Response of High Producing Dairy Cows in Early Lactation to the Feeding of Heat-Treated Whole Soybeans

Fifty-eight multiparous cows were assigned randomly to one of two rations. Control cows received a concentrate mixture that contained 20% soybean meal as the protein supplement, and the experimental cows were fed a concentrate that contained 25% heat-treated whole soybeans. The experimental period started 10 d after calving and continued for 15 wk.Experimental cows peaked later in milk production (5 vs. 3 wk) but at a higher level (39.8 vs. 39.4 kg/d) than control cows. Although milk production was less during the first 4 wk, experimental cows surpassed the controls in wk 5 and increased the advantage to 2.0 kg/cow/d by wk 15. For the total 15-wk period, average milk production was 37.0 kg/d for the experimental cows compared with 36.2 kg/d for the controls.Total dry matter intake, lactation efficiency, body weight, and reproductive performance were similar for both treatments. Cows fed heated soybeans consumed more metabolizable energy, 61.6 vs. 60.4 Mcal/d for controls. Cows on experimental diet also had higher free fatty acids in plasma (5.6 vs. 4.8 mg/100 ml) and triglycerides (25.0 vs. 20.9 mg/100 ml). The acetate-to-propionate ratio of rumen acids was significantly lower in the experimental group (3.36 vs. 3.61).     

Effect of Feeding Frequency on Diurnal Dry Matter and Water Consumption,Liquid Dilution Rate,and Milk Yield in First Lactation

Four ruminally cannulated cows in first lactation (50 days postpartum) were assigned randomly to a 4 × 4 Latin square with the following feeding frequencies of the same total mixed ration: one, two, four, and eight times a day. Dry matter intake, water consumption, and ruminal pH were recorded hourly during 4-d collection (10-d adaptation between periods, Experiment 1). In Experiment 2, 30 animals were blocked by milk production on wk 4 postpartum and assigned to feeding one or four times a day through wk 19 postpartum. Individual feed consumption and milk production were recorded daily.Hourly consumption patterns of dry matter and water were variable over 24 h; once daily feeding tended to be more variable than other frequencies. Cows fed four times a day had higher ruminal liquid dilution rates than those fed eight times; feeding once and twice a day was not different from either. In Experiment 2, frequency of feeding total mixed ration had no significant influence on dry matter intake or milk yield; however, cows fed four times a day exhibited a consistent weekly tendency to be lower in dry matter intake and higher in milk yield than those fed once daily. Efficiency of fat-corrected milk production was slightly higher for cows fed four times than for those fed once daily.     

Brown Midrib Corn Silage in Dairy Cattle Rations,

Two groups of 12 Holstein cows past peak lactation were fed complete mixed diets containing either brown midrib corn silage or its normal genetic counterpart. All cows were fed a standardization ration containing another corn silage prior to and after the experimental period. Performance during the experimental period was expressed as deviation from standardization. Cows fed brown midrib silage produced .66 kg more milk per day that tested .28 percentage units less fat during the 4-wk experimental period than during standardization. Control cows produced .10 kg more milk per day in the experimental period as compared to standardization without difference in fat test. On a fat-corrected basis (4%) there was no difference in milk yield between treatments.     

Feeding Value of Dry Corn,Ensiled High Moisture Corn,and Propionic Acid Treated High Moisture Corn Fed with Hay or Haylage for Lactating Dairy Cows

