Effects of rumen-protected methionine supplementation on the performance of high production dairy cows in the tropics.

Increasing methionine availability in dairy cow diets during the first third of lactation may enhance their performance and health. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of supplementing rumen-protected methionine (Smartamine® M, SM) in a lactation diet with protein and energy levels calculated according to the literature. Seventy-six multiparous Holstein cows (39.1 ± 6.8 kg of milk/d and 65 ± 28 DIM) were assigned to 1 of 2 dietary treatments (38/treatment) according to a randomized complete block design with a 2-wk (covariate) and 10-wk experimental period. Treatments were a basal diet (CON; 3.77 Lys:1Met); and CON + 23 g SM (2.97 Lys:1 Met). Individual milk samples were taken every 2 weeks to determine milk composition. Blood was collected from 24 cows on d+30 d to measure plasma AA levels. Body weight and body condition score (BCS) were measured at the beginning and the end of the experiment. The SM diet promoted higher milk yield (41.7 vs. 40.1 kg/d; P = 0.03). Energy-corrected milk yield (41.0 vs. 38.0 kg/d), milk protein yield (1.30 vs. 1.18 kg/d), milk protein (3.14% vs. 2.97%) and casein (2.39% vs. 2.28%) were also different (P < 0.01) as well as milk fat yield (1.42 vs. 1.29 kg/d; P = 0.02). A trend (P = 0.06) for higher milk fat % (3.41% vs. 3.21%) was observed. Both diets resulted in similar body weight, but CON-fed cows tended (P = 0.08) to have higher BCS. Higher plasma methionine levels were determined with SM compared with CON (29.6 vs. 18.4 µM; P < 0.01), but lysine and histidine were not different. Dietary supplementation of RPM improved productive performance by increasing milk yield and milk components yields, suggesting better dietary AA utilization when Met levels are adjusted in Lys-adequate lactation diets.

Production and bromatological composition of pearl millet genotypes for pasture manned in different cutting heights / Produção e composição bromatológica de genótipos de milheto para pastejo manejados em diferentes alturas de corte

Desenvolveu-se esse estudo com o objetivo de avaliar a produção e a composição bromatológica de genótipos de milheto, manejados em diferentes alturas e submetidos a vários cortes. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos completos ao acaso, com medidas repetidas no tempo, com quatro repetições, em esquema fatorial 3 x 3, sendo três cultivares de milheto (ADR 500, LAB 1542 e LAB 1838) e três alturas média de cortes (60; 80 e 100 cm). As avaliações foram realizadas durante quatro meses, consistindo de avaliações por cortes nas mesmas parcelas. Os resultados demonstraram que os genótipos de milheto representam uma boa alternativa para pastejo. Os genótipos (ADR 500; LAB 1542 e LAB 1838), apresentaram produção de massa seca e composição bromatológica semelhantes entre os materiais. A qualidade da forragem é afetada pelo manejo da altura de corte, sendo assim recomenda-se que os genótipos de milheto sejam manejados nas alturas de 80 cm, para associar melhor produção e qualidade da forragem.