The effects of a ration change from a total mixed ration to pasture on health and production of dairy cows.

In pasture-based dairy production systems, dairy cows often receive a silage- and concentrate-based ration [total mixed ration (TMR)] during wintertime and are gradually introduced to fresh herbage in spring. The present study aimed to investigate how the transition to this new nutritional situation influenced different production and health indicators. A 10-wk trial was performed in spring 2014, including 60 dairy cows of the German Holstein breed (166±23 d in milk, 23.5±3.7 kg of milk/d; means ± SD). The cows were divided into a pasture and a confinement group (PG and CG, respectively). The CG stayed on a TMR-based diet (35% corn silage, 35% grass silage, 30% concentrate; DM basis), whereas the PG was gradually transitioned from a TMR- to a pasture-based ration (wk 1=TMR-only, wk 2=3 h/d on pasture, wk 3 and 4=12 h/d on pasture, wk 5-10=pasture-only). A continuous grazing system was implemented on a ryegrass dominated pasture and temperature humidity indices were assessed based on continuous recording of temperature and humidity indoors as well as outdoors. Dry matter intake (DMI) from TMR, milk production, body weight (BW), and body condition score decreased as soon as the PG had partial access to pasture. Milk production and BW decreased even further in the first week on a full grazing ration, but thereafter BW increased again and milk production stabilized. The DMI estimation using the n-alkane method in wk 7 and 9 revealed an increase in DMI from pasture between the 2 time points and indicates an adaptation of grazing behavior and metabolism over several weeks. Increased serum ß-hydroxybutyrate and fatty acids concentrations at several time points, as well as a continuous body condition score decrease during the whole course of the trial, indicate an energy deficit in the PG. A significant correlation between serum glucose concentrations and the temperature humidity indices was observed. An increase in serum and milk urea concentrations as well as an increase in the urine total N to creatinine ratio occurred in the PG. To assess possible negative effects of the ration change on metabolic and liver health, different clinical chemistry variables and complete blood counts were assessed. No biologically relevant changes were observed for serum albumin, total protein, cholesterol, aspartate transaminase, γ-glutamyltransferase, and glutamate dehydrogenase concentrations, as well as for white and red blood cell counts.

Variation in amino acid digestibility of rapeseed meal studied in caecectomised laying hens and relationship with chemical constituents.

1. The objectives were to study the variation in amino acid (AA) digestibility of rapeseed meal in laying hens and to investigate whether the variation in AA digestibility can be explained by chemical constituents of the rapeseed meal. Nine rapeseed meals from different processing plants operating in Germany were used. The crude protein and crude fibre concentrations of the meals ranged from 367 to 410 and 137 to 175 g/kg dry matter (DM), respectively. The concentrations of total glucosinolates varied between 5.1 and 12.9 mmol/kg DM. Each meal was included in one of the experimental diets at an inclusion level of 200 g/kg at the expense of maize starch. 2. A total of 16 Lohmann Brown laying hens were used for this experiment and were surgically caecectomised. They were housed individually in metabolism cages. Each of the 10 diets was fed to at least 6 hens in 4 periods of two weeks duration. Excreta were collected during the last 5 d of each period. The digestibility coefficient of AA was calculated for each diet. The digestibility of the rapeseed meals was calculated by multiple linear regression analysis. 3. Mean essential AA digestibility of rapeseed meals varied between 0.78 and 0.84. Among the essential amino acids, the ighest level of digestibility was found for arginine (0.88) and methionine (0.87), and the lowest for lysine (0.74) and threonine (0.75). The highest variation between rapeseed meals in digestibility was found for threonine (0.68 to 0.79) and lysine (0.68 to 0.78). The concentration of neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen of the rapeseed meals was negatively correlated with the digestibility of lysine, but was not significantly correlated with digestibility of any other AA. Glucosinolate concentration was significantly correlated with valine digestibility. 4. Multiple regression analysis showed that the concentrations of crude protein and ash together were the major factors considered to explain variation in digestibility of essential AA. Additional consideration of neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen and total glucosinolates improved the goodness of fit only marginally and was unlikely to be of practical significance.

Effects of pressed beet pulp silage inclusion in maize-based rations on performance of high-yielding dairy cows and parameters of rumen fermentation.