Trial 1. Fifty lactating Holstein and Brown Swiss cows were assigned to six groups in a 3 × 2 factorial design and fed one of six diets for 16 wk: (1) dry corn + hay, (2) dry corn + haylage, (3) ensiled high moisture corn + hay, (4) ensiled high moisture corn + haylage, (5) propionic acid treated corn + hay, and (6) propionic acid treated corn + haylage. Quantities equal in dry matter of dry corn, ensiled corn, and acid treated corn were offered in the ratio of 1 kg concentrate (corn and supplement) for each 2.75 kg milk produced. Forage was fed free choice. Means adjusted by covariance for cows fed diets 1 to 6 averaged: dry matter intake (kg/day), 16.7, 20.0, 17.4, 20.6, 17.1, 20.0; 4% fat-corrected milk (kg/day), 21.8, 21.1, 22.6, 23.5, 22.4, 23.4; milk fat percent, 3.54, 3.45, 3.63, 3.53, 3.62, 3.80; and acetate to propionate ratio 3.53, 3.85, 3.73, 3.66, 3.13, 3.32. Cows fed ensiled corn and acid treated corn produced more 4% fat-corrected milk than did cows fed dry corn. The molar percent acetate to propionate ratio in rumen fluid of cows fed acid treated corn was lower than for cows fed dry corn or ensiled corn.Trial 2. Dry corn or propionic acid treated corn was fed to 12 cows in combination with a supplement, 4.54 kg of hay, and ad libitum haylage. Means adjusted by covariance for cows fed dry corn and acid treated corn averaged: dry matter intake (kg/day), 18.2 and 17.7; 4% fat-corrected milk (kg/day), 20.6 and 20.1; and total digestible nutrients (%) 63.7 and 58.7.Any of these methods are acceptable for storing corn, and feeding this corn in properly supplemented diets will yield acceptable lactation performance.     

Exogenous β-mannanase improves feed conversion efficiency and reduces somatic cell count in dairy cattle

Exogenous fibrolytic enzymes have been shown to be a promising way to improve feed conversion efficiency (FCE). β-Mannanase is an important enzyme digesting the polysaccharide β-mannan in hemicellulose. Supplementation of diets with β-mannanase to improve FCE has been more extensively studied in nonruminants than in ruminants. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of β-mannanase supplementation on nutrient digestibility, FCE, and nitrogen utilization in lactating Holstein dairy cows. Twelve post-peak-lactation multiparous Holstein cows producing 45.5 ± 6.6 kg/d of milk at 116 ± 19.0 d in milk were randomly allotted to 1 of 3 treatments in a 3 × 3 Latin square design with 3 periods of 18 d (15 d for adaptation plus 3 d for sample collection). All cows were fed the same basal diet and the 3 treatments differed only by the β-mannanase dose: 0% dry matter (DM; control), 0.1% of DM (low supplement, LS), and 0.2% of DM (high supplement, HS) supplemented to the basal diet. Supplementation of β-mannanase enzyme at the LS dose reduced dry matter intake (DMI) but did not affect milk yield or milk composition. Cows receiving LS produced 90 g more milk per kg of DMI compared with control cows. Somatic cell count (SCC) in milk was lower for cows fed the LS diet compared with cows fed control diets. Cows fed LS diet had lower DM, organic matter and crude protein digestibility compared with cows fed control diets. Starch, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber digestibility were not affected by LS. Milk yield, DMI, SCC, and nutrient digestibility did not change for HS. Despite the reduced crude protein digestibility, reduced N intake led to similar fecal N excretions in LS cows and control cows (234 vs. 235 g/cow per day). Urinary N excretions remained similar between enzyme-fed and control cows (~190 g/cow per day), although the percentage of N intake partitioned to urinary N tended to be greater in LS than in control cows (31 vs. 27%). Cows fed LS significantly improved the percentage of apparently absorbed N partitioned to milk protein N (42 vs. 38%). When supplemented at 0.1% of dietary DM, β-mannanase can improve FCE and lower the SCC of dairy cows without affecting milk yield, milk composition, or total manure N excretions of dairy cows.     

Temporary alterations to postpartum milking frequency affect whole-lactation milk production and the energy status of pasture-grazed dairy cows

