Separate offering of forages and concentrates to lactating dairy cows: Effects on lactational performance, enteric methane emission, and efficiency of nutrient utilization.

The objective was to evaluate the effects of separate offering of feed ingredients (SF) and frequency of concentrate feeding versus offering a TMR, on lactational performance, ruminal fermentation, enteric CH4 emissions, nutrient digestibility, N use efficiency, milk fatty acid profile, and blood variables in mid-lactation dairy cows. Twenty-four Holstein cows (12 primi- and 12 multiparous) averaging (±SD) 141 ± 35 DIM and 43 ± 6 kg/d of milk yield (MY) at the beginning of the study were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design experiment with 3 periods of 28 d each, composed of 7 d for adaptation to the diets, 11 d for estimation of net energy and metabolizable protein requirements, and 10 d for data and samples collection. Cows were grouped based on parity, DIM, and MY into 4 Latin squares. Treatment allocation was balanced for carryover effects, and cows within square were assigned to (1) basal diet fed ad libitum as TMR; (2) basal diet fed as SF with forages fed ad libitum and concentrates fed 3×/d (SF×3); or (3) basal diet fed as SF with forages fed ad libitum and concentrates fed 6×/d (SF×6). Compared with TMR, SF decreased total DMI by 1.2 kg/d. Treatments did not affect MY, milk components, or ECM yield, except for a decrease in milk fat concentration and an increase in milk urea N by SF×3, compared with TMR. Feed efficiency (kg of MY/kg of DMI) was increased by 7% in SF, compared with TMR. Ruminal molar proportion of acetate and acetate-to-propionate ratio were decreased, whereas molar proportion of propionate was increased by SF×3, compared with TMR and SF×6. There was a 9% decrease in daily CH4 production by SF, compared with TMR. Enteric CH4 yield (per kg of DMI) was not affected by treatments in the current study. Methane intensity per kilogram of MY tended to be decreased by 10% in SF, compared with TMR. The sums of odd- and branched-chain, odd-chain, and anteiso milk fatty acids tended to be or were increased by SF, compared with TMR. Intake of nutrients tended to be or were decreased by SF, compared with TMR. The digestibility of amylase-treated NDF tended to be decreased and ADF digestibility was decreased by 3% in SF, compared with TMR. Urinary and fecal N excretions were not affected by treatments. As a percentage of total N intake, separate offering of feed ingredients increased milk N secretion, indicating an increased N use efficiency by SF, compared with TMR. Blood total fatty acid concentration was decreased by SF relative to TMR. Compared with both TMR and SF×6, SF×3 increased blood urea N concentration. Overall, feed and N use efficiencies were increased by separate offering of feed ingredients, and increasing the frequency of concentrate feeding promoted ruminal fermentation effects similar to those obtained by feeding a TMR.

Lactational performance, enteric methane emission, and nutrient utilization of dairy cows supplemented with botanicals.

The objective of this study was to evaluate lactational performance, enteric gas emissions, ruminal fermentation, nutrient use efficiency, milk fatty acid profile, and energy and inflammatory markers in blood of peak-lactation dairy cows fed diets supplemented with Capsicum oleoresin or a combination of Capsicum oleoresin and clove oil. A 10-wk randomized complete block design experiment was conducted with 18 primiparous and 30 multiparous Holstein cows. Cows were blocked based on parity, days in milk, and milk yield (MY), and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments (16 cows/treatment): (1) basal diet (CON); (2) basal diet supplemented with 300 mg/cow per day of Capsicum oleoresin (CAP); and (3) basal diet supplemented with 300 mg/cow per day of a combination of Capsicum oleoresin and clove oil (CAPCO). Premixes containing ground corn (CON), CAP, or CAPCO were mixed daily with the basal diet at 0.8% of dry matter intake (DMI). Supplementation of the diet with CAP or CAPCO did not affect DMI, MY, milk components, and feed efficiency of the cows. Body weight (BW) was increased during the last 2 wk of the experiment by CAP and CAPCO, compared with CON. The botanicals improved BW gain (0.85 and 0.66 kg/d for CAP and CAPCO, respectively, compared with -0.01 kg/d for CON) and CAP enhanced the efficiency of energy utilization, compared with CON (94.5% vs. 78.4%, respectively). Daily CH4 emission was not affected by treatments, but CH4 emission yield (per kg of DMI) and intensity (per kg of MY) were decreased by up to 11% by CAPCO supplementation, compared with CON and CAP. A treatment × parity interaction indicated that the CH4 mitigation effect was pronounced in primiparous but not in multiparous cows. Ruminal molar proportion of propionate was decreased by botanicals, compared with CON. Concentrations of trans-10 C18:1 and total trans fatty acids in milk fat were decreased by CAP and tended to be decreased by CAPCO, compared with CON. Total-tract apparent digestibility of nutrients was not affected by treatments, except for a tendency for decreased starch digestibility in cows supplemented with botanicals. Blood concentrations of ß-hydroxybutyrate, total fatty acids, and insulin were not affected by botanicals. Blood haptoglobin concentration was increased by CAP in multiparous but not in primiparous cows. Lactational performance of peak-lactation dairy cows was not affected by the botanicals in this study, but they appeared to improve efficiency of energy utilization and partitioned energy toward BW gain. In addition, CH4 yield and intensity were decreased in primiparous cows fed CAPCO, suggesting a potential positive environmental effect of the combination of Capsicum oleoresin and clove oil supplementation.

