Abomasal Infusion of Butterfat Increases Milk Fat in Lactating Dairy Cows

ABSTRACTAn experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of compound composition and silage characteristics on silage intake, feeding behaviour and productive performance of dairy cows during the first 25 weeks of lactation. Over a period of 3 years, 36 lactating British Friesian cows (12 per year), in their third or later lactations, were divided into two groups. The cows in each group received either compound S, in which the principal energy source was cereal starch, or compound F containing a mixture of high quality digestible fibre. Cows given compound F ate 2·2 kg more silage dry matter per day (P < 0·05). The type of compound had no effect on the frequency of silage feeding and the time spent eating was significantly different only over weeks 10 to 25 of lactation (P < 0·05), with cows on compound F spending on average 20 min longer feeding per day. Cows on compound F produced 1·7 kg more milk per day than cows on compound S. Although there were no significant differences in the concentration of milk constituents, compound F was associated with higher yields of milk constituents. Significant differences were found between the years of experiment in the frequency of feeding (P < 0·05) and also in the concentration of milk protein and milk fat. There were no significant differences in the magnitude of live-weight change between treatments or year of experiment.

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Persian clover and maize silage. III. Rumen fermentation and balance of nutrients when clover and silage are fed to lactating dairy cows

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar9941783 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 45 (8) ◽

pp. 1783 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

CR Stockdale

Keyword(s):

Zea Mays ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Maize Silage ◽

Lactating Dairy Cows ◽

Degradation Rates ◽

Persian Clover ◽

Yield Responses ◽

Trifolium Resupinatum

Six rumen fistulated dairy cows, at various stages of lactation, were housed in metabolism stalls on a total of nine occasions in three experiments in which various combinations of Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum) and maize (Zea mays) silage were offered. These experiments considered some aspects of digestion of Persian clover and Persian clover/maize silage diets in order to understand the good milk yield responses attributed to maize silage measured in previous research. Rumen ammonia concentrations and nylon bag degradation rates suggested that the cows made better use of one or both feeds when Persian clover and maize silage were offered together than they did when Persian clover was offered alone. While Persian clover and maize silage appeared to be a substantially inferior diet in terms of apparent in vivo digestibility coefficients and availability of nutrients when compared with Persian clover offered alone, milk yields were unaffected. In addition, no matter how much maize silage was offered, milk fat content remained constant. These results were attributed to an improved balance of absorbed nutrients.

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The efficacy of feeding a live probiotic yeast, Yea-Sacc®, on the performance of lactating dairy cows

Journal of Applied Animal Nutrition ◽

10.1017/jan.2015.10 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

D. Tristant ◽

C. A. Moran

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Production ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Milk Protein ◽

Feed Additive ◽

Control Group ◽

Target Dose ◽

Lactating Dairy Cows ◽

Farm Model ◽

The Impact

SummaryThe following trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of feeding Yea-Sacc® (YS; Alltech Inc, USA), a zootechnical feed additive based on a live probiotic strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, to lactating dairy cows over a 12 week period. Sixty-four primiparous and multiparous Holstein dairy cows, grouped to give similar range of parity, physiological and milk production stages, were selected for the study. Cows were equally allocated to either a control feed group or a diet supplemented with YS (32 cows per treatment). The test diet was formulated to include YS (Yea-Sacc® Farm Pak) incorporated in the total mixed ration (TMR), supplying a target dose of 5 × 107 CFU/kg feed dry matter (DM). This target dose delivered 1 × 109 CFU/cow/day, for a cow consuming 20 kg feed (DM basis) daily. Each cow was considered a replicate unit. Cows were fed a nutritionally adequate total TMR plus hay and a supplementary protein/energy concentrate (calculated according to milk yield) for 12 weeks, supplied once a day after the morning milking. Weigh backs of feed were recorded daily, with refusals being maintained at 3% of the total intake. During the 12 week study period, YS had significant beneficial effects on milk production (+0.8 kg/day; P = 0.003), energy corrected milk production (+1.4 kg/day; P < 0.0001), synthesis of milk protein (+36 g/day; P = 0.001), milk protein content (+0.3 g/kg; P = 0.009), and milk urea content (−0.09 mg/l; P = 0.004). The synthesis of milk fat was similar between treatments but milk fat content was lower for the YS group compared to the control group (−1.1 g/kg; P = 0.0002). Lactose content was always higher (+0.8 g/kg; P < 0.0001) for the YS group, indicating enhanced energy utilisation. In general, the effect of YS was higher during the first study period (one to seven weeks), when cows were in early lactation and the production potential was higher. YS cows produced significantly more milk during the study, and an additional 220 kg milk per cow was sold from this group from the output measured from the beginning of the study to two weeks post-trial. However, the statistical analysis including the post-study period did not show a significant effect. The 305-day simulated milk production was higher for the YS group (+400 kg/cow) but again the difference was not significant. In conclusion, YS at a target dose of 5 × 107 CFU/kg DM improved milk production and milk quality in healthy dairy cows. In addition, when the data were included in a whole-farm model, feeding YS reduced methane emissions by 4%, reduced the number of animals required for the desired milk production by 4% and increased overall farm margins by 1.4%.