This study investigated the immediate and long-term effects of temporary alterations to postpartum milking frequency (MF) on milk production, body condition score (BCS), and indicators of energy status in pasture-grazed cows supplemented with concentrates. Multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows (n = 150) were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 groups at calving: milked twice daily (2×) throughout lactation (control), or milked either once daily (1×) or 3 times daily (3×) for 3 or 6 wk immediately postpartum, and then 2× for the remainder of lactation. During wk 1 to 3 postpartum, cows milked 1× produced 15% less milk and 17% less energy-corrected milk (ECM) than cows milked 2×. This immediate production loss increased to 20% less milk and 22% less ECM during wk 4 to 6 postpartum for cows that remained on 1× milking; these animals also produced less than 1× cows switched to 2× milking after 3 wk. During wk 8 to 32, when all cows were milked 2×, those previously milked 1× had sustained reductions in milk (−6%) and ECM (−8%) yields, which were not affected by the duration of reduced postpartum MF. In contrast, cows milked 3× postpartum had 7% greater milk yields during wk 1 to 6 compared with 2× controls, irrespective of the duration of increased MF. Milk yields also remained numerically greater (+5%) during wk 8 to 32 in cows previously milked 3×. Nevertheless, yields of ECM were not increased by 3× milking, because of lower milk fat and protein contents that persisted for the rest of lactation. In addition, indicators of cow energy status reflected an increasing state of negative energy balance with increasing MF. Cows milked 1× postpartum had greater plasma glucose and lower plasma nonesterified fatty acid concentrations during the reduced MF, and plasma glucose remained lower for 2 wk after cows had switched to 2× milking. Moreover, BCS was improved relative to 2× controls from wk 5 to 6. In contrast, cows milked 3× had lower plasma glucose concentrations, greater plasma nonesterified fatty acid concentrations, and greater BCS loss during wk 1 to 3; however, greater body fat mobilization was not sustained, indicating that additional energy supplements may be required to achieve better milk production responses. In conclusion, temporary 1× milking had lactation-long negative effects on milk and milk component yields but improved cow energy status and BCS, whereas temporary 3× milking immediately increased milk yield but did not improve milk fat and protein yields in pasture-grazed cows.     

Effect of dry period length on milk yield over multiple lactations

Shortening or omitting the dry period (DP) can improve the energy balance of dairy cows in early lactation through a decrease in milk yield after calving. Little is known about the effect of a short or no DP on milk yield over multiple lactations. Our objectives were (1) to assess the effect of DP length over multiple lactations on milk yield, and (2) to assess if the prediction of milk yield in response to DP length could be improved by including individual cow characteristics before calving. Lactation data (2007 to 2015) of 16 Dutch dairy farms that apply no or short DP were used to compute cumulative milk yield in the 60 d before calving (additional yield) and in the 305 d after calving (305-d yield), and the mean daily yield over the interval from 60 d before calving to 60 d before next calving (effective lactation yield). The DP categories were no (0 to 2 wk), short (3 to 5 wk), standard (6 to 8 wk), and long (9 to 12 wk). The effect of current DP and previous DP on yields was analyzed with mixed models (n = 1,420 lactations). The highest effective lactation yield of fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM) was observed for cows with a standard current DP (27.6 kg per day); a daily decrease was observed of 0.6 kg for a long DP, 1.0 kg for a short DP, and 2.0 kg for no DP. Previous DP did not significantly affect the effective lactation yield. Thus, cows can be managed with short or no DP over consecutive lactations without a change in quantity of milk losses. Cows that received no DP for consecutive lactations had a lower additional yield before calving (?172 kg of FPCM), but a higher 305-d yield (+560 kg of FPCM), compared with cows that received no DP for the first time. This could lessen the improvement of the energy balance in early lactation when no DP is applied a second time compared with the first time. For the second objective, a basic model was explored to predict effective lactation yield based on parity, DP length, and first-parity 305-d yield (n = 2,866 lactations). The basic model was subsequently extended with data about recent yield, days open, and somatic cell count. Extending the model reduced the error of individual predictions by only 6%. Therefore, the basic model seems sufficient to predict the effect of DP length on effective lactation yield. Other individual cow characteristics can still be relevant, however, to make a practical and tailored decision about DP length.     

Influence of Pecan Shells and Hulls as a Roughage Source on Milk Production,Rumen Fermentation,and Digestion in Ruminants,

