Four multiparous Holstein cows averaging 49 DIM and fitted with ruminal cannulas were utilized in a 4 x 4 Latin square design with 21-d periods to determine the effects of diets containing high oil corn grain and tallow. Cows were fed diets of alfalfa haylage and concentrate (37:63, DM basis) for ad libitum intake. Treatments were 1) control, no added fat; 2) high oil corn grain replacing regular corn grain; 3) high oil corn grain and 2.5% tallow; and 4) high oil corn grain and 5% tallow. Intake of DM, milk production, and yields of milk fat, milk protein, milk SNF, and 4% FCM were not affected by dietary fat, although DMI tended to be lower when cows were fed 5% tallow. Percentages of protein and SNF in milk were lower when cows were fed diets containing fat. Percentage of milk fat was lower when cows were fed diets containing tallow. Supplemental fat decreased total VFA concentrations in ruminal fluid. Cows fed high oil corn had a greater molar proportion of acetate and a larger acetate to propionate ratio in ruminal fluid than cows fed high oil corn and tallow. Digestibility of total fatty acids decreased when tallow was added to diets containing high oil corn. No differences were observed among treatments for total tract apparent digestibilities of DM and fiber or utilization of energy and N. Dietary high oil corn and 5% tallow tended to decrease DMI and to alter ruminal fermentation characteristics.

Four multiparous Holstein cows averaging 133 d postpartum and fitted with ruminal cannulas were utilized in a 4 x 4 Latin square design to investigate the effects of feeding diets containing whole soybeans and tallow. Treatments were 1) control, no added fat; 2) control and 10% whole raw soybeans; 3) control, 10% whole raw soybeans, and 2.5% tallow; and 4) control, 10% whole raw soybeans, and 4.0% tallow. Cows were fed for ad libitum intake a diet of alfalfa haylage, corn silage, and concentrate (45:5:50, DM basis). Intakes of DM and production of milk, milk CP, milk SNF, and 4% FCM were not affected by feeding supplemental fat. Production of milk fat and weight percentages and yields of long-chain fatty acids in milk fat were increased, whereas weight percentages and yields of short- and medium-chain fatty acids were decreased by feeding supplemental fat. Digestibilities of DM, OM, energy, cellulose, and fatty acids were decreased slightly when fat was added to the diet, but utilization of energy and N for production of milk was not altered. Supplemental fats increased concentrations of NEFA and cholesterol in plasma. These data indicate that relatively large amounts of unprotected fat can be added to the diet of lactating dairy cows without deleterious effects on milk composition, ruminal fermentation, or nutrient digestibilities.

Cupping therapy has been widely used in treating musculoskeletal impairments. However, there is no specific guideline on selecting the intensity of cupping therapy, including the pressure and duration. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different pressures and durations of cupping therapy on skin blood flow responses. A 2 × 2 factorial design, including two negative pressures at −225 and −300 mmHg and two durations at 5 and 10 min, was tested in 12 healthy participants. The four protocols of cupping therapy were tested in four different days. Skin blood flow was measured using laser Doppler flowmetry on the left triceps (the SJ12 acupoint). Skin blood flow after cupping therapy was expressed as a ratio of skin blood flow before cupping therapy. The results showed that −300 mmHg caused a significant increase in peak skin blood flow (16.7 ± 2.6 times) compared to −225 mmHg (11.1 ± 2.2 times, p < 0.05) under 5-min duration. The largest difference in skin blood flow is between −300 mmHg for 5 min (16.7 ± 2.6 times) and −225 mmHg for 10 min (8.1 ± 2.3 times, p < 0.01). Our findings demonstrated that a higher value (300 mmHg) of negative pressure is more effective on increasing skin blood flow compared to a lower value (225 mmHg). Also, a shorter duration (5 min) causes a larger peak and total skin blood flow compared to a longer duration (10 min). This study provides the first evidence showing the effect of pressures and durations of cupping therapy on skin blood flow responses.