Lactational performance, rumen fermentation, nutrient use efficiency, enteric methane emissions, and manure greenhouse gas-emitting potential in dairy cows fed a blend of essential oils.

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of an essential oil (EO) blend on lactational performance, rumen fermentation, nutrient utilization, blood variables, enteric methane emissions and manure greenhouse gas-emitting potential in dairy cows. A randomized complete block design experiment was conducted with 26 primiparous and 22 multiparous Holstein cows. A 2-wk covariate and a 2-wk adaptation periods preceded a 10-wk experimental period used for data and sample collection. Treatments were: (1) basal diet supplemented with placebo (CON); and (2) basal diet supplemented with a blend of EO containing eugenol and geranyl acetate as main compounds. Supplementation with EO did not affect dry matter intake, milk and energy-corrected milk yields, and feed efficiency of cows, compared with CON. Milk fat and lactose concentrations were increased, and milk total solids (TS) concentration and milk fat yield tended to be increased by EO. Multiparous cows supplemented with EO tended to have slightly decreased dry matter and crude protein digestibility compared with CON multiparous cows. There was a tendency for increased ruminal pH by EO, whereas other rumen fermentation variables did not differ between treatments. Daily methane emission was not affected by EO supplementation, but methane emission intensity per kg of milk fat was decreased by 8.5% by EO. Methane emission intensity per kg of milk lactose and milk TS were decreased and methane emission intensity per kg of milk yield tended to be decreased by up to 10% in EO multiparous cows, but not in primiparous cows. The greenhouse gas-emitting potential of manure was not affected by EO supplementation. Compared with CON, fecal nitrogen excretion was increased by EO supplementation in multiparous, but not in primiparous cows, and milk nitrogen secretion (as a % of nitrogen intake) tended to be increased in EO supplemented cows. Blood variables were not affected by EO supplementation in the current study. Overall, dietary supplementation of EO did not affect lactational performance of the cows, although milk fat and lactose concentrations were increased. Most enteric methane emission metrics were not affected, but EO decreased methane intensity per kg of milk fat by 8.5%, compared with the control.

Effects of a phytogenic feed additive on weaned dairy heifer calves subjected to a diurnal heat stress bout.

The study objective was to evaluate the effects of a phytogenic feed additive (PFA) on dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), inflammation, and oxidative stress markers of heifer calves exposed to a heat stress bout in the summer. A total of18 Holstein and 4 Jersey heifer calves (192 ± 5 kg of body weight at 162 ± 16 d of age) housed in indoor stalls were assigned to 1 of 2 dietary treatments (n = 11; 9 Holstein and 2 Jersey): (1) a basal total mixed ration (CTL), and (2) CTL top-dressed with 0.25 g/d of PFA. Following 7 d of acclimation, baseline measurements were made over 7 d under regular summer conditions [average temperature-humidity index (THI) = 79 from 0900 to 2000 h, and 75 from 2000 to 0900 h]. Calves were then subjected to a 7-d cyclic heat stress bout (HS) by turning on barn heaters and increasing the barn temperature to 33.0°C only during the daytime (the average THI = 85 from 0900 to 2000 h). The study continued for an extra 4-d period after HS ended (post-HS). The HS increased rectal temperature, skin temperature, and respiration rate from the baseline by 1.0°C, 4.0°C, and 49 breaths/min, respectively. The drinking water intake increased by 32% in response to HS, and calves continued to consume more water (44%) than the baseline consumption even after HS ended. The treatment × time interactions were not significant for feed intake, ADG, partial pressure of O2 in the blood, and blood concentrations of inflammation markers such as haptoglobin and lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), and antioxidant markers such as protein carbonyl and thiobarbituric acid (TBARS). The PFA tended to increase daytime DMI (0.24 kg/d) compared with CTL throughout the experiment but did not affect ADG, which decreased from 1.12 kg/d to 0.26 kg/d in response to HS. Both DMI (13%) and ADG (85%) increased during post-HS relative to baseline, indicating compensatory performances that were not affected by the PFA. Serum haptoglobin and plasma LBP concentrations of PFA calves were 44% and 38% lower than that of CTL calves across all time points. The PFA decreased O2 pressure and tended to decrease protein carbonyl concentration in the blood across all time points. The PFA tended to decrease TBARS concentration on the first day of HS and increase and decrease the ratio of reduced to oxidized glutathione in the blood during the baseline and post-HS periods, respectively. Despite the lack of growth improvements, feeding PFA seems to increase O2 levels in the blood and alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation of heifer calve exposed to diurnal heat waves (~7 d) in the summer.

