The effects of feeding high concentrations of molasses and supplementing with nitrogen and unprotected tallow on intake and performance of dairy cows

1997 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Yan ◽  
D. J. Roberts ◽  
J. Higginbotham

AbstractA series of three replicated 3 × 3 Latin-square design experiments was carried out with lactating dairy cows (15 in experiments 1 and 3, and 18 in experiment 2). The objectives of these experiments were to investigate if the feeding of high concentrations of molasses would be detrimental to the performance or health of cows, and if the strategic supplementation of nitrogen or unprotected fat could enhance the efficiency of molasses feeding. In experiment 1, complete diets were based on grass silage with three inclusion rates of a liquid molasses-based supplement (Molaferm 20) to supply molasses dry matter (DM) of 125, 250 and 375 g/kg DM respectively. In experiment 2, the control diet contained (g/kg DM) 460 grass silage, 310 'molaferm 20' and 192 barley and 22 soya-bean meal, and was then supplemented with urea (12 g/kg DM) or soya-bean meal (177 g/kg DM). In experiment 3, the control diet was based on (g/kg DM) grass silage (460), molaferm 20 (310), barley (130), soya-bean meal (65) and oatfeed (20). Two concentrations, low and high, of unprotected tallow were added to the control diet (12·5 and 25·8 g/kg DM, respectively).In experiment 1, cows suffered from some scouring on the highest molasses treatment, but recovered when changed to either the medium or low molasses treatment. However, there were no clinical symptoms of ill health observed during experiments 2 and 3. In experiment 1, animal intake and performance on the diets containing molasses DM of 125, 250 and 375 g/kg DM respectively were: total DM intake, 12·8, 16·2 and 18·6 kg/day (s.e.d. 1·03, P < 0·001); milk yield, 15·5,17·4 and 17·6 kg/day (s.e.d. 0·53, low v. medium or high, P < 0·01); fat concentration, 39·6, 39·7 and 40·0g/kg (s.e.d. 0·70, P>0·05); protein concentration, 31·6, 32·7 and 33·6g/kg (s.e.d. 0·22, P < 0·05). In experiment 2, supplementation of the control diet both with urea and soya-bean meal significantly increased DM intake (P < 0·01); milk yield (P < 0·01) and protein concentration in milk (P < 0·05), but had no significant effects on fat concentration in milk (P > 0·05). In experiment 3, there were no significant differences in DM intake between the three treatments. However, supplementation with both low and high concentrations of unprotected tallow significantly increased milk yield (P < 0·01) and significantly decreased fat (P < 0·01) and protein (P < 0·001) concentrations in milk.It is concluded that lactating dairy cows could be given molasses up to 250 g/kg DM in grass silage-based complete diets without adverse effects on milk production or health. When a diet contained a high concentration of molasses (248 g/kg DM), supplementation with urea and soya-bean meal increased intake and milk production, and supplementation with unprotected tallow also increased milk yield, but fat and protein concentrations in milk were decreased.

1988 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hadjipanayiotou ◽  
E. Georghiades ◽  
A. Koumas

AbstractTwo trials, one with 36 twin-suckling Chios ewes and the other with 32 twin-suckling Damascus goats, were conducted to study the effect of protein source (fish meal v. soya-bean meal) on the pre-weaning milk yield of the dams, and the growth performance of their offspring. The control (C) concentrate mixture was similar in both trials, using soya-bean meal (SBM) (195 kg/t) as a source of supplemental protein. In the experimental diet (FME) of the ewe trial, SBM was replaced completely by fish meal (FM) whereas in the goat trial (FMG) 83 kg of SBM were replaced by 50 kg FM. Dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) degradation of the three isonitrogenous mixtures were measured using nylon bags incubated in the rumens (2, 6, 16, 24 and 32 h) of three Damascus goats. There were no significant differences between mixtures for DM and CP effective degradability at 005 per h outflow rate. At 0·08 per h outflow rate however, lower degradability values were obtained with the FME than with the C diet. There were differences in the effective CP degradability of SBM and FM used in the ewe trial, but the FM used in the goat trial was of higher CP degradability and similar to that of SBM. Ewes on FM produced more milk than those on the control diet (C 3·44 v. FME 3·84 kg/day), whereas milk yield of goats was similar in the two treatments (C 3·87 v. FMG 3·82 kg/day). There were no differences between treatments for ewe milk fat (C 44 v. FME 43 g/kg) or protein concentration (C 54 v. FME 53 g/kg). Goats on fish meal (FMG) produced milk of higher protein (C 37 v. FMG 40 g/kg), but of similar fat (C 42 v. FMG 43 g/kg) concentration to those on the SBM (C) diet. With the exception of the better conversion (milk: gain ratio) efficiency (C 5·17 v. FME 4·44) of male lambs sucking ewes on the FM diet, no other differences were observed in the performance of lambs or kids. Lambs consumed less milk than kids (lambs: males 4·69, females 5·13; kids: males 6·63, females 6·98) per unit of weight gain.


