Feed microbiota and Nordic Red dairy cows rumen bacteria

Sixteen multiparous Nordic Red dairy cows were assigned randomly to four replicated 4 x 4 Latin squares. The cows were divided into 4 blocks of 4 cows and the length of each period was 21 d. Within the block, the cows were randomly allocated to the 4 dietary treatments, consisting of two grass silage's treated with either organic acid-based additive (A) or inoculated with a lactic acid bacteria preparation (I), and two types of barley grain preservation methods, i.e., dry (D) or crimped and ensiled (E). Diet effects were evaluated on animal production, physiological traits and rumen bacterial community composition.