Milk fat from Jersey cows contains less oleic acid (cis-C18:1) and more short- and medium-chain fatty acids than does milk fat from Holstein cows. The objective of this experiment was to determine responses in milk fat composition when Jersey and Holstein cows were fed diets either high (37% of dry matter) or low (27% of dry matter) in content of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) and supplemented with either 0 or 2.5% (of dry matter) of a mostly saturated fat source. Four Holstein cows and four Jersey cows were used in a Latin square design with 28-d periods; diets were in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Fat supplementation decreased contents of fatty acids synthesized de novo within the mammary gland and increased contents of C18:0 and cis-C18:1. Low-NSC diets tended to increase C16:0 and to decrease C18:0, cis-C18:1, and C18:3. Despite the differences in fatty acid composition between breeds, both breeds generally responded similarly to dietary treatments. An interaction of breed and fat indicated that the content of cis-C18:1 in milk fat was increased more by supplemental fat in Holsteins than in Jerseys. Interactions of breed x fat and breed x carbohydrate type showed that the ratio of cis-C18:1 to C18:0 decreased when Jerseys were supplemented with fat but increased for Holsteins, and decreased when Jerseys were fed the low-NSC diet but increased when Holsteins were fed low NSC. The data are consistent with the hypothesis (Beaulieu and Palmquist, 1995, J. Dairy Sci. 78:1336-1344) that mammary activity of stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase is lower in Jerseys than in Holsteins.

Sixteen Jersey cows were used in a Latin square design to determine milk production and composition when the cows were fed supplemental fat in diets varying in nonstructural carbohydrate content. Eight cows were used in a second experiment to assess ruminal fermentation and nutrient digestibilities. Diets were 1) high nonstructural carbohydrates, no added fat; 2) high nonstructural carbohydrates, 2.5% added fat; 3) low nonstructural carbohydrates, no added fat; and 4) low nonstructural carbohydrates, 2.5% added fat. Diets consisted of alfalfa haylage, corn silage, and concentrate (22:22:56, DM basis). Soyhulls replaced corn grain in diets 3 and 4; high and low diets contained 37.3 and 27.2% nonstructural carbohydrate. The DMI, milk production, and milk fat content were not affected by fat or nonstructural carbohydrates, although milk production tended to be higher when cows were fed fat. Fatty acid composition and N distribution of milk were unchanged by nonstructural carbohydrates. Supplemental fat decreased contents of CP, casein N, and true protein N in milk. Low nonstructural carbohydrates increased total VFA concentration and percentage of acetate and decreased percentages of propionate and butyrate in ruminal fluid. Total fatty acid digestibility decreased when cows were fed fat. Digestibilities of fiber components and total fatty acids were higher for diets low in nonstructural carbohydrates. Dietary content of nonstructural carbohydrates did not affect production of milk or milk components by Jersey cows fed supplemental fat.

The objectives of this experiment were to determine long-term responses to supplemental fat (from whole soybeans and liquid animal fat) and to determine whether the supplementation of nicotinic acid would enhance milk protein content or yield. From wk 4 through 43 postpartum, 44 multiparous Holstein cows (10 to 12 per treatment) were assigned to one of four dietary treatments: 1) control, 2) control plus 12 g/d of nicotinic acid, 3) supplemental fat, and 4) supplemental fat plus 12 g/d of nicotinic acid. The dry matter intake of cows did not differ among dietary treatments. Yields of milk, solids-corrected milk, and 3.5% fat-corrected milk were increased by nicotinic acid; the yield of fat-corrected milk during wk 4 to 25 was increased by supplemental fat. Contents of crude protein (CP) and true protein in milk were less for cows fed diets supplemented with fat or nicotinic acid; casein content was decreased by nicotinic acid. Intake of net energy for lactation was greater for cows fed supplemental fat; energy balance was greater during wk 4 to 25 for cows fed diets supplemented with fat. Body condition score and body weight were less when nicotinic acid was added to the control diet than when it was added to the diet supplemented with fat. Supplemental fat increased the concentration of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) in plasma; nicotinic acid increased NEFA when it was added to the control diet but decreased NEFA when it was added to the diet supplemented with fat. Nicotinic acid did not prevent the decrease in milk CP content that was induced by dietary fat, but it did increase milk yield and tended to increase the yield of milk CP.