In Experiment 1, 20 lambs (36 kg) were fed five diets containing 0, 5, or 10% pecan shells or hulls to evaluate digestion and nitrogen balance. Digestion was not depressed by diets containing 5% shells. Protein digestibility was not reduced and nitrogen balance was higher for lambs fed 5% hulls than for lambs in other groups. In Experiment 2, 8 Holstein cows (29.3 kg milk/d) were assigned to two diets: basal and basal with 5% shells in the grain mix. Cows fed diets containing shells produced the same amount of milk and milk fat as control cows. In Experiment 3, 12 Holstein cows (27.3 kg milk/d) were assigned to the same two diets used in Experiment 2 and a third treatment received 5% pecan hulls in the grain mix. Cows fed shells or hull diets reduced concentrate intake and milk production. In Experiment 4, 12 Hereford × Angus steers (474.5 kg) were fed diets used in Experiment 3 to examine rumen fermentation, digestion, and passage rates. Steers fed hulls had lower rumen ammonia N and higher rumen pH compared with steers fed the basal diet. Total rumen volatile fatty acid concentration was not different among treatments. Generally, rumen fluid from steers fed hulls had higher proportions of acetate and lower porportions of butyrate. Rumen fluid and particulate passage rates and digestion measurements were not affected by addition of shells or hulls.     

Induction of Lactation by Two Techniques: Success Rate,Milk Composition,Estrogen and Progesterone in Serum and Milk,and Ovarian Effects

Induction of lactation was attempted in 12 heifers and 12 cows with estradiol benzoate (.011 mg/kg body weight per day) subcutaneous for 10 days or that plus progesterone (.1 mg + .25 mg/kg body weight per day) for 7 days. Milking commenced on day 20 for those treated with the mixture and on day 11 for the others. Lactations were induced (minimum of 4.5 kg of milk/day) in five of six heifers and two of six cows by the mixture and in six of six heifers and three of six cows for estradiol benzoate. Milk production was 44% of herdmates in the 16 induced lactations. Cows on the single treatment had lower production than the other three groups. Ovarian status, cycling, cystic, or static, was affected adversely in 5 of 16 animals induced successfully. Two of the 16, both heifers, carried calves to term following induction. The transition to normal composition of milk was slower for single than double treatment. Lactose increased slowly to normal over the 1st wk of milking while protein decreased slowly. Estrogen and progesterone in milk of induced cows were approximately twice as concentrated as in normal post-parturient cows, probably because milk production was halved.     

Influence of Dietary Protein Concentration and Degradability on Milk Production,Composition, and Ruminal Protein Metabolism

Four groups of cows in early lactation, each group containing one mature cow and three cows in first lactation, were in a 4 × 4 Latin-square arrangement of treatments for us to study influences of altering quantity of undegraded dietary crude protein and quantity of crude protein on milk production and composition. Diets supplemented with protein sources were 1) soybean meal positive control (22.7% crude protein), 2) whole cottonseed-corn gluten meal (14.7% crude protein), 3) extruded whole soybean (14.5% crude protein), or 4) soybean meal supplemented (15.7% crude protein). Concentrate and sorghum silage were fed in a ratio of 62:38 dry matter. Dry matter intake was not influenced by dietary crude protein concentration or source. Cows consuming diet 2 produced less milk, milk protein, total solids, and solids-not-fat than cows receiving diets 1 and 4. Efficiency of conversion of dietary crude protein to milk protein was highest for cows receiving diet 3 and lowest for diet 1.Trial 2, a 4 × 4 Latin-square trial for collection of abomasal digesta, had four ruminal and abomasal cannulated steers and the four diets from the lactation trial; the trial was to determine the influence of source and concentrations of protein on quantity of protein reaching the abomasum daily. Crude protein intake by steers fed diet 1 was greater than for the other three diets. Percentages recovery of dietary crude protein were 122 and 130 for treatments 2 and 3, intermediate for treatment 4 (107%), and lowest for diet 1 (88.0%); crude protein digestibility in the total tract was highest for steers receiving diet 1.     

Supplemental Niacin for Lactating Cows Fed Diets of Natural Protein or Nonprotein Nitrogen

Thirty-two Holstein cows, 16 in early and 16 in midlactation, were assigned to four treatments: 1) soybean meal protein plus niacin; 2) soybean meal without niacin; 3) nonprotein nitrogen plus niacin; and 4) nonprotein nitrogen without niacin. Niacin dose was 6 g per day, and nonprotein nitrogen supplied 20% of total nitrogen for those treatments. Differences between treatments in milk yields were not significant, but milk persistencies tended to be highest for cows in early lactation fed niacin during wk 9 and 10 of treatment. Intakes of dry matter did not differ significantly, but cows fed nonprotein nitrogen without niacin had lowest intakes per 100 kg bodyweight. Differences between treatments in feed utilization, milk composition, bodyweight changes, plasma ammonia, rumen pH, rumen volatile fatty acids, dry matter digestibilities, nitrogen digestibilities, and retained nitrogen were not significant.     