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Development of mathematical models to predict calcium, magnesium and selenium excretion from lactating Holstein cows

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an16307 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 58 (3) ◽

pp. 489 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

K. Taylor ◽

J. A. D. Ranga Niroshan Appuhamy ◽

J. Dijkstra ◽

E. Kebreab

Keyword(s):

Mathematical Models ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Protein Content ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Model Development ◽

Dietary Factors ◽

Mineral Excretion ◽

Lactating Dairy Cows

The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate mathematical models that predict mineral excretion, particularly calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and selenium (Se), from lactating dairy cows. Mineral excretion can be affected by several dietary factors. A deficiency in Ca or Mg application to pasture, among other factors, can contribute to grass tetany or wheat pasture poisoning in cows, whereas an excess can cause runoff into water supplies. Manure application with high Se concentration can also result in runoff, causing the bioaccumulation of selenium in aquatic ecosystems, wetland habitats and estuaries, leading to toxic levels in fish. A database composed of studies relating to mineral utilisation in lactating dairy cows conducted after and including the year 2000 was compiled. A meta-analysis was conducted with the aim of creating multiple empirical equations to predict Ca, Mg and Se excretion from lactating dairy cows. Calcium intake, feed Ca content, milk yield, milk protein content and acid detergent fibre content in diet were positively and linearly related to Ca excretion. Dietary crude protein content and milk fat content were negatively related to Ca excretion. Magnesium intake, feed Mg content and milk yield were positively and linearly related to Mg excretion. Selenium content of diet and dry matter intake were linearly and positively related to Se excretion. Two sets of models were developed using or excluding the intake variable and both sets of models were evaluated with independent data originating from commercial herd or individual animals. In general, intake measurements improved prediction when evaluated with independent datasets (root mean square prediction error = 8% to 19% vs 14% to 26% of the average observed value). There were substantial mean biases, particularly those evaluated with data from a commercial farm, perhaps due to inaccurate feed intake measurements. Although there was generally good agreement between predicted and observed mineral excretion, model development and evaluation would benefit from an expanded database.

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Postruminal infusion of calcium gluconate increases milk fat production and alters fecal volatile fatty acid profile in lactating dairy cows

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.2018-15148 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 102 (2) ◽

pp. 1274-1280 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

John Doelman ◽

Leslie L. McKnight ◽

Michelle Carson ◽

Kelly Nichols ◽

Douglas F. Waterman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Fatty Acid Profile ◽

Calcium Gluconate ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Volatile Fatty Acid ◽

Lactating Dairy Cows

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Influence of dietary copper sulphate supplementation on the milk fatty acid composition of dairy cows

BSAP Occasional Publication ◽

10.1017/s1463981500040759 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. 149-154

Author(s):

B.F. McNamee ◽

A.M. Fearon ◽

J. Pearce

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acid Composition ◽

Fatty Acid ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Acid Composition ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Lipid Analysis ◽

