Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T02:00:34.711Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Feeding calcium salts of fatty acids in high-starch or high-fibre compound supplements to lactating cows at grass

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

P. C. Garnsworthy
P. C. Garnsworthy
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, University of Nottingham School of Agriculture, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough LE12 5RD
Get access

Abstract

In two experiments, the effects of protected fat and fibre were studied in compound supplements for grazing dairy cows. The protected fat used consisted of calcium salts of long-chain fatty acids. In experiment 1, 17 cows (group S) were given 4 kg/day of a starchy compound and 17 (group F) 4 kg/day of a high-fibre compound containing protected fat for the first 4 weeks after turn-out to grass. No significant difference was found between groups in milk yield, but cows in group F produced milk with a higher fat content (42·6 g/kg) than did those in group S (37·1 g/kg; P < 0·01) and had higher yields of fat (0·88 v. 0·79 kg/day; (P < 0·05). In experiment 2, four groups of five cows were given 4 kg/day of starchy (S) or fibrous (F) compounds, with (P) or without (C) protected fat for the first 4 weeks after turn-out. After 4 weeks, treatments (starchy or fibrous, added fat or none) were reversed for a further period of 4 weeks. There was no significant effect on milk yield, milk protein yield, live-weight change or change in condition score, although cows on treatment SC tended to produce less milk and have greater gains in live weight and condition. For groups SC, FC, SP and FP respectively, milk fat yields (kg/day) were 0·86, 0·98, 0·99 and 1·06 (s.e.d. 0·06); milk protein contents (g/kg) were 34·4, 34·8, 34·2 and 33·0 (s.e.d. 0·68) and calculated milk energy outputs (MJ/day) were 67/2, 74·3, 74·4 and 76·6 (s.e.d. 3·04). It is concluded that substituting fibrous compounds for starchy compounds tends to increase milk fat content and yield; adding calcium salts of fatty acids to either type of compound significantly increases milk fat content and yield but tends to decrease milk protein content.

Keywords

dairy cowsfibregrazingmilk productionprotected fat
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 51 , Issue 3 , December 1990 , pp. 441 - 447
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Agricultural Research Council. 1980. The Nutrient Requirements of Ruminant Livestock. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux, Slough.Google Scholar
Chalupa, W., Vecchiarelli, B.Elser, A. E., Kronfeld, D. S., Sklan, D. and Palmquist, D. L. 1986. Ruminal fermentation in vivo as influenced by long-chain fatty acids. Journal of Dairy Science 69: 1293–1301.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Erickson, P. S., Murphy, M. R. and Clark, J. H. 1989. Calcium salts of long chain fatty acids and nicotinic acid supplementation of diets fed to Holstein cows in early lactation. Journal of Dairy Science 67: Suppl. 1, p. 483 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Garnsworthy, P. C. 1989. The interaction between dietary fibre level and protein degradability in dairy cows. Animal Production 48: 271–281.Google Scholar
Jenkins, T. C. and Palmquist, D. L. 1984. Effect of fatty acids or calcium soaps on rumen and total nutrient digestibility of dairy rations. Journal of Dairy Science 67: 978–986.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Klusmeyer, T. H., Lynch, G. L., Clark, J. H. and Nelson, D. R. 1989a. Effects of source of protein and calcium salts of long chain fatty acids (Ca-LCFA) on ruminal fermentation and flow of nutrients to the small intestine of lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 67: Suppl. 1, p. 482 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Klusmeyer, T. H., Lynch, G. L., Clark, J. H. and Nelson, D. R. 1989b. Effect of amount of forage and calcium salts of long, chain fatty acids (Ca-LCFA) on ruminal fermentation and flow of nutrients to the small intestine of lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 67: Suppl. 1, p. 482 (Abstr).Google Scholar
Meijs, J. A. C. 1986. Comparison of starchy and fibrous concentrates for grazing dairy cows. In Grazing (ed. Frame, J.), Occasional Symposium, British Grassland Society, No 19, pp. 129–137.Google Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. 1986. Standing Committee on Tables of Feed Composition. Feed Composition. UK Tables of Feed Composition and Nutritive Value for Ruminants. Chalcombe Publications, Marlow.Google Scholar
Palmquist, D. L. 1984. Use of fats in diets for lactating dairy cows. In Fats In Animal Nutrition (ed. Wiseman, J.), pp. 357–381. Butterworths, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Phillips, C. J.Supplementary feeding of forage to grazing dairy cows. 2. Offering grass silage in early and late season. Grass and Forage Science 40: 193–199.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, N. E. 1988. Alteration of efficiency of milk production in dairy cows by manipulation of the diet. In Nutrition and Lactation in the Dairy Cow (ed. Garnsworthy, P. C. ), pp. 216–231. Butterworths, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sutton, J. D., Bines, J. A., Morant, S. V., Napper, D. J. and Givins, D. I. 1987. A comparison of starchy and fibrous concentrates for milk production, energy utilization and hay intake by Friesian cows. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 109: 375–386.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomas, P. C. and Martin, P. A. 1988. The influence of nutritient balance on milk yield and composition. In Nutrition and Lactation in the Dairy Cow (ed. Garnsworthy, P. C.), pp. 97–118, Butterworths, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Whittemore, C. T. 1980. Lactation of the Dairy Cow. Longman, London.Google Scholar