The effect of protected lipids on nutrient intakes, blood and rumen metabolites and milk secretion in dairy cows during early lactation

Abstract

Summary supplements of protected soya-bean–tallow were incorporated at 0, 1·7, 3·0 or 5·0 kg/day into a hay–concentrate diet and fed ad libitum to Friesian cows during the first 13 weeks of lactation. Intakes of supplement during weeks 1–6 were 0,1·34, 2·25 and 3·18 kg/day and during weeks 7–13, 0, 1·64, 3·10 and 4·24 kg/day on each of the respective treatments. As the lipid supplement increased there was a reduced intake of hay and concentrates, giving rise to reduced intakes of total, protein, and particularly ‘carbohydrate’ (non-protein, non-fatty-acid) energy. Apparent digestibilities, particularly of fibre, decreased as fatty-acid intake increased. After correcting for endogenous losses, true digestibilities of organic matter, carbohydrate, protein, non-fatty-acid lipid, total energy, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus were unaffected by the amount of supplement given, whereas fibre digestibility was reduced by increasing the supplement. Fatty acid digestibility was little affected up to an intake of 1·4 kg/day but above this there was a sharp reduction. Yields of milk, milk energy, protein, fat and lactose were increased at low lipid supplementation but reduced at the highest supplementation when amounts of protein and carbohydrate digested were lowest. Lipid supplementation reduced concentrations of rumen total volatile fatty acids in association with reduced, proportions of butyrate and. increased proportions of propionat. Plasma β-hydroxybutyrate and magnesium were reduced and plasma free fatty acids increased in cows given lipid supplemented diets. There were no differences between treatments in plasma glucose, lactate or calcium nor in live-weight changes.