="#National-Reserch-Council--2001"><span class="Hyperlink">NRC (2001)</span></a>. In addition, the NDF content of the TMR (average 44.3%) was higher than the recommended NDF content (25 to 33%) for fresh cows (<a href="#National-Reserch-Council--2001"><span class="Hyperlink">NRC 2001</span></a>). In lactating cows, intake of high-fiber diets may limit DM intake due to rumen fill and the inability to degrade fiber fast enough to flow out of the rumen to make space for additional feed consumption. This would lead to insufficient energy consumption to meet the requirements (<a href="#Grummer-R--Mashek-GD--Hayirli-A--2004"><span class="Hyperlink">Grummer et al., 2004</span></a>). The low NEL and CP contents of the TMR in farms recorded in this study further decreased the availability of these nutrients required by the cows, resulting in a more severe NEB condition.  </p>
		  <p class="Body-Text">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text">It has been suggested that increasing energy density of the diet by increasing NFC during the transition period has some benefits to the cows (<a href="#Grummer-RR--1995"><span class="Hyperlink">Grummer, 1995</span></a>; <a href="#VandeHaar-MJ--Yousif-G--Sharma-BK--Herdt-TH--Emery-RS--Allen-MS--Liesman-JS--1999"><span class="Hyperlink">Vandehaar et al., 1999</span></a>; <a href="#Roche-JR--Bell-AW--Overton-TR--Loor-JJ--2013"><span class="Hyperlink">Roche et al., 2013</span></a>). Feeding diets containing higher NFC content has been suggested for the transition period in order to promote the development of ruminal papillae (<a href="#Dirksen-G--Liebich-HG--Meyer-E--1985"><span class="Hyperlink">Dirksen et al., 1985</span></a>), facilitate acclimatisation of the rumen microorganism to the higher postpartum NFC levels, as well as increase insulin secretion and thereby suppressing lipolysis and reducing the influx of fatty acid into the liver (<a href="#Lee-SH--Hossner-KL--2002"><span class="Hyperlink">Lee and Hossner, 2002</span></a>; <a href="#Lafontan-M--Sengenes-C--Moro-C--Galitzky-J--Berlan-M--2009"><span class="Hyperlink">Lafontan et al., 2009</span></a>). For instance, cows fed high NFC (40–42%) diets consumed more DM during the prepartum period, had lower plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), reduced BHBA level and liver triglyceride (<a href="#Minor-DJ--Grummer-RR--Shaver-RD--Trower-SL--1996"><span class="Hyperlink">Minor et al.,</span><span class="Hyperlink"> 1996</span></a>). However, in a review of published studies, <a href="#Overton-TR--Waldron-MR--2004-"><span class="Hyperlink">Overton and Waldron (2004) </span></a>concluded that, in the majority of these studies, changes in carbohydrate source were confounded by energy intake. In the current study the NFC content in the fresh cow (4 weeks after calving) rations was very low (on average 32.75 %; <a href="#Table-1-"><span class="Hyperlink">Table 1</span></a>). Furthermore, the effect of NEL on SCK incidence was significant for fresh cows, but NFC and CP contents in diets had no significant effect on the incidence of SCK. </p>
		  <p class="Body-Text">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">The amount of DM in normal corn silage should contain between 30 to 35% (<a href="#Kung-L--Shaver-R--2001"><span class="Hyperlink">Kung and Shaver, 2001</span></a>), however, the average DM measured in the corn silage sampled from the different dairy farms studied was low (less than 30%), especially those of the butyric silage (25%). Hay crop silages chopped too wet (due to insufficient wilting time or direct-cut silages) or that low in water-soluble carbohydrates favour the growth of Clostridium sp. bacteria. These bacteria ferment some of the carbohydrates to butyric acid instead of the desired lactic acid (<a href="#Oetzel-GR--2007"><span class="Hyperlink">Oetzel, 2007</span></a>). Lactic acid concentration should be as much as 4 to 7% DM and at least between 65 to 70% of the total acids in silage. On the other hand, in a good corn silage, acetic acid should be less than 3% DM, giving a lactic acid to acetic acid ratio of more than 3 (<a href="#Kung-L--Shaver-R--2001"><span class="Hyperlink">Kung and Shaver, 2001</span></a>). High acetic acid silage depresses DM intake in ruminants (<a href="#Kung-L--Shaver-R--2001"><span class="Hyperlink">Kung and Shaver, 2001</span></a>). Results obtained in this study showed that acetic acid concentration was more than 3% DM and lactic acid to acetic acid ratio was lower than 3 in all the corn silage samples (on average 4% and 1.35, respectively). The lactic acid to acetic acid ratio was highly correlated with lactic acid concentration in corn silage (r<span class="CharOverride-20">2</span> = 0.88). Daily doses of over 50 to 100 g of butyric acid can cause ketosis, and doses over 200 g may induce severe ketosis. Similarly, it has been reported that doses of butyric acid ranging between 450 to 950 g constantly induce severe ketosis in nearly any early lactation cows (<a href="#Oetzel-GR--2007"><span class="Hyperlink">Oetzel, 2007</span></a>). In the current study, butyric acid concentration was more than 0.1% DM in the corn silages obtained from four farms. However, the butyric silage had no significant effect on the incidence of SCK in the dairy farms studied.