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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Cell Wall Biology and Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #356955
Research Project: Investigating Microbial, Digestive, and Animal Factors to Increase Dairy Cow Performance and Nutrient Use Efficiency

Location: Cell Wall Biology and Utilization Research

Title: Postpartum supplementation of fermented ammoniated condensed whey improves feed efficiency and metabolic profile

Author
item OLIVEIRA, RAFAEL - University Of Wisconsin
item SAILER, KAYLA - University Of Wisconsin
item HOLODORF, HENRY - University Of Wisconsin
item SEELEY, CLAIRA - University Of Wisconsin
item PRALLE, RYAN - University Of Wisconsin
item Hall, Mary Beth
item BELLO, NORA - Kansas State University
item WHITE, HEATHER - University Of Wisconsin

Submitted to: Journal of Dairy Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/26/2018
Publication Date: 1/16/2019
Citation: Oliveira, R.C., Sailer, K.J., Holodorf, H.T., Seeley, C.R., Pralle, R.S., Hall, M., Bello, N.M., White, H.M. 2019. Postpartum supplementation of fermented ammoniated condensed whey improves feed efficiency and metabolic profile. Journal of Dairy Science. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-15519.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-15519

Interpretive Summary: Early lactation dairy cows can be susceptible to excessive body fat mobilization and metabolic disorders. Providing supplements after calving that cows can use as glucose may help to maintain their good metabolic health. Supplementation of cows with a fermented ammoniated condensed whey product (FACW) increased plasma glucose and insulin in cows after calving, while decreasing plasma fatty acid and beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations. This suggests that the cows mobilized less fat and had better metabolism of fat they did mobilize. Supplementation of FACW improved feed efficiency, with milk production maintained but at a lower feed intake. These findings indicate that FACW supplementation in dairy cow diets after calving may be useful for improving metabolic health and feed efficiency of cows, which contribute to animal wellbeing and improved use of resources for food production.

Technical Abstract: Postpartum dietary supplementation of gluconeogenic precursors may improve the metabolic profile of dairy cows, reducing metabolic disorders and improving lactational performance. The objective of this trial was to examine the effects of supplementation postpartum with fermented ammoniated condensed whey (FACW) on lactation performance, plasma metabolites, and hormones related to metabolic health in transition dairy cows. Individually fed multiparous Holstein cows were blocked by expected calving date and randomly assigned to control (2.9 % DM of diet as soybean meal; n = 20) or FACW (2.9 % DM of diet as liquid GlucoBoost, Fermented Nutrition, Luxemburg, WI; n = 19) dietary treatments. Treatments were offered from +1 to +45 days relative to calving (DRTC). Dry matter intake (DMI) and milk yield were recorded daily and averaged weekly. Individual milk samples from 2 consecutive milkings were obtained once a week for component analysis. Rumen fluid was collected (n = 3/treatment) at 4 time points per day at +7 and +21 DRTC. Blood samples were collected within 0100 h before feeding time for metabolite analysis and hyperketonemia diagnosis. Differences between treatments were not detected for milk yield or milk components. There was a tendency for decreased DMI from weeks 3 to 7 for FACW supplemented cows. Supplementation of FACW improved feed efficiency, which was apparently mediated by a reduction in DMI and maintenance of milk production. Supplementation of FACW shifted rumen measures towards greater molar proportions of propionate and butyrate, and lesser molar proportions of acetate and valerate. Cows supplemented with FACW had greater plasma glucose concentrations in the period from +3 to +7 DRTC and greater plasma insulin concentrations compared to control. Plasma fatty acid and ß-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were reduced in cows supplemented with FACW compared to controls in the period from +3 to +7 DRTC. These findings indicate that cows supplemented with FACW may have reduced risk of transition period metabolic disorders by increasing insulin concentration, which may have mediated decreased lipolysis in dairy cows. Overall, supplementation of FACW improved feed efficiency and metabolic profile in postpartum dairy cows.