Forage Growth and Performance of Grazing Dairy Cows Fed Concentrates with or Without Sodium Bicarbonate

Groups of 12 and 13 Holstein cows grazed rotarionally on mixtures of grasses and red clover. Cows were 28 to 150 days into lactation at start of the experiment. They were fed concentrate at 1 kg/3 kg of 4% fat-corrected milk with or without 1.9% sodium bicarbonate in a switchover trial of two 8-wk periods. Forage growth and composition, amounts available for grazing, and average intake were measured by subsamples clipped prior to and after each grazing and by use of cages placed in the field. Milk yields averaged 29.9 kg daily by cows on each treatment. Milk fat percentage decreased moderately when cows first went to pasture but were not different during the trial at 3.24 and 3.27% on control and buffer treatments. Milk protein percentages, proportions of ruminal volatile fatty acids, and body weight gains did not differ with treatment. Available forage exceeded 17 kg dry matter per cow daily. It was of good quality, as indicated by crude protein contents of 19 and 22%, acid detergent fiber less than 35%, and 67 to 70% in vitro digestibility. Average intake of forage dry matter, measured by the sward cutting technique, was 12.6 kg per cow daily over the 16 wk.     

Alkali-Treated Forage for Early Lactation Dairy Cows: Effect on Lactation Performance and Nutrient Digestibility

Our objective was to determine the effect of sodium hydroxide treatment (4 g NaOH/100 g forage DM) of an alfalfa-orchardgrass forage and its subsequent utilization by early lactation dairy cows. Forage was harvested as hay. Complete mixed diets consisted of 55% control or treated hay and 45% concentrate (DM basis) and were fed to eight early lactation Holstein cows in a crossover design. Chemical composition of hays and complete diets were similar. Intake of dry matter was greater when cows were fed treated hay (23.4 vs. 22.2 kg/d), as was milk yield (32.3 vs. 30.9 kg/d). Yield of 4% FCM, however, did not differ between diets (27.8 vs. 27.4 kg/d). Cows fed the treated hay diet had increased concentrations of total rumen volatile fatty acids and ruminal acetate, decreased ruminal isobutyrate concentration and pH, and increased apparent digestibility of NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, and lignin. Sodium hydroxide treatment also increased the proportion of potentially digestible DM and NDF compared with that of untreated forage. Alkali treatment improved the utilization of medium quality forage in the early lactation dairy cow.     

No Associative Effects Between Corn and Haycrop Silages Fed to Lactating Dairy Cows

Four first-lactation Holstein cows were used 65 to 177 days postpartum in a 4 × 4 Latin square trial to evaluate possible associative feeding effects between corn and haycrop silages. Nutrient digestibility and nitrogen and energy balances were studied. Diets were concentrate mixture, urea-treated corn silage, and early-cut, wilted haycrop silage in dry matter ratios of 55:45:0, 55:30:15, 55:15:30, and 55:0:45. Rations were offered just below energy balance in each 28-day period. Ration components were fed separately, concurrently, and twice daily. Crude protein in concentrate, corn silage, and hay crop silage dry matter was 16.9, 11.1, and 12.5%. Milk yield (18 to 19 kg) and ration dry matter intake (2.61% body weight) were not significantly different among diets. Apparent digestibility of gross energy, dry matter, protein, and fiber was not different among diets, but fat was more digestible in corn silage. Partition of ingested energy and nitrogen was not affected by treatments except that urine nitrogen was higher in corn silage. No associative feeding effects were significant. The two silages were equivalent in supporting milk production when fed in equal dry matter amounts.     

