Energy efficiency of diet for periparturient dairy cows supplemented with free fatty acids or glucogenic additives

Abstract

High-producing dairy cows require an appropriate management system, good care, and a tailored nutritional program that provides well-balanced feed rations. High yielders, especially during the periparturient period, normally show a reduced feed intake with a concomitant increased demand for nutrients for milk synthesis. Thus, the incidence of metabolic disorders may greatly increase, and consequently, a decrease in milk production is noted. Deterioration in milk composition is also observed (4). Although a range of energy additives to ruminant diets has been extensively investigated (7,48), an ongoing research focused on the negative energy balance of periparturient dairy cows is required (29,50). In this regard, much attention is given, among others, to the use of energy feed additives in dairy cow diets and to their impact on animal metabolism and performance, as well as on milk composition. Each of gluconeogenic precursors, such as glycerol (51), propylene glycol (28), sodium or calcium salts of propionate (30), has a different route for conversion to glucose. Depending on their type and administration period, energy supplements may contribute to reducing metabolic disturbances during the transition period. Propylene glycol may affect glucogenic action in different ways. A portion of this substance is metabolized in the rumen to lactic acid Klebaniuk R., Kochman G., Kowalczuk-Vasilev E., Grela E. R., Bąkowski M., Olcha M., Dunster F.Energy efficiency of diet for periparturient dairy cows supplemented with free fatty acids or glucogenic additives Summary The aim of the study was to compare the efficiency of two energy preparations used at fixed doses, but for different lengths of time: 1) a loose mixture of propylene glycol and sodium propionate, and 2) a granular formulation of free fatty acids produced from palm oil and palm nut, non-degradable in the rumen.A three-factorial experiment was carried out on 5 groups of Polish Black and White Holstein-Friesian cows (10 animals each) which were within the transition period. The aim of the experiment was to determine the effect of two energy preparations administered at a constant dose, but over different time periods, on the animals' performance, as well as on their milk yield and composition. The following treatment groups were formed: control group C, which received a standard diet; experimental groups G1 and G2, which received a dietary additive of a glucogenic preparation; and experimental groups F1 and F2, which received a free fatty acid preparation. The diet of the transition cows was supplemented with the full dose of the additives (500 g/ head/day) for 2 weeks before the expected calving and 3 or 6 weeks of lactation.The present research confirmed the benefits of dietary inclusion of energy supplements for transition cows. Supplementation with both glucogenic and free fatty acid preparations reduced the negative energy balance in the cow's organism and improved milk production and composition. The milk yield, higher by ca. 10% for the cows fed diets with...

Effect of Dietary Supplements Farmatan TM and Pine Tree Energy on the Regulation of Ruminal Digestion and Microbiocenosis of Lactating Black and White Cows

“…When evaluating at the molar ratios of different volatile fatty acids, there is a modest increase in propionic acid and a slight decrease in acetic and butyric acids in experimental cows. Our findings are in line with those of other researchers, who found that feed additives containing glycerol, propylene glycol, and other similar ingredients improve the metabolic state of animals (Klebaniuk et al, 2016;Harahap et al, 2022).…”