scholarly journals Effect of Mineral Salt Blocks Containing Sodium Bicarbonate or Selenium on Ruminal pH, Rumen Fermentation and Milk Production and Composition in Crossbred Dairy Cows

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 322
Author(s):  
Hathaichanok Insoongnern ◽  
Wuttikorn Srakaew ◽  
Tipwadee Prapaiwong ◽  
Napongphot Suphrap ◽  
Saisamorn Potirahong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sodium Bicarbonate ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Rumen Fermentation ◽  
Mineral Salt ◽  
Ruminal Ph ◽  
Post Feeding ◽  
Significant Difference

Ruminal pH is an important physiological parameter that regulates microbe activity; optimizing ruminal pH may improve rumen fermentation and milk production. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) or selenium (Se) in mineral salt block (MSB) supplementation on ruminal pH, rumen fermentation, milk yield and composition in Holstein Friesian crossbred dairy cows. Four crossbred dairy cows with an initial weight of 456 ± 6 kg in mid-lactation were assigned at random using a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The experiments were divided into four periods, each lasting 21 days. Each cow was fed a basal diet supplemented with a different type of mineral salt block: a control with no MSB supplementation, and MSB groups with MSB containing NaHCO3 (MSB-Na), MSB containing Se (MSB-Se), and conventional commercial MSB (MSB-Com). MSB-Na contained NaHCO3 (500 g/kg) to prevent acidosis, MSB-Se contained organic Se (15 mg/kg) as an antioxidant, and MSB-Com was a positive control mineral salt block. The results show that there was no significant difference in feed intake between treatments, but there was a significant difference in mineral salt intake between treatments (p < 0.05). Supplementing mineral blocks had no effect on nutrient intake or apparent digestibility (p > 0.05). Ruminal pH was not different between treatments at 0 and 1 h post-feeding, but at 2 and 4 h post-feeding, ruminal pH in cows fed MSB-Na and MSB-Se was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than it was in cows fed MSB-Com and the control. Total volatile fatty acid (VFA), acetic, propionic, butyric, and ammonia nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen were not influenced by mineral blocks supplementation. Milk yield, milk composition and energy-corrected milk (ECM) were not affected by supplementing mineral blocks. However, compared with the control, the somatic cell count (SCC) in the milk was reduced (p < 0.05) by supplementation with the mineral salt block. Based on the results of the experiments, it was concluded that MSB-Na or MSB-Se supplementation improved ruminal pH while having no effect on feed intake, rumen fermentation, milk yield, or composition, though it did reduce SCC in milk. However, additional research should be conducted to investigate the effect of MSB on rumen ecology and milk production in dairy cows fed a high-concentrate diet.

scholarly journals Association of Feed Efficiency, Feeding Rate, and Behaviour with the Milk Performance of Dairy Cows

Dairy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 684-694
Author(s):  
Lenka Krpálková ◽  
Niall O’Mahony ◽  
Anderson Carvalho ◽  
Sean Campbell ◽  
Gerard Corkery ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Feeding Rate ◽  
Feeding Time ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Milk Performance

Identification of the associations of cow feed efficiency with feeding behaviour and milk production is important for supporting recommendations of strategies that optimise milk yield. The objective of this study was to identify associations between measures of feed efficiency, feed intake, feeding rate, rumination time, feeding time, and milk production using data collected from 26 dairy cows during a 3 month period in 2018. Cows averaged (mean ± standard deviation) 2.2 ± 1.7 lactations, 128 ± 40 days in milk, 27.5 ± 5.5 kg/day milk, 1.95 ± 0.69 kg feed/1 kg milk—the measure used to express feed conversion ratio (FCR), 575 ± 72 min/day rumination time, and 264 ± 67 min/day feeding time during the observation period. The coefficient of variation for rumination time (min/d) was 12.5%. A mixed linear model was selected for analyses. The most feed inefficient cows with the highest FCR (≥2.6 kg feed/1 kg milk) showed the lowest milk yield (24.8 kg/day), highest feed intake (78.8 kg), highest feeding rate (0.26 kg/min) and BCS (3.35 point). However, the relative milk yield (milk yield per 100 kg of body weight) was the highest (4.01 kg/day) in the most efficient group with the lowest FCR (≤1.4 kg feed/1 kg milk). Our study showed that the most efficient cows with the lowest FCR (≤1.4 kg feed/1 kg milk) had the highest rumination time (597 min/day; p < 0.05), feeding time (298 min/day; p < 0.05), rumination/activity ratio (4.39; p < 0.05) and rumination/feeding ratio (2.04; p < 0.05). Less active cows (activity time 164 min/day; p < 0.05) were the most efficient cows with the lowest FCR (≤1.4 kg feed/1 kg milk). The behavioural differences observed in this study provide new insight into the association of feed behaviour and feed efficiency with milk performance. Incorporating feeding behaviour into the dry matter intake model can improve its accuracy in the future and benefit breeding programmes.

