Supplemental nicotinic acid or nicotinamide for lactating dairy cows

In two experiments with multiparous Holstein cows, the effects of feeding supplemental nicotinic acid or nicotinamide on milk production and metabolite changes associated with early lactation were measured. In Experiment 1, 30 cows were assigned to three groups. The treatment groups received 6 g nicotinic acid or 6 g nicotinamide per head per day beginning 2 wk prepartum to 12 wk postpartum. Control group received no treatment. Cows receiving nicotinamide produced more milk (wk 9, 11, and 12) and had higher milk fat test (wk 1 and 4) than did controls. Concentrations of beta-hydroxybutyrate in blood serum (wk 4) were lower for cows receiving nicotinic acid or nicotinamide. Serum glucose concentration (wk 4 to 6) was higher and FFA (wk 4) were lower for cows receiving nicotinamide than for controls. In Experiment 2 with six multiparous Holstein cows, the effects of feeding nicotinamide on metabolic changes associated before, during, and after a 48-h period without feed initiated at 4 wk postpartum were studied. The treatment groups received 12 g nicotinamide per head per day beginning 2 wk prepartum to 4 wk postpartum. The control group received no treatment. Supplementing nicotinamide to lactating cows had no effect on serum glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate, or free fatty acids before, during, or after 48-h period without feed.