Beet pulp contains high amounts of pectins that can reduce the risk of rumen disorders compared to using feedstuffs high in starch. The objective was to study the effects of inclusion of ensiled pressed beet pulp in total mixed rations (TMR) for high-yielding dairy cows. Two TMR containing no or about 20% (on dry matter (DM) basis) beet pulp silage were used. The beet pulp silage mainly replaced maize silage and corn cob silage. The TMR were intentionally equal in the concentrations of energy and utilisable crude protein (CP) at the duodenum. TMR were fed to 39 and 40 dairy cows, respectively, for 118 days. The average daily milk yield was about 43 kg/day. No significant differences in milk yield and milk fat or milk protein content were detected. DM intake of cows was significantly reduced by the inclusion of beet pulp silage (23.0 v. 24.5 kg/day). However, a digestibility study, separately conducted with sheep, showed a significantly higher organic matter digestibility and metabolisable energy concentration for the TMR that contained beet pulp silage. In vitro gas production kinetics indicated that the intensity of fermentation was lower in the TMR that contained beet pulp silage. In vitro production of short-chain fatty acids, studied using a Rusitec, did not differ between the TMR. However, the inclusion of beet pulp silage in the ration caused a significant reduction in the efficiency of microbial CP synthesis in vitro. The amino acid profile of microbial protein remained unchanged. It was concluded that beet pulp silage has specific effects on ruminal fermentation that may depress feed intake of cows but improve digestibility. An inclusion of beet pulp silage of up to 20% of DM in rations for high-yielding dairy cows is possible without significant effects on milk yield and milk protein or milk fat.

Effects of using thermally treated lupins instead of soybean meal and rapeseed meal in total mixed rations on in vitro microbial yield and performance of dairy cows.

The objective was to study whether thermally treated lupins (TTL) can replace solvent-extracted soybean meal (SBM) and rapeseed meal (RSM) in dairy cow rations. Three total mixed rations (TMR) were used. They differed in the inclusion of the main protein feeds (TTL alone, TTL + RSM and RSM + SBM) but were equal in organic matter digestibility and metabolizable energy content. In vitro organic matter fermentation was not significantly different between the TMR. Efficiency of microbial crude protein (MCP) synthesis was significantly higher for TMR RSM + SBM than for TTL. In vitro gas production potential was similar for the three TMR. The maximal rate of gas production was achieved later in TMR TTL than in RSM + SBM. Feed intake of dairy cows was significantly lower when TMR TTL was fed than when TMR TTL + RSM or RSM + SBM were fed. Milk yield was significantly lower with the high inclusion rate of TTL in comparison with the other TMR. The contents of milk protein and milk fat were significantly lower when the two TTL containing TMR were fed in comparison with the RSM + SBM ration. Effects of TTL inclusion on MCP synthesis may affect the amino acid supply to the duodenum of cows to a greater extent than differences in the degradability of feed proteins.

[Studies on the use of lucerne silage source for high-milk-producing dairy cows]. / Zum Einsatz von Luzernesilage bei Kühen mit hoher Milchleistung.

Studies on the use of lucerne silage as a forage source for high-yielding dairy cows. It was the main objective of this study to investigate effects of lucerne silage inclusion in maize silage-based rations on dry matter intake, milk yield and metabolic parameters of high yielding dairy cows. Three total mixed rations (TMR) were used. They contained as the main forage source on a dry matter basis 41.5% maize silage and 12% grass silage (ration maize) or 18% maize silage and 29% of either grass silage (ration grass) or lucerne silage (ration lucerne). Organic matter digestibility, determined with wether sheep, was 77 and 65% for the grass and the lucerne silage, respectively. Each TMR was fed to 4 wether sheep to determine crude nutrient digestibilities. The content of net energy for lactation (NEL), as calculated from digestible crude nutrients, was (MJ/kg dry matter (DM)): 7.1 (maize), 7.2 (grass) and 6.8 (lucerne). Based on the results of a chemical fractionation of crude protein it was calculated that the content of utilisable crude protein (nXP) was not below 167 g/kg DM and that the N balance in the rumen was not negative for all 3 TMR. The TMR were fed for 169 days to at least 28 dairy cows per treatment which were in their first half of lactation. Feed intake, milk performance data and physiological indicators were measured for each individual cow. The DM intake was significantly higher in treatment lucerne (23.2 kg/d) than in treatments grass (21.2 kg/d) and maize (22.6 kg/d). Daily intakes of NEL and nXP were significantly lower in treatment grass than in the other two treatments. Milk yield was significantly higher in treatment maize (41.7 kg/d) than in treatments grass (37.3 kg/d) and lucerne (38.5 kg/d). This was associated with a significantly lower milk fat content in treatment maize (3.5%) in comparison with the other two treatments (3.9% each). Milk protein content was unaffected by treatment (3.4% on average). Similarly, the acetone content of milk was not significantly different between treatments. The beta-hydroxybutyrate content of the deproteinized blood was significantly higher in treatment lucerne at start of lactation, but this difference disappeared in subsequent parts of the experimental period. Measurements of back fat thickness indicated mobilisation and retention of energy by cows during the experimental period to be similar in all treatments. It is concluded that lucerne silage is a suitable forage source for high yielding dairy cows in spite of its low digestibility.