</p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text">The preferred BCS of cows at calving is from 3.25 to 3.75 (<a href="#National-Reserch-Council--2001"><span class="Hyperlink">NRC, 2001</span></a>). The average BCS of cows at calving in this study was higher than 3.75 in 3 farms while in one farm was less at 3.25. It was reported that excess body condition at calving resulted in increased losses in BW and body condition during lactation and decreased DMI and milk production (<a href="#Treacher-RJ--Reid-IM--Roberts-CJ--1986"><span class="Hyperlink">Treacher et al.,</span><span class="Hyperlink"> 1986</span></a>). Cows that are obese at calving have greater adipose tissue reserves that result in increased mobilization of NEFA (<a href="#Treacher-RJ--Reid-IM--Roberts-CJ--1986"><span class="Hyperlink">Treacher et al., 1986</span></a>). Therefore, these cows would develop more severe fatty liver during early lactation. Furthermore, obese cows would be more susceptible to the induction of ketosis than would cows of normal body condition. It has been recently reported that high BCS at calving were associated with greater concentrations of BHBA and upregulation of genes involved in ketogenesis in the liver during postpartum period compared to cows with low BCS at calving (<a href="#Akbar-H--Grala-TM--Riboni-MV--Cardoso-FC--Verkerk-G--McGowan-J--Macdonald-K--Webster-J--Schutz-K--Me"><span class="Hyperlink">Akbar et al., 2015</span></a>). In the present study, ketotic cows had higher BCS at calving and during the first weeks postpartum than healthy cows, and they lost more body condition compared to the non-diseased cows. The BCS loss during first month after calving was more than 0.5 unit in all the farms studied. </p>
		  <p class="Body-Text">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">Generally, most of the correlations between BCS and metabolites occur between 20 to 60 days in milk (<a href="#Ling-K--Jaakson-H--Samar-tel-J--Leesm-e-A--2003"><span class="Hyperlink">Ling et al., 2003</span></a>). In the present study, the BCS of the fresh cows at calving had a correlation with BCS during 3, 14 and 28 d after calving. The BCS at calving did not affect the incidence of SCK in the farms studied. Cows identified as suffering from SCK in this study had a lower average milk production (30 kg/cow per d) over the first 60 d milking as compared to the healthy cows (34 kg/cow/d), however, the average milk yield was not significantly affected by the incidence of SCK.</p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Heading-1--Introduction----">CONCLUSIONS</p>
		  <p class="Heading-1--Introduction----">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">Results of this study showed that the prevalence of SCK in the farms was high during the first month after calving. Intake of NEL was below the recommended requirement and had a significant effect on the incidence of SCK in dairy cows. Butyric acid concentration in the corn silage was high in four farms but the statistical analysis showed that butyric acid had no significant effect on the occurrence of SCK. The BCS at calving had no significant effect on the incidence of SCK, however, cows showed more than 0.5 unit loss of BCS during first month after calving because of the low energy content of the TMR used in the farms. Non-fiber carbohydrates and CP contents in TMR were found to have no significant effect on the occurrence of SCK. Therefore, the most effective way to control or minimize the incidence of SCK in dairy farms of similar conditions as that of this study would be to provide sufficient dietary energy to meet the requirements of the cows, especially during the first month after calving when the SCK prevalence is normally high.</p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Heading-1--Introduction----">ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS</p>
		  <p class="Heading-1--Introduction----">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">The authors would like to thank Dr Pejman Ajilchi, General Manager of Sana Dam Pars Company (Tehran, Iran) for financial support of this study.</p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Heading-1--Introduction---- ParaOverride-1">CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT </p>
		  <p class="Heading-1--Introduction---- ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">The authors of this article declare that they do not have any conflicting interests.</p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Heading-1--Introduction----">Author’s Contribution </p>
		  <p class="Heading-1--Introduction----">&nbsp;</p>
			<p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">All authors conceived and coordinated the study, conducted statistical analysis, interpreted the results and drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.</p>
		  <p class="Body-Text ParaOverride-1">&nbsp;</p>
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