<b>Intake, digestibility of nutrients, milk production and composition in dairy cows fed on diets containing cashew nut shell liquid

Abstract

The study evaluated the effects of supplementing cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) in the diet of lactating dairy cows on the intake, nutrient digestibility, milk yield and composition, and fatty acids composition of milk fat. Four Holstein cows (600±43 kg) were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design with 21 days experimental periods. Experimental treatments consisted of CNSL inclusion in a total mixed ration (dry matter basis), as follows: 1) CNSL 0% (control, CON), 2) CNSL 0.012% (0.012), 3) CNSL 0.024% (0.024) and 4) CNSL 0.036% (0.036). Dry matter and nutrients intake, apparent digestibility of nutrients, fat corrected milk yield and milk composition were not affected (p > 0.05) by the inclusion of CNSL in the ration. CNSL linearly decreased the C6:0 concentration (p < 0.02), produced a quadratic response on C13:1n-5 concentration (p < 0.03) and a linear increase on C16:1n-7 concentration (p < 0.04). Results show that an intake of up to 7 g cow-1 day-1 (0.036%) of CNSL may alter the milk fatty acid composition but does not influence intake, nutrient digestibility and milk yield.

Aumento das doses dietéticas de líquido de casca de castanha de caju na digestibilidade ruminal e intestinal de nutrientes em novilhos alimentados com uma dieta rica em grãos

“…The use of tCNSL did not affect the ruminal, intestinal and total digestibility of DM, starch and NFC, as well as TDN levels (p>0.05; table III), which is in agreement with the results of Coutinho et al (2014). However, the intestinal digestibility of CP was influenced by tCNSL supplies, showing a cubic response with higher value when animals fed 300 mg tCNSL.…”

“…In agreement with our results, Branco et al (2015) and Coutinho et al (2014) found no effect of adding tCNSL on the dry matter intake (DMI) of dairy cows. The average dry matter intake was 10.79 g day -1 and the estimated DMI (NRC, 2000) for steers in the same conditions is 10.25 kg day -1 , being the values similar to those observed in the experiment.…”

“…The diets in the present study were high in grains, and the animals had average intakes of 13 and 15.3 g kg -1 BW for starch and non-fiber carbohydrates, respectively. Coutinho et al (2014) did not find any influence of tCNSL on dairy cow performance and production. However, the non-fiber carbohydrates intake was similar to present experiment (15.5 g kg -1 BW).…”

“…The authors confirm that for changes in the concentrations and ratios of short chain fatty acids is required more than 24 hours and less than six days to be modified by functional oils. However, Coutinho et al (2014) report that the 21 days trial using levels of tCNSL in lactating dairy cows were sufficient to provide adaptation of rumen microorganisms to these compounds and influenced the lack of effect in almost all parameters evaluated. This shows that the results of tCNSL are still very incipient and deserve to be studied, especially in vivo studies, as much as the literature refers to in vitro data.…”

Effect of technical cashew nut shell liquid on rumen methane emission and lactation performance of dairy cows

“…Most of the data reported to date are from in vitro experiments or with nonproducing animals. To the best of our knowledge, in only one study was TCNSL tested in lactating dairy cows producing 25 to 26 kg milk/d (Coutinho et al, 2014). Thus, a need exists to study the effect of CNSL, and particularly TCNSL (which is more available commercially), on rumen methane emission and animal productivity in vivo in trials with high-producing animals.…”