Effect of hydrogenated fat-embedded calcium gluconate on lactation performance in dairy cows

Abstract

Hydrogenated fat-embedded calcium gluconate (HFCG), a prebiotic mixture designed to target the hindgut, has improved milk and component yields when supplemented in mid-lactation cows, likely due to improved hindgut health. The objective of this study was to evaluate production responses to HFCG when fed to lactating dairy cattle over a full lactation. Seventy-four Holstein cows (21 primiparous, 53 multiparous) were used in a randomized complete block design comparing supplementation with either HFCG (approximately 16 g/d of supplement delivering approximately 6.4 g of active ingredient) or a negative control from approximately 21 days prior to calving until the end of lactation. In multiparous cattle supplemented with HFCG, average daily milk protein yield (P = 0.037) was increased during the first 8 weeks of lactation, while average daily yields of milk fat, fat- and energy-corrected milk tended (P ≤ 0.075) to increase over the same period of time. Increased yields were likely supported by the concurrent increase in dry matter intake (P = 0.036). Future work is needed to characterize the mode of action of this product within both the hindgut lumen and host, as well as investigate the potential differential responses between primiparous and multiparous animals over the course of lactation.

Supplementation of hydrogenated fat-embedded calcium gluconate improves milk fat content and yield in multiparous Holstein dairy cattle

“…Given what is known about the importance of hindgut health in non-ruminant species, specifically targeting the ruminant hindgut with prophylactic interventions is an opportunity that merits exploration. We have previously observed increases in yields of milk fat (Seymour et al, 2020(Seymour et al, , 2021 and/or protein (Sanz-Fernandez et al, 2022;Seymour et al, 2022) when supplementing lactating dairy cattle with approximately 16 g/d hydrogenated fat-embedded calcium gluconate (HFCG), a prebiotic compound specifically targeting the increased production of acetate and/or butyrate in the hindgut (Asano et al, 1994;Tsukahara et al, 2002Tsukahara et al, , 2006. However, the underlying mechanism(s) of these responses remain unclear at present.…”

Evaluating lactation performance of multiparous dairy cattle to prepartum and/or postpartum supplementation of fat-embedded calcium gluconate

“…Our group has previously observed increases in yields of milk fat ( Seymour et al, 2021 , 2023 ) and/or protein ( Sanz-Fernandez et al, 2022 ; Seymour et al, 2022 ) to varying degrees in response to supplementing HFCG in lactating dairy cattle. In particular, Seymour et al (2022) employed treatments synonymous with the GG and CC sequences used in the present study; while a time-dependant response to supplementation was also observed in multiparous cattle, increases in milk fat and protein yield occurred over the first 8 wks of lactation.…”

“…Our group has previously observed increases in yields of milk fat ( Seymour et al, 2021 , 2023 ) and/or protein ( Sanz-Fernandez et al, 2022 ; Seymour et al, 2022 ) to varying degrees in response to supplementing HFCG in lactating dairy cattle. In particular, Seymour et al (2022) employed treatments synonymous with the GG and CC sequences used in the present study; while a time-dependant response to supplementation was also observed in multiparous cattle, increases in milk fat and protein yield occurred over the first 8 wks of lactation. We have confirmed that while no differences between the CC and GG sequences for any outcome over the first 8 wks of lactation were found ( P ≥ 0.274), the magnitude of the responses in yields of milk and milk components observed, while observed later in lactation, were consistent with those reported by Seymour et al (2022 ; approx.…”

“…Some groups have investigated the potential impacts of gluconate supplementation on gut health & morphological measures with mixed results ( Poeikhampha and Bunchasak, 2011 ; Michiels et al, 2020 ; Watanabe et al, 2022 ), while others have proposed that luminal VFAs may act as signaling molecules to affect extragastrointestinal responses ( Stilling et al, 2016 ; O’Riordan et al, 2022 ), such as energy partitioning. In previous studies with HFCG, we have proposed that responses in milk protein yield were likely supported by improved voluntary dry matter intake ( Seymour et al, 2022 ), while responses in milk fat yield were most likely supported by increased uptake of preformed fatty acids of endogenous origin by the mammary gland ( Seymour et al, 2021 ). As feed intake nor blood per milk metabolites were measured in the present study, we can only speculate as to the underlying nature of the observed responses.…”

“…In an effort to prevent ruminal degradation of the product, we developed a form of calcium gluconate embedded in a matrix of hydrogenated fat, which recently displayed an estimated rumen bypass fraction of 86.6% after 24 h ruminal incubation ( Watanabe et al, 2022 ). When supplementing lactating dairy cattle with this hydrogenated fat-embedded calcium gluconate (HFCG) product, we have observed increases in yields of milk fat ( Seymour et al, 2021 , 2023 ) and/or milk protein ( Sanz-Fernandez et al, 2022 ; Seymour et al, 2022 ). Considering the low degree of rumen fermentation of HFCG, in addition to the similarities in responses to those achieved with postruminal infusion of calcium gluconate, we believe this supports our hypothesis that HFCG is able to escape the rumen in sufficient quantities to be fermented in the postruminal digestive tract in dairy cattle.…”