Effect of reduced energy density of close-up diets on dry matter intake, lactation performance and energy balance in multiparous Holstein cows.

Wenming Huang,Amingguli Yasheng,Zhijun Cao,Yujia Tian,Shengli Li,Yajing Wang,Aminamu Simayi,Zhaohai Wu

doi:10.1186/2049-1891-5-30

Wenming Huang, Amingguli Yasheng + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/2049-1891-5-30

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Abstract

Energy intake prepartum is critically important to health, milk performance, and profitability of dairy cows. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of reduced energy density of close-up diets on dry matter intake (DMI), lactation performance and energy balance (EB) in multiparous Holstein cows which were housed in a free-stall barn and fed for ad libitum intake. Thirty-nine dry cows were blocked and assigned randomly to three groups fed a high energy density diet [HD, n = 13; 6.8 MJ of net energy for lactation (NEL)/kg; 14.0% crude protein (CP) ], or a middle energy density diet (MD, n = 13; 6.2 MJ NEL/kg; 14.0% CP), or a low energy density diet (LD, n = 13; 5.4 MJ NEL/kg; 14.0% CP) from d 21 before expected day of calving. After parturition, all cows were fed the same lactation diet to d 70 in milk (DIM). The DMI and NEL intake prepartum were decreased by the reduced energy density diets (P < 0.05). The LD group consumed 1.3 kg/d (DM) more diet compared with HD group in the last 24 h before calving. The milk yield and the postpartum DMI were increased by the reduced energy density diet prepartum (P < 0.05). The changes in BCS and BW prepartum and postpartum were not affected by prepartum diets. HD group had higher milk fat content and lower lactose content compared with LD group during the first 3 wk of lactation (P < 0.05). The energy consumption for HD, MD and LD groups were 149.8%, 126.2% and 101.1% of their calculated energy requirements prepartum (P < 0.05), and 72.7%, 73.1% and 75.2% during the first 4 wk postpartum, respectively. In conclusion, the low energy density prepartum diet was effective in controlling NEL intake prepartum, and was beneficial in increasing DMI and milk yield, and alleviating negative EB postpartum.

Highlights

The transition period is the most challenging time in the production cycle of dairy cows because of depressed dry matter intake (DMI) and marked changes in metabolism that support late gestation, parturition and the onset of milk synthesis
Net energy required for maintenance (NEM) was calculated as BW0.75 × 0.08 × 120% prepartum and BW0.75 × 0.08 × 110% postpartum
The total average DMI and NEL intake (NEI) of LD group were higher than that of HD group (P < 0.05) during the first 5 wk of lactation, and higher in LD group compared with HD and MD groups from 4 to 5 wk of lactation (P < 0.05)

Summary

Introduction

The transition period is the most challenging time in the production cycle of dairy cows because of depressed dry matter intake (DMI) and marked changes in metabolism that support late gestation, parturition and the onset of milk synthesis. Some researchers have suggested that prepartum DMI was positively correlated with postpartum DMI and prepartum DMI should be maximized to improve postpartum performance and health [4,9] In contrast to this viewpoint, most of the last decade’s research has shown that over consumption of energy prepartum often resulted in a slower increase in DMI postpartum compared with cows on a restricted intake [5,10,11] or fed on a low energy density diet containing wheat straw [11,12] and this was detrimental to cow health and liver function postpartum [11,13,14].

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