The effects of feeding different starch sources and concentrations on milk production of high yielding Holstein cows

2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 ◽  
pp. 192-192
Author(s):  
R.E. Lawson ◽  
A.R. Moss ◽  
C. Rymer ◽  
J.S. Blake
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Protein Concentration ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Starch Concentration ◽  
Maize Grain ◽  
Ground Wheat

Mansbridge (1995) reported that replacing ground wheat with a mix of ground wheat and maize grain increased milk protein concentration, which led the authors to speculate that increased inclusion of maize grain increased rumen by-pass starch. Indeed, de Visseret al(1990) reported that feeding less rapidly degradable starches has led to increased milk protein concentration.The objective of this study was to examine the effects of starch concentration and source on feed intake, milk yield and milk composition of dairy cows.

Oil palm meal and urea pellet can partially replace soybean meal in the rations of lactating dairy cows

2021 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Ratchataporn Lunsin ◽  
Suntriporn Duanyai ◽  
Ruangyote Pilajun
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Soybean Meal ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Oil Palm ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Rumen Fermentation ◽  
Lactating Dairy Cows ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Nutrient Utilisation

Context Several agro-industrial by-products such as oil palm meal could be useful as animal feeds in support of low cost of feed for livestock production. Aims This study investigated the effects of oil palm meal and urea pellet (PMUP) as a protein replacement for soybean meal (SBM) on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, rumen fluid characteristics, milk yield and milk composition in lactating dairy cows. Methods Five multiparous, early to mid-lactation, Holstein-Friesian crossbred dairy cows (75% Holstein-Friesian × 25% Thai Native Bos indicus) were randomly allocated in a 5 × 5 Latin square design to receive PMUP replacement for SBM at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% in concentrate. Key results The results show that roughage, total dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) intakes in the cows fed with 25–75% PMUP were significantly higher than in the cows fed 100% PMUP (P &lt; 0.05), whereas the ether extract (EE) intake of the cows receiving the PMUP was higher than that of the control (P &lt; 0.05). Accordingly, the apparent digestibility, ruminal ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) of cows fed with PMUP replacement of SBM at 25–75% was higher than that in cows fed with 100% PMUP. In addition, milk yield and milk composition were not significantly different among treatments, whereas feed costs per kg milk yield was lowest in cow fed with 100% PMUP (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusions Replacing SBM with PMUP up to 50–100% in concentrate could reduce costs of feed per kg milk yield, but lower feed intake, nutrient utilisation and rumen fermentation were observed in cow fed with 100% PMUP. The use of PMUP from 25–75% replacement of SBM had no significant effects on the feed intake, nutrient utilisation, rumen fermentation and milk production. Therefore, the level of PMUP replacement of SBM in concentrate for lactating dairy cow should not exceed 75%. Implications PMUP could be used as a protein replacement for SBM in concentrate for lactating dairy cows. These findings should be applied further in practical farm condition in order to increase livestock production efficiency.

scholarly journals Rumen Fermentation and Fatty Acid Composition of Milk of Mid Lactating Dairy Cows Grazing Chicory and Ryegrass

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mancoba Mangwe ◽  
Racheal Bryant ◽  
Pablo Gregorini
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Rumen Fermentation ◽  
Elevated Concentration ◽  
Ruminal Ph ◽  
Rumen Ph ◽  
Feeding Regimes ◽  
Trifolium Repens L

The goals of the current study were to investigate the effects of including chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) into the traditional feeding regime of ryegrass/white clover (Lolium perenne L./Trifolium repens L.), and time of its allocation on milk production, rumen fermentation, and FA composition of milk and rumen digesta of dairy cows. Nine groups of four cows were allocated one of three replicated feeding regimes: (1) ryegrass/white clover only (RGWC), (2) ryegrass/white clover + morning allocation of chicory (CHAM), and (3) ryegrass/white clover + afternoon allocation of chicory (CHPM). One cow per group had a rumen cannulae fitted. Treatment did not affect total grazing time or estimated dry matter intake, but cows ruminated more when fed RGWC than chicory. Allocating chicory in the afternoon elevated milk production compared with RGWC and CHAM. Milk from cows grazing chicory contained greater concentrations of polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) such as C18:3 c9, 12, 15 and C18:2 c9, 12 than those on RGWC. As with milk, rumen digesta concentration of PUFA increased when cows grazed on chicory rather than RGWC, which corresponded with lower concentrations of intermediate vaccenic and biohydrogenation end-product stearic acid for cows grazing on chicory. Mean ruminal pH was lower for cows offered chicory than those on RGWC, reflecting greater rumen concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFA) for cows fed chicory. Allocating chicory during the afternoon is a useful strategy that can translate to improved milk production. The lower rumen pH, lower concentration of vaccenic and stearic acids, and elevated concentration of PUFA in the rumen of cows fed chicory suggest reduced biohydrogenation and may explain the elevated concentration of PUFA in the milk of cows fed chicory compared with those fed RGWC.

