Effects of Dietary Rumen-Protected Betaine Supplementation on Performance of Postpartum Dairy Cows and Immunity of Newborn Calves.

Beibei Wang,Kai Shi,Ruowei Guan,Jianxin Liu,Zihai Wei,Chong Wang,Hongyun Liu

doi:10.3390/ani9040167

Abstract

Simple SummaryBetaine plays an important role in growth, lactation, protein synthesis, and fat metabolism in animals, but there are few studies on transition dairy cows and newborn calves. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of rumen-protected betaine supplementation from four weeks before expected calving to six weeks postpartum regarding the lactation performance and blood metabolites of dairy cows and immunity of newborn calves. The results suggested that betaine supplementation tended to increase fat mobilization of postpartum dairy cows. Furthermore, compared to the control calves, the betaine calves had greater plasma total protein and globulin concentrations, which indicates that the immunity of the betaine calves might have improved. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of rumen-protected betaine supplementation on performance of postpartum dairy cows and immunity of newborn calves. Twenty-four multiparous Holstein dairy cows were randomly divided into the control (CON, n = 12) and rumen-protected betaine (BET, n = 12) groups after blocking by parity and milk yield during the previous lactation cycle. The cows were fed a basal total mixed ration diet without BET (CON) or with BET at 20 g/d per cow (BET) from four weeks before expected calving to six weeks postpartum. The results showed that betaine supplementation had no effect on dry matter intake and milk yield of the cows. The BET cows tended to increase feed efficiency (energy-corrected milk/dry matter intake) and body weight loss postpartum compared to the CON cows. The plasma β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations of the BET cows were greater at d seven after calving than those of the CON cows. Moreover, compared to the CON calves, the BET calves had greater plasma total protein and globulin concentrations. The plasma glucose concentrations of the BET calves tended to decrease relative to CON cows. In conclusion, rumen-protected betaine supplementation from four weeks before expected calving tended to increase fat mobilization of postpartum dairy cows, and might improve the immunity of newborn calves.

Highlights

During the transition period, dairy cows are in a state of great metabolic stress because of the increased demand for nutrients to maintain fetal growth and milk synthesis
Betaine supplementation had no effect on DMI, milk yield, and composition (p > 0.1, Table 2)
Monteiro et al (2017) [11] found that cows supplemented with betaine-containing molasses from 60 d before expected calving had higher milk yield, whereas no differences were observed in milk yield of cows supplemented with betaine-containing molasses from 24 d before expected calving, which is consistent with our results

Summary

Introduction

Dairy cows are in a state of great metabolic stress because of the increased demand for nutrients to maintain fetal growth and milk synthesis. Transition dairy cows tend to have negative energy and amino acid balance after calving, which leads to an increase in fat and protein mobilization in tissues [1,2]. The last two months of gestation, where 60% of the body weight gain before birth occurs [4], is critical for bovine fetal development. Betaine functions as a methyl donor and an organic osmolyte [2,5], which plays an important role in growth, lactation, protein synthesis, and fat metabolism in animals [6]. Betaine supplementation in the diets of steers increased body weight gain and fat deposition [7].

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