Five steers (mean BW 526 kg) fitted with ruminal, duodenal, and ileal cannulas were used in a 5 x 6 Youden square design with 14-d periods. Diets contained chopped alfalfa hay, corn silage, and concentrate (25:35:40, DM basis). Treatments were 1) control (no added fat); 2) tallow (T), iodine value (IV) = 51.5; 3) partially hydrogenated tallow (PHT), IV = 30.7; 4) hydrogenated tallow (HT), IV = 6.9; 5) blend (1: 1) of HT and hydrogenated free fatty acids (HTHFA), IV = 9.0; and 6) hydrogenated free fatty acids (HFA), IV = 11.2. Fats replaced cornstarch in the control diet to supply 5% added fatty acids. Intake was restricted to 90% of ad libitum; DMI was similar among diets (mean 9 kg/d). Total fatty acid intake averaged 170, 500, 506, 525, 489, and 491 g/d for treatments 1 to 6, respectively. Flows of total C16, total C18, and total fatty acids to the duodenum were increased by supplemental fat; flows of total C18 and total fatty acids were greater than their intake for all treatments. Flow of total fatty acids associated with ruminal bacteria accounted for 50 and 17% of the total duodenal fatty acid flow for the control and fat-supplemented diets, respectively. Digestibility of total fatty acids entering the small intestine (74, 71, 62, 39, 53, and 63% for treatments 1 to 6, respectively) was greater for the control diet than for fat-supplemented diets and decreased as either saturation (T < PHT < HT) or esterification (HFA < HTHFA < HT) increased. Digestibilities of fatty acids in the total tract followed similar patterns. Ruminal lipolysis of dietary triglycerides decreased linearly as the degree of saturation of fat sources increased. Small intestinal disappearance of triglycerides (89, 75, 51, 44, 64, and 73% of duodenal flow for treatments 1 to 6, respectively) decreased linearly as either saturation or esterification increased. Flows and digestion of gross energy followed patterns similar to those for fatty acids and triglycerides. Resistance to ruminal and small intestinal lipolysis is a major factor contributing to the poor digestibility of highly saturated triglycerides.

Five midlactation multiparous Holstein cows fitted with ruminal cannulas were used in a 5 x 5 Latin square design with 14-d periods. Treatments were 1) no added fat (control), 2) 6.1% Ca salts of long-chain fatty acids, 3) 5.0% prilled long-chain fatty acids, 4) 5.2% prilled hydrogenated palm fatty acid distillate, and 5) 5.2% flaked hydrogenated palm fatty acid distillate. Cows were fed for ad libitum intake a total mixed diet (17.0% CP and 18.4% ADF) of alfalfa haylage, corn silage, and concentrate (28:22:50, DM basis). Fat sources were added to supply 5% fatty acids. Diets 2 through 5 contained 53, 83, 87, and 86% saturated fatty acids, respectively. Total fatty acid intake averaged 650, 1551, 1315, 1544, and 1581 g/d. Digestibilities of total fatty acids (81.3, 78.0, 70.0, 67.3, and 68.6%) were higher for the control diet than for fat-supplemented diets and higher for Ca salts of fatty acids than for diets containing hydrogenated distillate. Treatments did not affect ruminal fermentation characteristics or nutrient digestibilities. Production of 4% FCM and milk fat tended to be less for Ca salts of fatty acids than for hydrogenated distillate. The digestibility of fatty acids in hydrogenated distillate was lower than that for Ca salts of fatty acids, but intake and production responses were similar or greater for diets containing hydrogenated distillate.