Feeding hay rich in water‐soluble carbohydrates improves ruminal pH without affecting rumination and systemic health in early lactation dairy cows

Abstract

Forages rich in water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) might be an ideal energy source during early lactation, as they provide both energy for milk production and structural fibre to promote chewing and rumen buffering. Thus, the aim was to investigate feeding strategies based on high-quality hay rich in WSC with graded amounts of concentrate on ruminating behaviour, ruminal pH and systemic health variables.Twenty-four Simmental cows were randomly allocated to four groups beginning 10 days before until 28 days after calving. Diets were 60LQH (60% fibre-rich hay plus 40% concentrate), 60HQH, 75HQH and 100HQH (60%, 75% and 100% highquality hay, plus 40%, 25% and 0% concentrate, respectively). Hay qualities differed in contents of WSC (110 g vs. 198 g of dry matter [DM]), neutral detergent fibre (646 g vs. 423 g of DM) and crude protein (65 g vs. 223 g of DM). Rumination was recorded using the Rumiwatch system over 4 days during the last week. Weekly serum samples were analysed for the liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase, glutamate dehydrogenase and γ-glutamyltransferase and the acute phase proteins serum amyloid A and haptoglobin. Four cows per group received a wireless pH sensor orally placed into the rumen one week before the expected calving date. Daily time spent chewing did not differ between groups. Likewise differences in minimum, maximum and mean pH-values were not significant, but daily time of reticular pH <6 was longer in cows fed 60LQH compared to cows fed 100HQH (p = 0.043) and in tendency to cows fed 75HQH or 60HQH (p = 0.072 or p = 0.086, respectively). Blood parameters were unaffected by diet. Accordingly the present results demonstrate that feeding hay rich in WSC helped stabilizing the reticuloruminal pH in early lactation dairy cows, even in combination with 40% concentrates in DM. K E Y W O R D Sacute phase proteins, chewing activity, liver enzymes, rumen, starch, sugar | 467 KLEVENHUSEN Et aL.

Влияние Полисахаридов На Продуктивные Качества Новотельных Коров Голштино-Фризской Породы В Условиях Тоо «бек+»

“…В фазу раздоя коров высокие энергетические затраты на молокообразование не могут быть полностью покрыты за счет питательных веществ, поступающих с кормом Взаимосвязь усвояемости рациона и эффективности корма у крупного рогатого скота изучена недостаточно [4]. Корма, обогащенные углеводными добавками, могут быть идеальным источником энергии в период ранней лактации, поскольку они обеспечивают как энергию для производства молока, так и структурную клетчатку, способствующую жеванию и буферизации рубца [5]. Крахмал и сахар имеют функцию обеспечивать энергией животных и микроорганизмы, находящиеся в преджелудках жвачных, помимо этого участвуют при синтезе белка [6].…”

A review on the potentials of using feeds rich in water‐soluble carbohydrates to enhance rumen health and sustainability of dairy cattle production

“…58,59 In two independent studies, we also found no risk of SARA as a result of feeding WSC-rich ryegrass hay at WSC intake levels up to 3.3 kg day −1 , even in combination with starch (WSC of 2.7 kg day −1 plus starch of 3.6 kg day −1 , exceeding 300 g kg −1 DM in starch plus WSC). 60 One reason why WSC-rich ryegrass hay alone or with starch did not lead to SARA is the still high level of peNDF contained in hay, which helps maintain a high chewing index, 61 as well as the high CP content of the WSC-rich hay, adding to the ruminal buffering capacity. 60 Although feeding starch-rich diets is commonly associated with a decreased bacterial diversity and species richness, 62 the effects of feeding WSC-rich hay were less pronounced.…”

“…60 One reason why WSC-rich ryegrass hay alone or with starch did not lead to SARA is the still high level of peNDF contained in hay, which helps maintain a high chewing index, 61 as well as the high CP content of the WSC-rich hay, adding to the ruminal buffering capacity. 60 Although feeding starch-rich diets is commonly associated with a decreased bacterial diversity and species richness, 62 the effects of feeding WSC-rich hay were less pronounced. 13 Nevertheless, significant shifts on all taxonomic levels have been observed, demonstrating that WSC-rich ryegrass hay supports fructanolytic bacteria such as Pseudobutyrivibrio ruminis, whereas starch degrading genera such as Ruminobacter are inhibited.…”

Economic performance of high-energy diets and supplementation with chromium propionate or calcium salts of palm oil in ewes’ production

“…Starch fermentation increases the amount of propionate produced in the rumen, which increases the availability of glucose in the blood through hepatic gluconeogenesis (Klevenhusen, 2019). The inclusion of fat in the diet of ruminants improves energy efficiency by directly supplying long-chain fatty acids for fatty acid synthesis (Bhatt et al, 2013).…”