Effect of bloat on the milk production and grazing time of dairy cows

1980 ◽  
Vol 20 (104) ◽  
pp. 265
Author(s):  
CR Stockdale ◽  
KR King ◽  
IF Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Major Part ◽  
Trifolium Pratense ◽  
Acute Stress ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Significant Difference

Twenty cows previously shown to be susceptible to bloat were selected to study the effects of bloat on milk production and grazing time in mid-lactation. The cows were either treated with a bloat prophylactic so that no bloat occurred, or were left untreated. They grazed irrigated red clover (Trifolium pratense) pasture, receiving a fresh strip of pasture each morning. Over a period of 184 cow days, there were 116 observed cases of bloat; 16 of these were classified as severe. Milk yield was reduced by 0.14 kg for each hour of bloat (P< 0.01), but there was no significant difference in yield between those cows that suffered mild bloat, and those that suffered severe bloat, despite the obvious acute stress in the latter cases. There was also a loss of 20 minutes of total daily grazing time for each hour of bloat, whether mild or severe. A major part of this loss occurred whilst the cows were bloated. Under the system of management used, it is unlikely that bloat prevention could be justified by the increase in milk production. The only criterion for bloat prevention in these circumstances should be to prevent deaths.

Comparison of banana flower powder and sodium bicarbonate supplementation on rumen fermentation and milk production in dairy cows

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (10) ◽  
pp. 1650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sungchhang Kang ◽  
Metha Wanapat ◽  
Anusorn Cherdthong ◽  
Kampanat Phesatcha
Keyword(s):  
Sodium Bicarbonate ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Rumen Fermentation ◽  
Nutrient Digestibility ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Microbial Nitrogen ◽  
Buffering Agent ◽  
Banana Flower

Four Holstein-Friesian crossbred dairy cows were randomly assigned according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to study the effect of banana flower powder (BAFLOP) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) supplementation as rumen-buffering agents on rumen fermentation and milk production. The first factor was two ratios of roughage to concentrate (R : C) at 60 : 40 and 40 : 60, whereas the second was two sources of buffering agent (BAFLOP and NaHCO3) supplemented at 20 g/kg of dry matter intake. All cows were fed total dry matter intake at 25 g/kg bodyweight and untreated rice straw was used as a roughage source. Feeding R : C at 40 : 60 increased nutrient digestibilities, nitrogen absorption, allantoin excretion and absorption, microbial nitrogen synthesis, microbial crude protein and efficiency of microbial nitrogen synthesis in both BAFLOP- and NaHCO3-supplemented groups. BAFLOP supplementation could maintain ruminal pH as NaHCO3. Blood urea nitrogen, total volatile fatty acid and propionate, and milk yield increased in cows fed R : C at 40 : 60 both in BAFLOP and NaHCO3 supplementation, whereas acetate was relatively high in cows consuming R : C at 60 : 40. However, rumen microorganisms were similar among treatments whereas milk compositions were unchanged by the dietary treatments, except milk fat and total solids were the highest in cow consumed R : C at 60 : 40. The results suggested that feeding R : C at 40 : 60 resulted in improvement of nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation efficiency and milk production, and supplementation of BAFLOP showed similar buffering capacity as NaHCO3. Therefore, BAFLOP could be used efficiently as a dietary rumen-buffering agent and promisingly deserves a replacement for bicarbonate sources in lactating dairy cows fed on a high concentrate diet.

scholarly journals Effect of ruminal mechanical stimulating brushes on the performance of lactating Holstein dairy cows

Mljekarstvo ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 132-140
Author(s):  
Radko Loucka ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Rumen Fermentation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Silage Maize ◽  
Increase Milk Production ◽  
Holstein Dairy Cows