Microbial composition, rumen fermentation parameters, enteric methane emissions, and lactational performance of phenotypically high and low methane-emitting dairy cows.

This experiment was designed to investigate the relation of high and low methane-yield phenotypes with body weight (BW), dry matter intake (DMI), lactation performance, enteric CH4 emissions, and rumen fermentation parameters in lactating dairy cows. A total of 130 multi- and primiparous Holstein cows were screened for enteric CH4 emissions using the GreenFeed system (C-Lock Inc.). Out of these 130 cows, 5 were identified as phenotypically high (HM) and 5 as phenotypically low (LM) CH4 emitters. Cows in the LM group had lower daily enteric CH4 emissions than cows in the HM group (on average 346 vs. 439 g/d, respectively), lower CH4 yield (15.5 vs. 20.4 g of CH4/kg of DMI), and CH4 intensity (13.2 vs. 17.0 g of CH4/ kg of energy-corrected milk yield). Enteric emissions of CO2 and H2 did not differ between HM and LM cows. These 10 cows were blocked by parity, days in milk, and milk production, and were used in a 5-wk randomized complete block design experiment. Milk composition, production, and BW were also not different between LM and HM cows. The concentration of total volatile fatty acids in ruminal contents did not differ between CH4 phenotypes, but LM cows had a lower molar proportion of acetate (57 vs. 62.1%), a higher proportion of propionate (27.5 vs. 21.6%, respectively), and therefore a lower acetate-to-propionate ratio than HM cows. Consistently, the 16S cDNA analysis revealed the abundance of Succinivibrionaceae and unclassified Veillonellaceae to be higher in LM cows compared with HM cows, bacteria that were positively correlated with ruminal propionate concentration. Notably, Succinivibrionaceae trigger the formation of propionate via oxaloacetate pathway from phosphoenolpyruvate via Enzyme Commission: 4.1.1.49, which showed a trend to be higher in LM cows compared with HM cows. Additionally, LM cows possessed fewer transcripts of a gene encoding for methyl-CoM reductase enzyme compared with HM. In this study, low and high CH4-yield cows have similar production performance and milk composition, but total-tract apparent digestibility of organic matter and fiber fractions was lower in the former group of animals.

Effects of branched-chain amino acids on glucose uptake and lactose synthesis rates in bovine mammary epithelial cells and lactating mammary tissue slices.

Even though supplementations of essential AA (EAA) are often related to increased lactose yields in dairy cows, underlying mechanisms connecting EAA availability to the mammary glands and lactose synthesis are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of branched-chain AA (BCAA) including Leu, Ile, and Val on (1) glucose transporter (GLUT1) abundance and glucose uptake, (2) the abundance of proteins regulating lactose synthesis pathway, and (3) fractional synthesis rates of lactose (FSR) using bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMEC) and mammary tissues slices (MTS). The BMEC (n = 4) were allocated randomly to regular Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium with Ham's F12 (DMEM/F12) medium (+EAA) or +EAA deficient (by 90%) in all EAA (-EAA), all BCAA (-BCAA), only Leu (-Leu), only Ile (-Ile) or only Val (-Val). Western immunoblotting analyses, depletion of glucose in media, and a proteomic analysis were performed to determine the abundance of GLUT1 in the cell membrane, net glucose uptake, and the abundance of enzymes involved in lactose synthesis pathway in BMEC, respectively. The MTS (n = 6) were allocated randomly to DMEM/F12 medium having all EAA and 13C-glucose at concentrations similar to plasma concentrations of cows (+EAAp), and +EAAp deprived of all BCAA (-BCAAp) or only Leu (-Leup) for 3 h. The 13C enrichments of free glucose pool in MTS (EGlu-free) and the enrichments of glucose incorporated into lactose in MTS and media [ELactose-bound (T&M)] were determined and used in calculating FSR. In BMEC, -BCAA increased the fraction of total GLUT1 translocated to the cell membrane and the fraction that was potentially glycosylated compared with +EAA. Among individual BCAA, only -Leu was associated with a 63% increase in GLUT1 translocated to the cell membrane and a 40% increase in glucose uptake of BMEC. The -BCAA tended to be related to a 75% increase in the abundance of hexokinase in BMEC. Deprivation of Leu tended to increase glucose uptake of MTS but did not affect EGlu-free, ELactose-bound (T&M), or FSR relative to +EAAp. On the other hand, -BCAAp did not affect glucose uptake of MTS but was related to lower ELactose-bound (T&M), or FSR relative to +EAAp. Considering together, decreasing Leu supply to mammary tissues enhances GLUT1 and thus glucose uptake, which, however, does not affect lactose synthesis rates. Moreover, the deficiency of other BCAA, Ile, and Val alone or together with the deficiency of Leu seemed to decrease lactose synthesis rates without affecting glucose uptake. The data also emphasize the importance of addressing the effect of the supply of other nutrients to the mammary glands than the precursor supply in describing the synthesis of a milk component.