Effects of molasses-based liquid feed supplementation to a high-straw dry cow diet on feed intake, health, and performance of dairy cows across the transition period

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of adding molasses-based liquid feed to a highstraw dry cow diet on intake, behavior, health, and performance of dairy cows across the transition period. Holstein cows (n = 40) entering their second lactation or greater were enrolled at dry-off (~45 d before expected calving) and assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: a high-straw dry cow total mixed ration (TMR) with either (1) no molasses [CON; n = 20; 10.7% crude protein (CP), 1.45 Mcal/kg of net energy for lactation (NE L )] or (2) supplemented with 1 kg/cow daily [dry matter (DM) basis] of molasses-based liquid feed (LF; n = 20; 11.2% CP, 1.49 Mcal/kg of NE L ). At calving all cows were fed the same lactating TMR (14.9% CP, 1.68 Mcal/kg of NE L ) and followed for 28 d. During the dry period, cows fed the LF diet had greater DM intake (15.3 ± 0.24 vs. 13.4 ± 0.24 kg/d) and tended to have a shorter interval between meals (192.8 ± 8.38 vs. 216.5 ± 7.97 min) and more frequent meals (6.3 ± 0.27 vs. 5.6 ± 0.27 meals/d), while consuming their feed faster (0.09 ± 0.001 vs. 0.08 ± 0.001 kg of DM/ min) compared with cows fed the CON diet. Regardless of treatment, cows sorted [100% × (actual intake/predicted intake)] against the longest ration particles (>19 mm), with cows fed the CON diet sorting more against these (81.1 ± 2.6 vs. 93.9 ± 2.6%). Cows fed the CON diet did not sort for or against short particles (<8, >4 mm; 100.2 ± 0.31%), but cows fed the LF diet tended to sort against these (99.2 ± 0.31%). Post-calving, cows fed the LF diet did not sort for long particles (98.5 ± 1.1%), but cows fed the CON diet continued to sort against these (96.3 ± 1.1%). Cows fed the LF diet had higher mean reticulorumen pH in the dry period (6.4 ± 0.05 vs. 6.2 ± 0.06 pH), in the first week after calving (CON = 5.7 ± 0.06 pH, LF = 5.8 ± 0.06 pH), and tended to have higher mean reticulorumen pH in the second week after calving (CON = 5.7 ± 0.06 pH, LF = 5.9 ± 0.06 pH). The results suggest that supplementing a molasses-based liquid feed in high-straw dry cow diets may improve intake and consistency in nutrients consumed during the dry period and in early lactation, as well as possibly promoting better rumen health across the transition period.

Metabolic Stress in the Transition Period of Dairy Cows: Focusing on the Prepartum Period

“…Besides, the sorting behavior may persist in the fresh period with eventual negative consequences. Havekes et al [32][33][34] very recently proposed a variety of strategies to reduce the sorting behavior in low energy diets in the dry period. In a first experiment [32], they demonstrated that prepartum cows being fed a short chop length (2.54 cm screen) of wheat straw is preferable since it was associated with lower serum BHB concentration in the third week postpartum compared to that in cows fed a long chop length (10.16 cm screen) of wheat straw.…”

“…Although a shorter chop length of straw reduced sorting, it did not (completely) eliminate this behavior. In a next set of experiments, Havekes et al [33,34] moisturized the content of high-straw dry cow diets with water or liquid molasses. The hypothesis was that the addition of water to dry-cow diets that are low in moisture would improve DMI and reduce feed sorting, while the addition of liquid molasses will additionally support ruminal cellulolytic microbial growth.…”

Body condition loss during the dry period: Insights from feeding behavior studies

“…From that group, 20 cows received the diet as described. Another 20 cows received, in addition to the basal diet, 1.0 kg/cow per day (DM basis) of molasses-based liquid supplement, targeting an energy consumption of 22.9 Mcal/cow per day of NE L (Havekes et al, 2020c). The other 20 cows had water added to their dry-cow TMR to reduce the ration DM by ~10% compared with the basal diet (Havekes et al, 2020b).…”

Sugarcane Industrial Byproducts as Challenges to Environmental Safety and Their Remedies: A Review

“…As it is used in the alcohol and ethanol production and has high microbial activity [18], it is an economical byproduct of sugar factories as it is used in alcohol generation, animal feed preparation, and other food products. Moreover, it is also used as a cattle feed supplement, in yeast propagation, and as a flavoring agent in food products [112]. Biomethanated SW contains many plant nutrients and can thus be used as liquid manure in agriculture [18], and it can also be used for irrigation purposes after making dilutions [86].…”