Enzyme System ◽

Plasma Lipid ◽

Normal Concentration ◽

Lactating Dairy Cows

AbstractThe experiment was designed to investigate the effect of increasing the concentration of Cu2+ in the diet of the lactating dairy cow with a view to stimulating the activity of the mammary gland △9–desaturase enzyme system to increase the C18:1/18:0 ratio in the milk fat.In a preliminary study, two lactating dairy cows were provided with ground rapeseed/maizebased concentrates containing either a normal or a high concentration of supplementary Cu2+, the animal offered the normal concentration supplement was also provided with an oral CuSO4 solution drench so that both animals received an equal daily supply of Cu2+. Daily blood samples were collected from the cows and total plasma Cu2+ concentration was determined. A blood plasma lipid analysis was also carried out. In a second study, eight lactating dairy cows were provided with a silage and concentrate diet. The lipid portion of the concentrates was provided by either ground or unground rapeseed while the Cu2+ in the mineral supplement of the unground rapeseed-based concentrate was manipulated to provide one of the following three concentrations of Cu2+ in the concentrate (mg/kg DM); <10, 50 or 100. The subsequent milk fat was analysed for fatty acid composition.Presentation of an increased concentration of Cu2+ to the cow was more efficiently absorbed when provided in the concentrate mix than when provided as a CuSO4 solution in an oral drench. Increased dietary Cu2+ in the concentrates was successful at increasing the concentration of plasma Cu2+ from a normal concentration of 80–100 mg/cm3 to over 200 mg/cm3. An increased concentration of Cu2+ in the blood of the cows in the first experiment resulted in a significant increase (P<0·05) in the C18:1 content of the plasma lipid, possibly through the increased activity of the intestinal △9–desaturase enzyme system.The composition of the milk, including the fatty acid composition of the milk fat, from the second experiment was unaffected by the concentration of Cu2+ in the diet of the dairy cows within the concentration range of <10 to 35 mg/kg DM per day.

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The effect of ammoniated and roasted barley on rumen pH, milk yield and milk composition of lactating dairy cows

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200012667 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 2003 ◽

pp. 107-107

Author(s):

M. H. Fathi ◽

A. Nikkhah

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Metabolic Disorders ◽

Milk Composition ◽

Barley Grain ◽

Nutrient Requirements ◽

Rumen Ph ◽

Lactating Dairy Cows

Cereal grains can provide the major source of energy in diets in order to meet the nutrient requirements of high producing dairy cows. However the amount of starch that can be included in the diets of dairy cows is limited particularly if starch is rapidly fermented such as barley starch. Reduction of feed intake, rumen pH, milk fat test, microbial growth and other metabolic disorders are expected if ruminally degradable starch is fed in amount that cant be efficiently metabolized by rumen microbs. Various techniques for processing barley grain have been developed to decrease the degradability of dry matter in rumen without reducing its extent of digestion. McNiven (1995) showed roasting of barley is more effective treatment. The objective of this experiment was to study of effects the roasting and ammoniation of barley grain on rumen pH, feces pH, milk yield and milk composition in dairy cows.

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An examination of the effects of level of fish oil inclusion in the diet on rumen fermentation parameters in cattle

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0308229600034395 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 1998 ◽

pp. 226-226

Author(s):

C.S. Mayne ◽

T.W.J. Keady ◽

D A McConaghy

Keyword(s):

Fish Oil ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

European Community ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Rumen Fermentation ◽

Fat Content ◽

Lactating Dairy Cows ◽

Concurrent Study ◽

Liquid Milk ◽

Fermentation Parameters

The current milk quota regime within the European Community restricts both the volume and butterfat content of milk supplies from farms. Reduction in the butterfat concentration of milk enables an increase in liquid milk supplies, provided that the national butterfat base has been exceeded. In a concurrent study (Keady and Mayne, 1998) inclusion of fish oil in the diet of lactating dairy cows depressed butterfat content by up to 15 g/kg, consequently increasing the volume of milk which may be supplied in a quota situation by 0.27. The aim of the present study was to examine if the effects of fish oil inclusion on milk fat content were mediated via changes in rumen fermentation parameters.

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