1989 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 611-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Newbold ◽  
P. C. Thomas ◽  
D. G. Chamberlain

Sodium bicarbonate had no effect on the dry-matter (DM) intake of heifers given a complete mixed diet of grass silage, molasses, barley, soya-bean meal and a mineral mix (660, 140, 100, 85 and 15 g/kg DM respectively) when it was incorporated into the mix at 20 and 40 g/kg DM or sprinkled on top of the diet at a rate of 350 g/day. In a second experiment, cows in mid lactation were given a complete mixed diet of silage, barley, soya-bean meal and minerals (660, 240, 85 and 15 g/kg DM) or the same diet with the barley replaced with molasses at 140 g/kg DM. Sodium bicarbonate was sprinkled on top of the diets at 0, 450 or 900 g/day. There were no significant effects on DM intake in the final week of each 3-week period. However, there was an apparent interaction of diet and sodium bicarbonate on the initial acceptance of the diet, with the intake of the diet in week 1 being significantly lower than the final intake with 900 g/day sodium bicarbonate in the absence but not in the presence of molasses.


2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.J. Shingfield ◽  
A. Vanhatalo ◽  
P. Huhtanen

AbstractSixteen early to mid lactation Finnish Ayrshire dairy cows were used in a cyclic change-over experiment with four 21-day experimental periods and a 4 5 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to evaluate the effects of heat-treated rapeseed expeller and solvent-extracted soya-bean meal protein supplements on animal performance. Dietary treatments consisted of grass silage offered ad libitum supplemented with a fixed amount of a cereal based concentrate (10 kg/day on a fresh weight basis) containing 120, 150, 180 or 210 g crude protein (CP) per kg dry matter (DM). Concentrate CP content was manipulated by replacement of basal ingredients (g/kg) with either rapeseed expeller (R; 120, 240 and 360) or soya-bean meal (S; 80, 160 and 240). Increases in concentrate CP stimulated linear increases (P < 0·05) in silage intake (mean 22·5 and 23·8 g DM per g/kg increase in dietary CP content, for R and S, respectively) and milk production. Concentrate inclusion of rapeseed expeller elicited higher (P < 0·01) milk yield and milk protein output responses (mean 108 and 3·71 g/day per g/kg DM increase in dietary CP content) than soya-bean meal (corresponding values 62 and 2·57). Improvements in the apparent utilization of dietary nitrogen for milk protein synthesis (mean 0·282 and 0·274, for R and S, respectively) were associated with higher (P < 0·05) plasma concentrations of histidine, branched-chain, essential and total amino acids (35, 482, 902 and 2240 and 26, 410, 800 and 2119 µmol/l, respectively) and lower (P < 0·01) concentrations of urea (corresponding values 4·11 and 4·52 mmol/l). Heat-treated rapeseed expeller proved to be a more effective protein supplement than solvent-extracted soya-bean meal for cows offered grass silage-based diets.


1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 333-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kaim ◽  
H. Neumark ◽  
Y. Folman ◽  
W. Kaufmann

ABSTRACTIn two experiments, 165 dairy cows were allotted to groups given post-partum diets ad libitum containing either 150 g (LP) or 190 to 200 g (HP) crude protein (CP) per kg dry matter (DM).In experiment 1, which lasted 21 weeks after calving, cows were given pre-partum two amounts of energy (National Research Council (NRC) recommended amount v. 1·4 × NRC recommended amount). Pre-partum amounts of energy did not affect DM intake, milk yield or milk composition. Protein intake, including that for maintenance, was 84 and 116 g CP per kg milk in the LP and HP groups, respectively.During 2 to 6 weeks after calving the HP concentration in a diet containing 850 g concentrates and 150 g hay per kg, decreased DM intake, whereas in a diet containing 650 g concentrates and 350 g hay per kg, the HP concentration increased DM intake. During weeks 12 to 21 after calving, the HP concentration decreased milk yield from 33·0 to 28·7 kg and increased milk fat concentration from 24·1 to 29·3 g/kg. Rumen fluid ammonia-N concentrations were 135 and 200 mg/1 in cows given the LP and HP diet, respectively. Plasma urea-N concentrations were 114 and 172 mg/1 in the same groups, respectively.In experiment 2, three groups of cows were given, during 15 weeks after calving, diets LP, HP and HP containing soya-bean meal treated with formaldehyde (HPSP). Protein intake, including that for maintenance, was 71, 82 and 86 g CP per kg milk in the three groups, respectively. Mean daily milk yields during 15 weeks after calving were 37·5, 39·2 and 39·3 kg in groups LP, HP and HPSP, respectively. Cows given the LP and HP diets lost, after parturition, 22·5 kg body weight, whereas cows given the HPSP diet lost only 6·0 kg. Rumen fluid ammonia-N concentrations were 95, 175 and 81 mg/1 and plasma urea-N concentrations were 80, 200 and 143 mg/1 in cows given the LP, HP and HPSP diets, respectively. It is concluded that on certain diets high-yielding dairy cows can be given, in addition to that for maintenance, as little as 60 g CP per kg milk. Formaldehyde-treated soya-bean meal may increase milk yield during the first 3 weeks after calving, and reduce body weight loss.


