Liquid Feed Passage Route into Stomach Compartments, Influence of Abomasal Infusions on Plasma Glucose, and Supplementation of Dry Rations with Liquid Feeds from Lick-Wheel Feeders

Abstract

Passage route into stomach compartments of liquid feeds containing a marker was studied by feeding a liquid supplement and molasses from a lick-wheel feeder and by infusing the liquid supplement into the reticulorumen 30min prior to sampling contents of the reticulorumen and abomasum and 4h prior to sampling blood for plasma glucose. Recovery from reticulorumen and concentration of marker in abomasal ingesta gave no evidence of rumen bypass, this supported by a gross correlation of .92 between rumen ammonia nitrogen and nonprotein nitrogen intake from liquid feeds. Plasma glucose values were not different. Preinfusion and postinfusion plasma glucose values were similar for abomasal infusion of about 454g of molasses, 20% crude protein liquid supplement, and for the basal diet. Values were lower for abomasal infusion of the 35% crude protein liquid supplement (Pro-Lix) than for the 20% crude protein liquid supplement. When complete rations containing 11.5, 13.0, and 14.5% crude protein were supplemented with either molasses or a 20% crude protein liquid supplement fed from lick-wheel feeders, intake averaged .53 and .34kg per animal daily for the respective liquid feeds. There was no effect on milk yield, solids-corrected milk, milk fat content, protein content, solids-not-fat percent, or body weight change. There was an interaction of protein level and liquid feeds in which plasma glucose was increased by liquid feeds in higher but not in lower protein diets.