Calcium propionate increased milk parameters in Holstein cows

ABSTRACT

Background: In the early lactation, dairy cows go through a period of negative energy balance because they do not intakeenough food to supply the energetic demand of milk production. In this period, dairy cows are susceptible to metabolicdisorders, although has little evidence that milk production contribute to increase diseases occurrence. Some alternativesto minimize metabolic disorders, that reduce milk yield, has been suggested, as increase energy density in the diet of drycows 21 days before the parturition and include additives in the diet pre and post-partum. The aim of this study was tomeasure the productive parameters in dairy cows fed calcium salts as energetic source.Materials, Methods & Results: Two Latin square 4x4 were used, whereas one comprehended of early lactation cows andthe other of mid lactation cows. Animals of 2nd and 3rd parity were used only. Parity was distributed evenly among groups.The trial consisted of 4 groups with 4 treatments as follow T1 300 g of calcium acetate, T2 200 g of calcium propionate,T3 200 g of calcium salts of fatty acids, and T4 control without any calcium additive. The animals were milked twice aday, the first milking at 0700 am and the second milking at 0500 pm. Milk samples were collected in plastic containerswith potassium dichromate. These samples were sent to the Laboratory of Milk Analysis of the Paranaense Association ofBreeders of the Holstein Breed for analysis of fat, protein, lactose and total solids through the infrared method. Throughoutthe experimental period, the daily production of the animals under study was recorded. The production of milk (kg) wascorrected to 3.5% fat using the formula PLA 3.5% = (0.432 + kg milk) + (0.1623 x kg milk x fat content).Discussion: Greater supply of glucose or propionate stimulate milk protein production, but the mechanism of this stimulation is unclear...