Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T21:46:06.161Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effect of fish meal on the mobilization of body energy in dairy cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

E. R. Ørskov
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
G. W. Reid
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
C. A. G. Tait
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
Get access

Abstract

Thirty-two Friesian cows in early lactation were divided into four treatment groups to receive ad libitum a mixed diet consisting of silage (0·70) and grain-based concentrate (0·30). Fish meal was subsequently mixed into the diet at levels of 0, 40, 80 and 120 g/kg to provide crude protein concentration (g/kg dry matter) in the complete diets of 156, 181, 200 and 212 respectively. In the 2nd week after calving the yields of fat-corrected milk (FCM) were 28·5, 29·2, 32·0 and 34·9 kg/day for the four levels respectively; at this time, food intake was sufficient only to meet the calculated energy requirement for 15 kg FCM per day. Due to recurring problems with ketosis on the diet containing 120 g fish meal per kg, this treatment was terminated and the experiment continued for 15 weeks with the groups receiving 0, 40 and 80 g/kg fish meal supplements. During this time average yields of FCM were 23·5, 25·6 and 28-0 kg FCM per day respectively and energy intakes were calculated to be sufficient to meet the requirement for 18 kg FCM per day.

It appeared possible to increase milk yield by stimulating fat mobilization through giving undegraded protein supplements to underfed cows in early lactation. However, when an excessive mobilization occurred with a high supplement, and when the animals were yielding 15 to 20 kg FCM more than their metabolizable energy intake was calculated to sustain, some cows became ketotic.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1987

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Agricultural Research Council. 1980. The Nutrient Requirements of Ruminant Livestock. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux, Slough.Google Scholar
Davidson, J., Mathieson, J. and Boyne, A. W. 1970. The use of automation in determining nitrogen by the Kjeldahl method, with final calculations by computer. Analyst, London 95: 181193.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cowan, R. T., Robinson, J. J., Greenhalgh, J. F. D. and McHattie, I. 1979. Body composition changes in lactating ewes estimated by serial slaughter and deuterium dilution. Animal Production 29: 8190.Google Scholar
Farhan, S. M. A. and Thomas, P. C. 1977. The effect of intra-abomasal infusions of glucose or casein on milk secretion in Saanen goats receiving a low-protein diet. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 3: 57A.Google Scholar
Moe, P. W., Tyrrell, H. F. and Flatt, W. P. 1970. Partial efficiency of energy use for maintenance, lactation, body gain and gestation in the dairy cow. In Energy Metabolism in Farm Animals (ed. Schiirch, A. and Wenk, C.), pp. 6567. Juris Druck and Verlag, Zurich.Google Scholar
Ørskov, E. R. 1980. Possible nutritional constraints in meeting the energy and protein requirement of highly productive ruminants. In Digestive Physiology and Metabolism in Ruminants (ed. Ruckebusch, Y. and Thivend, P.), pp. 309327. MTP Press, Lancaster.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ørskov, E. R., Grubb, D. A. and Kay, R. N. B. 1977. Effect of postruminal glucose or protein supplementation on milk yield and composition in Friesian cows in early lactation and negative energy balance. British Journal of Nutrition 38: 397405.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ørskov, E. R., Reid, G. W. and Tait, C. A. G. 1982. The effect of different levels of inclusion of fish meal in high-silage diets for cows in early lactation. Animal Production 34: 361 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Ranawana, S. S. E. and Kellaway, R. C. 1977. Responses to postruminal infusions of graded levels of casein in lactating goats. British Journal of Nutrition 37: 6779.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Whitelaw, F. G., Milne, J. S., Ørskov, E. R. and Smith, J. S. 1986. The nitrogen and energy metabolism of lactating cows given abomasal infusion of casein. British Journal of Nutrition 55: 537556.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed