Influence of dietary nonfiber carbohydrate concentration and supplementation of sucrose on lactation performance of cows fed fescue silage. 2003

D J R Cherney, and J H Cherney, and L E Chase
Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. djc6@cornell.edu

There is interest in knowing if the source of nonfibrous carbohydrates (NFC) influences milk production and composition. Our objective was to determine the effects of source (starch or sugar) and level of NFC in the diet on these parameters. A 4 x 4 Latin square replicated five times using early-lactation (56 +/- 9 DIM) Holstein cows was used; cows were offered one of two levels of NFC and either no added sucrose or sucrose substituting for 10% of the corn. Diets were balanced to meet National Research Council requirements for total protein, energy, and minerals. Tall fescue silage was included at one of two levels (0.95 or 1.25% of BW as forage NDF), resulting in diets with 40 and 30% NFC. The remaining ingredients consisted of high-moisture corn, soybean meal, SoyPlus, minerals, and vitamins. Megalac (0.45 kg) was used in the low NFC diets. High NFC diets were lower (P < 0.01) in neutral detergent fiber (NDF; 31.5%) and crude protein (CP; 19.6%) than the low NFC diet (35.8% NDF and 21.0% CP). Sucrose containing diets were somewhat lower (P < 0.01) in NDF (33.1%) than the no sucrose added diets (34.3%), but diets did not differ in CP%. Cows offered the high NFC level produced more milk (39.6 kg/d; P < 0.05) than those offered the low level (38.3 kg/d), primarily due to higher dry matter intake (P < 0.05). Cows consuming the high NFC diet also had lower (P < 0.05) milk fat (3.25%) and milk urea nitrogen (MUN; 13.7 mg/dl), and higher (P < 0.05) milk protein (2.58%) and milk lactose (4.81%) concentrations than cows offered the low NFC level (3.46% milk fat, 17.5 mg/dl MUN, 2.51% milk protein, and 4.74% milk lactose). Fat yield was higher (P < 0.05) for cows fed low NFC diets than cows fed high NFC diets, whereas protein and fat yield were lower (P < 0.05) for cows fed low NFC diets than those fed high NFC diets. The NFC source did not influence dry matter intake or milk production or milk component yield (P > 0.05). Milk lactose (4.79%) and MUN (16.0 mg/dl) concentrations were higher (P < 0.05) for cows offered sucrose as a portion of the NFC compared with those not offered sucrose (4.76% milk lactose and 15.2 mg/dl MUN). Results suggest that cows fed sucrose may utilize diet nitrogen less efficiently than those not fed sucrose, when sucrose is replacing a portion of the high-moisture corn in the diet.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007774 Lactation The processes of milk secretion by the maternal MAMMARY GLANDS after PARTURITION. The proliferation of the mammary glandular tissue, milk synthesis, and milk expulsion or let down are regulated by the interactions of several hormones including ESTRADIOL; PROGESTERONE; PROLACTIN; and OXYTOCIN. Lactation, Prolonged,Milk Secretion,Lactations, Prolonged,Milk Secretions,Prolonged Lactation,Prolonged Lactations
D008892 Milk The off-white liquid secreted by the mammary glands of humans and other mammals. It contains proteins, sugar, lipids, vitamins, and minerals. Cow Milk,Cow's Milk,Milk, Cow,Milk, Cow's
D009584 Nitrogen An element with the atomic symbol N, atomic number 7, and atomic weight [14.00643; 14.00728]. Nitrogen exists as a diatomic gas and makes up about 78% of the earth's atmosphere by volume. It is a constituent of proteins and nucleic acids and found in all living cells.
D002417 Cattle Domesticated bovine animals of the genus Bos, usually kept on a farm or ranch and used for the production of meat or dairy products or for heavy labor. Beef Cow,Bos grunniens,Bos indicus,Bos indicus Cattle,Bos taurus,Cow,Cow, Domestic,Dairy Cow,Holstein Cow,Indicine Cattle,Taurine Cattle,Taurus Cattle,Yak,Zebu,Beef Cows,Bos indicus Cattles,Cattle, Bos indicus,Cattle, Indicine,Cattle, Taurine,Cattle, Taurus,Cattles, Bos indicus,Cattles, Indicine,Cattles, Taurine,Cattles, Taurus,Cow, Beef,Cow, Dairy,Cow, Holstein,Cows,Dairy Cows,Domestic Cow,Domestic Cows,Indicine Cattles,Taurine Cattles,Taurus Cattles,Yaks,Zebus
D004040 Dietary Carbohydrates Carbohydrates present in food comprising digestible sugars and starches and indigestible cellulose and other dietary fibers. The former are the major source of energy. The sugars are in beet and cane sugar, fruits, honey, sweet corn, corn syrup, milk and milk products, etc.; the starches are in cereal grains, legumes (FABACEAE), tubers, etc. (From Claudio & Lagua, Nutrition and Diet Therapy Dictionary, 3d ed, p32, p277) Carbohydrates, Dietary,Carbohydrate, Dietary,Dietary Carbohydrate
D004043 Dietary Fiber The remnants of plant cell walls that are resistant to digestion by the alimentary enzymes of man. It comprises various polysaccharides and lignins. Fiber, Dietary,Roughage,Wheat Bran,Bran, Wheat,Brans, Wheat,Dietary Fibers,Fibers, Dietary,Roughages,Wheat Brans
D005260 Female Females
D006109 Poaceae A large family of narrow-leaved herbaceous grasses of the order Cyperales, subclass Commelinidae, class Liliopsida (monocotyledons). Food grains (EDIBLE GRAIN) come from members of this family. RHINITIS, ALLERGIC, SEASONAL can be induced by POLLEN of many of the grasses. Alopecurus,Arundo,Gramineae,Grasses,Imperata,Grass,Imperata cylindrica
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012820 Silage Fodder converted into succulent feed for livestock through processes of anaerobic fermentation (as in a silo).

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