1985 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. J. Steen

AbstractTwo experiments were carried out to examine the effects on the intake and performance of calves of supplementing a diet, based on high-digestibility, well-preserved grass silage, with fish meal. The effects of fish-meal supplementation were examined at each of two amounts of concentrate intake (1·05 and 2·2 kg/day) in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Fish meal was offered at a rate of 75 g/kg silage dry-matter (DM) intake. Experiments 1 and 2 involved 36 and 40 castrated male calves, respectively, which were initially 7 weeks old and had a live weight of 70 kg. The treatments were imposed for 20 weeks. The silages used in the two experiments had mean concentrations of 22-8 g nitrogen (N) per kg DM; 524 g protein N per kg total N; 59 g ammonia N per kg total N; 0·4 g butyric acid per kg DM; and 712 g digestible organic matter per kg DM. The concentrate consisted of (g/kg) 800 ground barley, 125 soya bean meal, 50 molasses and 25 mineral and vitamin supplement, respectively, and contained 29 g N per kg DM. Silage DM intakes and live-weight gains for the low and high amounts of concentrate supplementation were 1·93 and 1·46 (s.e. 0·055) kg/day and 0·84 and 1·01 (s.e. 0·013) kg/day respectively. The supplement of fish meal did not affect silage DM intake or animal performance for either concentrate intake. Proportionately, only 0·21 of the difference in live weight at the end of the treatment periods between the two amounts of concentrate intake remained at slaughter at 18 months of age. It is concluded that the optimum growth rate for autumn-born calves during their first winter can be sustained by a diet of high-digestibility grass silage supplemented with a maximum of 1·0 kg cereal-soya bean meal concentrate and that no response in performance was obtained to supplementation of this diet with fish meal.


2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 ◽  
pp. 54-54
Author(s):  
D. Handford ◽  
S.E. Pattinson ◽  
R.G. Wilkinson ◽  
L.A. Sinclair

Fishmeal is a suitable protein source for pregnant and lactating ewes, providing higher levels of undegradable protein than vegetable protein sources, with an improved biological value (Robinson, 1987). Vegetable protein sources may however be improved by formaldehyde treatment to reduce protein degradability and by the addition of rumen-protected amino acids. The objective of the current experiment was to compare the effects of feeding concentrates containing fishmeal with concentrates containing soya-bean meal, formaldehyde treated soya-bean meal and formaldehyde treated soya-bean meal with rumen-protected methionine.


Author(s):  
Jai-Jun Choung ◽  
David G. Chamberlain

When the proteins are given direct into the abomasum of dairy cows receiving diets based on grass silage, casein produces much greater responses of milk production than do equivalent amounts of soya-protein (Choung and Chamberlain 1991a, b). However, the cause of these differences of response is not known. In feeding trials, supplementation of silage diets containing soya bean meal with rumen-protected forms of the amino acids thought to be most limiting, methionine and lysine, has been without effect (Girdler et al 1988).


Author(s):  
M. Kay ◽  
P.J. Broadbent ◽  
E.A. Hunter

Feed additives are widely used in beef production systems. Two trials were made to measure the effect of feed additives on the daily gain and feed efficiency of fattening beef cattle. In the first trial 48 Friesians and 48 weaned suckled calves weighing about 390 kg were fed individually on grass silage ad libitum together with 4 kg (Friesians) and 3 kg (weaned calves) bruised barley daily. The treatments were control (C), no additive; Avotan 150 mg/d (A); Flavomycin 45 mg/d (F) and Romensin 200 mg/d (R). Minerals and vitamins were given daily on the silage. In the second trial there were 240 Friesian and Exotic x Friesian bulls. They were housed on slats in groups of 15 and offered a mixture of bruised barley and soya bean meal ad libitum. The treatments were control, no additive; Flavomycin 50 mg/d, Romensin 210 mg/d and Salinomycin 150 mg/d. In trial 1 the steers were implanted with Ralgro and the heifers with Finaplix. No implants were used in the second trial. All the animals were weighed regularly and feed intake was recorded continuously. They were slaughtered when they achieved the required conformation and fat cover.


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