Effect of crude protein and solubility on performance and blood constituents of dairy cows

Thirty-six mature Holstein cows were assigned at parturition to isocaloric diets of either 14.4 or 19.0% crude protein from highly soluble or insoluble nitrogen sources. The objective was to determine if elevated dietary crude protein affected milk production or serum metabolites. Cows individually were fed blended rations. Hourly blood samples were taken for a 12-h period during wk 1, 4, 7, and 10 postpartum. Rumen fluid samples were taken during wk 2, 4, and 6 postpartum. Cows fed diets containing 19% crude protein of high nitrogen solubility had larger dry matter intakes and tended to produce more milk than cows fed 14.4% crude protein. High crude protein intakes elevated rumen ammonia and blood urea nitrogen. Cows fed high crude protein, low nitrogen solubility diets had increased acetate to propionate ratio in rumen fluid. Serum insulin was increased in cows consuming high crude protein diets, regardless of the protein source. Serum nonesterified fatty acids decreased and albumin and glucose increased with week postpartum. Body weight change and fat-corrected milk production were not affected significantly by protein intake. Protein intakes in excess of requirements have no adverse effect on the production of early postpartum cows.     

Varying protein content and nitrogen solubility for pluriparous, lactating Holstein cows: digestive performance during early lactation

Thirty-four pluriparous Holstein cows were used to examine effects of crude protein (15.3 vs. 13.6%, dry matter basis) and nitrogen solubility (39.7 vs. 47.9%) on digestibility, energy and protein balances, and related traits during early lactation. Cows were assigned randomly at parturition to treatments in a 2 X 2 factorial arrangement; measurements were during wk 6, 10, and 14 postpartum. Diets were protein supplements (varying in protein content and nitrogen solubility), low-protein concentrate, corn silage treated with urea at ensiling, and wilted grass silage fed individually for ad libitum intake. Reducing nitrogen solubility of diet improved energy intake and productive energy factors but resulted in no significant increase of milk yield or body tissue balances, although body fat balance tended to be higher for low-solubility diets. There was no effect on overall partition of nitrogen in the body. Digestibility of carbohydrates and protein was higher for 15.3 than for 13.6% crude protein diets, resulting in higher total digestible nutrients and digestible and metabolizable energy of dry matter. Raising crude protein in the ration decreased milk yield of cows in early lactation but generally increased body tissue balances. Concentrations of rumen ammonia and blood urea nitrogen were not influenced by nitrogen solubility; increasing dietary protein increased concentrations of both, although not enough to increase consumption of free water. Best digestive efficiency was for animals fed the ration of medium crude protein and low nitrogen solubility.     

Lactational and Systemic Responses to the Supplementation of Protected Methionine in Soybean Meal Diets

Twenty-seven Holstein cows (14 primiparous and 13 multiparous) were randomly assigned to diets containing soybean meal without or with 15 g of added DL-methionine daily, provided as 50 g of ruminally protected methionine product, during wk 4 through 16 postpartum. Cows were fed a 15.3% crude protein total mixed diet of (dry matter basis) 30% corn silage, 15% alfalfa hay, and 55% concentrate mix. Yields of milk (32.9 and 35.2 kg/d), 4% fat-corrected milk (27.8 and 29.5 kg/d), and solids-corrected milk (28.5 and 30.1 kg/d) were higher for cows fed supplemental methionine. Milk protein percentage (2.99 and 3.06) was increased with supplemental methionine, while the percentage of fat (2.96 and 3.00), solids-not-fat (8.69 and 8.73), and total solids (11.67 and 11.71) were similar among diets. Dry matter intake (19.3 and 21.3 kg/d) was higher with methionine supplementation. Ruminal pH, volatile fatty acids, ammonia, and serum urea were generally unaffected by methionine supplementation. Concentrations of methionine in arterial and venous serum were elevated slightly by methionine supplementation, but the first-limiting amino acid for milk production, as calculated by several methods, was not changed.     

