Fuente: "milk OR dairy products" J Dairy Sci. 2026 May 29:S0022-0302(26)02863-8. doi: 10.3168/jds.2025-28196. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTOn-farm, toasting legume pulses in the harvested moist condition could be an alternative to regular drying, giving a dual-purpose of toasting. The objective in the current study was to investigate the effect of feeding moist-toasted fava beans (Vicia faba) in 2 forage regimens on lactational performance in dairy cows. Forty-eight Danish Holstein cows (24 primi- and 24 multiparous) were used in 12 4 × 4 Latin square designs (blocks) with 4 periods of 21 d. The 4 dietary treatments were organized in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with 2 fava bean processing (untoasted vs. moist-toasted; 23.6% of diet DM) and 2 forage regimens (75:25 vs. 25:75 grass-clover-to-corn silage ratios in 60% diet forage DM). One batch of fava beans (dried in a continuous dryer with 80°C inlet air temperature) was subdivided into 2 of which one was rehydrated from 156 g/kg moisture content to 207 g/kg (soaking water in a vertical mixer for 30 min followed by 16-h floor storage) to simulate a typical harvest moisture content. After rehydration, fava beans were toasted (moist-toasted, flame tumble toaster; 3 min retention time and 125°C exit temperature). Subsequently, both types of fava beans were ground (3-mm screen). Cows were fed for ad libitum intake in automated feed bins, milked twice daily, and milk was sampled weekly. Data obtained in the last week of each period was averaged and used in data analysis. Dry matter intake did not differ between cows fed diets including moist-toasted fava beans and cows fed diets including untoasted fava beans (22.4 vs. 22.1 kg/d). The ECM yield was greater with moist-toasted than with untoasted fava beans (30.9 vs. 30.6 kg/d). Milk protein yield did not differ between moist-toasted or untoasted fava beans, due to lower protein content with moist-toasted fava beans (3.73 vs. 3.78%). Gross efficiency (ECM/DMI) and N efficiency (N in milk/N intake) were greater with moist-toasted compared with untoasted fava beans (1.41 vs. 1.37 kg/kg and 0.296 vs. 0.292 kg/kg, respectively). However, cows fed diets high in corn silage had greater N efficiency than those fed diets high in grass-clover silage. The lack of interaction with forage regimens for these variables indicate that the obtained effect of moist-toasting of fava beans was independent of high or low grass silage inclusion. In conclusion, when dietary MP level is limited, feeding moist-toasted compared with untoasted fava beans gave greater gross and N efficiency independent of forage regimen.PMID:42217774 | DOI:10.3168/jds.2025-28196