The aim of this study was to confirm the hypothesis that artificial brushes administered to the rumen can partially replace the function of structural fibre, and increase milk production or quality. To mitigate the risks of feeding low levels of physically effective neutral detergent fibre (peNDF) to cattle, the administration of ruminal mechanical stimulating (RMS) brushes was examined in 22 high-yielding lactating Holstein dairy cows. The cows were divided into an experimental group equipped with RMS brushes and a control group without RMS. Cows were fed four experimental total mixed rations (TMR) consisting of fixed amounts of alfalfa silage, maize silage, rush corn cob mix silage and different proportions of brewer’s grains, concentrate and wheat straw. The TMRs had the following 4 peNDF contents: 10.9 %, 13.0 %, 12.6 % and 14.0 %. The duration of the experiment was 18 weeks. All cows were fed TMRs with a low structural fibre content near levels associated with a risk of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). For the RMS brush group, 3 RMS brushes were inserted orally into the rumen using a special applicator. The effects of RMS brushes on feed intake, rumen fermentation and milk production were evaluated. Ruminal fluid (250 mL) was taken using a stomach tube for pH, volatile fatty acids and ammonia nitrogen analysis. A significant increase was found for the feed intake and milk yield of the RMS group fed the TMRs with 13.0 % peNDF although no relationship between peNDF content and RMS TMRs was found. No significant increase in milk quality, rumen pH or rumen fermentation metabolites was declared for the group with RMS brushes. Although RMS brush technology only partially reduced the requirements for peNDF, it may decrease the risk of SARA.

Effect of level of grain supplementation on milk production responses of dairy cows in mid - late lactation when grazing irrigated pastures high in paspalum (Paspalum dilatatum Poir.)

2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. Walker ◽  
C. R. Stockdale ◽  
W. J. Wales ◽  
P. T. Doyle ◽  
D. W. Dellow
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Rumen Fermentation ◽  
Paspalum Dilatatum ◽  
Cereal Grain ◽  
Diminishing Returns ◽  
Supplement Intake

Two grazing experiments tested the hypothesis that a cereal grain-based supplement, fed to cows that are in mid–late lactation and grazing low metabolisable energy and high neutral detergent fibre content paspalum (Paspalum dilatatum Poir.)-type pastures, will increase milk yield, but that this response will diminish with successive increments of supplement. A further objective of this research was to investigate some of the factors, such as altered rumen fermentation pattern, that might vary the point at which diminishing returns start to occur. Cows grazed irrigated perennial pasture at an allowance of either 25 (experiment 1) or 31 (experiment 3) kg of dry matter (DM) per cow per day in late summer–early autumn (mid–late lactation) and were supplemented with cereal grain-based concentrates up to 11 and 7 kg DM/cow.day in experiments 1 and 3, respectively. In experiment 1, there were 3 replicates of 6 treatments (3 cows in each treatment group) that involved the feeding of either 0, 3, 5, 7, 9 or 11 kg DM/cow.day of supplement for 50 days. Experiment 3 was conducted over 35 days. There were 2 replicates of 4 treatments (4 cows per treatment group) that involved the feeding of either 0, 3, 5 or 7 kg DM/cow.day of supplement. A further experiment (experiment 2), associated with experiment 1, examined the effects of offering cereal grain-based concentrates up to 7 kg DM/cow.day to dairy cows consuming 10 kg DM/day of herbage with a high paspalum content on aspects of rumen fermentation. Incremental responses of 40 g/kg fat-corrected milk (FCM) to increasing concentrate intake diminished with increasing concentrate intake, with the level of supplementation at which diminishing returns occurred dependent on herbage allowance and, therefore, herbage intake. At a supplement intake of 3 kg DM/cow.day, the response in FCM was 1.1 kg/kg concentrate DM in both grazing experiments. There were no further increases in milk production with additional increments of concentrates in experiment 3 where the pasture allowance was highest. In experiment 1, where concentrates were offered to a level of 11 kg DM/cow.day, and the pasture allowance was lower, diminishing returns were not as pronounced as in experiment 3 until the highest levels of concentrate intake. Substitution of supplement for herbage was a major factor in causing the diminishing returns in both experiments, but especially in experiment 3, where pasture intakes were higher. Milk fat content was significantly (P<0.05) reduced (41.8 v. 32.5 g/kg) when concentrate intake increased from 9 to 10.4 kg supplement DM/cow.day in experiment 1. It was hypothesised that this reduction in milk fat content was probably due to the effects of subclinical rumen lactic acidosis. This hypothesis was supported by the trend to lower rumen pH for longer periods as supplement intake increased as well as a more variable milk yield at the highest level of supplement intake. We conclude that responses of FCM of 1.1 kg/kg DM cereal grain-based concentrates can be achieved when they are fed twice daily up to 3 kg DM/day to dairy cows grazing restricted amounts of paspalum-type pasture in autumn. Beyond 3 kg DM/day, marginal responses diminished with increasing concentrate intake, with the level of supplementation at which diminishing returns occurred being dependent on herbage allowance and, therefore, intake.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document