Relationship between residual feed intake and digestibility for lactating Holstein cows fed high and low starch diets

We determined if differences in digestibility among cows explained variation in residual feed intake (RFI) in 4 crossover design experiments. Lactating Holstein cows (n = 109; 120 ± 30 d in milk; mean ± SD) were fed diets high (HS) or low (LS) in starch. The HS diets were 30% (±1.8%) starch and 27% (±1.2%) neutral detergent fiber (NDF); LS diets were 14% (±2.2%) starch and 40% (±5.3%) NDF. Each experiment consisted of two 28-d treatment periods, with apparent total-tract digestibility measured using indigestible NDF as an internal marker during the last 5 d of each period. Individual cow dry matter (DM) intake and milk yield were recorded daily, body weight was measured 3 to 5 times per week, and milk components were analyzed 2 d/wk. Individual DM intake was regressed on milk energy output, metabolic body weight, body energy gain, and fixed effects of parity, experiment, cohort (a group of cows that received treatments in the same sequence) nested within experiment, and diet nested within cohort and experiment, with the residual being RFI. High RFI cows ate more than expected and were deemed less efficient. Residual feed intake correlated negatively with digestibility of starch for both HS (r = ?0.31) and LS (r = ?0.23) diets, and with digestibilities of DM (r = ?0.30) and NDF (r = ?0.23) for LS diets but was not correlated with DM or NDF digestibility for HS diets. For each cohort within an experiment, cows were classified as high RFI (HRFI; >0.5 SD), medium RFI (MRFI; ±0.5 SD), and low RFI (LRFI; <?0.5 SD). Digestibility of DM was similar (~66%) among HRFI and LRFI for HS diets but greater for LRFI when fed LS diets (64 vs. 62%). For LS diets, digestibility of DM could account for up to 31% of the differences among HRFI and LRFI for apparent diet energy density, as determined from individual cow performance, indicating that digestibility explains some of the between-animal differences for the ability to convert gross energy into net energy. Some of the differences in digestibility between HRFI and LRFI were expected because cows with high RFI eat at a greater multiple of maintenance, and greater intake is associated with increased passage rate and digestibility depression. Based on these data, we conclude that a cow’s digestive ability explains none of the variation in RFI for cows eating high starch diets but 9 to 31% of the variation in RFI when cows are fed low starch diets. Perhaps differences in other metabolic processes, such as tissue turnover, heat production, or others related to maintenance, can account for more variation in RFI than digestibility.     

Zinc-65 metabolism, secretion into milk, and biological half-life in lactating cows

Following oral dosing, zinc-65 metabolism was studied in 10 first-lactation Holstein cows during the 5th and 6th wk of an experiment in which a high beet pulp, low-zinc diet (16.6 ppm) was fed without and with (39.5 ppm total zinc) supplemental zinc. For the 14 days after dosing, cows fed low zinc had a much higher net zinc-65 absorption (53.4 versus 34.8%) and consistently secreted far more zinc-65 into milk (14.4 versus 6.3%). The zinc secreted into milk of cows fed low zinc during the 14 days had been in the body a shorter time than in controls, indicating greater dependences on recently consumed zinc for secretion into milk. The biological halflife (in lactating ruminants defined as the time required for one-half of the zinc-65 dose to leave the body via feces and milk) was shorter for the cows fed low zinc. Lactating cows are able to absorb a high percentage of dietary zinc, and lactation is a major factor in zinc metabolism and homeostasis. Major changes in zinc metabolism occur before performance is affected.     

Adrenal Response During Periparturient Period to Adrenocorticotropin in Dairy Cattle Fed Corn Silage and Grass Legume Silage

Glucocorticoid response to exogenous adrenocorticotropin was used as an indicator of stress in cows fed different diets ad libitum during the dry period and throughout lactation. Twenty-three Holstein cows were administered adrenocorticotropin at 2 d after initiation of the dry period and at 2 d and 35 d postpartum, and plasma glucocorticoid response was evaluated. Cows were fed diets using only corn silage as forage or mixed forage with or without supplemental concentrate. Mean basal plasma glucocorticoid concentrations were 6.1 ng/ml on d 2 after dry off, 4.7 ng/ml on d 2 postpartum, and 6.7 ng/ml on d 35. Cows on the 32.5:32.5:35 corn silage:grass-legume silage:concentrate diet had the lowest basal glucocorticoid concentrations on d 2 postpartum but highest concentrations on d 35 of lactation. Mean glucocorticoid response was 33.2 ng/ml on d 2 of lactation compared with 50.6 ng/ml on d 35 and 48.5 ng/ml plasma on d 2 following drying off. Diet interactions suggest that feed components may be involved with ability to tolerate stresses that occur during lactation and the dry period and thus may lead to altered adrenal function.