Effect of protein level and methionine supplementation on dairy cows during the transition period

Abstract

Cows experience a significant negative protein balance during the first 30 d of lactation. Given the functional effects of AA on health, especially in challenging periods such as calving, higher levels of protein and specific AA in the diet may act to improve health and feed intake. The response of dairy cows to 3 protein supplementation strategies during the transition period and through the first 45 d in milk was evaluated. The final data set had 39 Holstein cows blocked based on parity (primiparous vs. multiparous) and expected calving and randomly assigned within each block to one of 3 dietary treatments: low protein (LP), high protein (HP), or high protein plus rumen-protected methionine (HPM). Treatments were offered from d −18 ± 5 to 45 d relative to parturition. Pre-and postpartum diets were formulated for high metabolizable protein (MP) supply from soybean meal, and HP and HPM provided higher MP balance than LP. Preplanned contrasts were LP versus HP+HPM and HP versus HPM. Significance was declared at P ≤ 0.05 and trends at 0.05 < P ≤ 0.10. Cows fed HP and HPM had greater fry matter intake (DMI) prepartum than LP (+2 kg/d), and there was a trend for greater DMI with HPM than with HP (+1.6 kg/d). Body weight and condition score before and after calving did not differ among treatments. High protein (HP and HPM) tended to increase milk yield during the first 45 d of lactation (+1.75 kg/d), increased milk lactose content and urea-N in milk and plasma, tended to increase blood BHB 14 d postpartum, and tended to reduce milk/DMI compared with LP. Blood concentrations of calcium at calving and of glucose, and nonesterified fatty acids pre-and postpartum did not differ. High protein induced lower concentration of plasma IL-1 at calving and lowered blood lymphocytes 21 d postpartum, suggestive of a reduced inflammatory status compared with LP. The concentrations of IL-10, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and other hemogram variables did not differ among treatments. Addition of rumen-protected methionine to the HP diet did not alter milk yield but increased fat and total solids concentrations. The rumen-protected methionine had no effect on blood metabolites and immunity markers, with the exception of increased pre-partum insulin concentrations. The data indicate that dairy cows around calving respond positively to an increase in the supply of MP and to rumen-protected methionine supplementation of the HP diet by increasing intake and improving immune status.

The effects of rumen protected methionine supplementation on the performance of primiparous dairy cows using the Presynch‐Ovsynch protocol

“…Feeding RPM to dairy goats had no effect on milk yield, ECM, fat percentage and protein percentage (Al‐Qaisi & Titi, 2014). One hypothesis is that the increased supply of AA was insufficient to induce a responses (Cardoso et al, 2021). Contrary to that, feeding RPM to lactating goats resulted in higher milk production (Cardoso et al, 2021; Poljičak‐Milas & Marenjak, 2007).…”

“…One hypothesis is that the increased supply of AA was insufficient to induce a responses (Cardoso et al, 2021). Contrary to that, feeding RPM to lactating goats resulted in higher milk production (Cardoso et al, 2021; Poljičak‐Milas & Marenjak, 2007). Increased milk production in the 16% CP diet indicated that response to RPM is dependent on the amount of CP in the diet (Cardoso et al, 2021; Lara et al, 2006).…”

“…Contrary to that, feeding RPM to lactating goats resulted in higher milk production (Cardoso et al, 2021;Poljičak-Milas & Marenjak, 2007). Increased milk production in the 16% CP diet indicated that response to RPM is dependent on the amount of CP in the diet (Cardoso et al, 2021;Lara et al, 2006). Tamura et al (2019) reported that feeding dairy cows with a 14.5% CP diet with RPM did not affect milk yield and composition.…”

Medium chain fatty acid supplementation improves animal metabolic and immune status during the transition period: A study on dairy cattle

“…Plasma TG was determined by an automatic biochemical analyzer (CLS880, Jiangsu Zecheng Biotechnology). NEFA, b -hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), immunoglobulin G, A, and M (IgG, IgA, IgM), interleukin (IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and serum amyloid A (SAA) were detected using the ELISA method (fully automated ELISA machine, THERMO Multiskan Ascent) (41,42).…”

Feeding dairy cows for improved metabolism and health

“…Studies also tried to identify the effects of formulating diets for ruminants focusing on the balance of limiting AA. Researchers observed a 2.0 kg/d of DMI increase in cows fed a 15.6% CP diet prepartum compared with a 13.8% CP diet, and a tendency for increased DMI prepartum (1.6 kg/d) by methionine (Met) supplementation of the higher CP diet ( Cardoso et al, 2021 ). Additionally, cows on the higher CP diets had greater IL-1 concentration in blood postpartum and tended to produce 1.75 kg/d more milk than cows fed the low protein diet during the first 45 d of lactation, regardless of Met supplementation.…”