Abstract
This study aimed to monitor the effect of including rumen-protected L-carnitine (Carneon 20 Rumin-Pro, Kaesler Nutrition GmbH, Cuxhaven, Germany) in the transition diet on the productive and metabolic responses of multiparous high-producing Holstein dairy cows. Thirty-two multiparous cows were allocated in a completely randomized design to receive the same diet plus 60 g fat prill containing 85% palmitic acid (control, n = 16) or 100 g rumen-protected L-carnitine (RLC, n = 16); at 28 days before expected calving until 28 days in milk (DIM). Fat prill was included in the control diet to balance the palmitic acid content of both experimental diets. Milk production over the 28 DIM for the control and RLC groups was 46.5 and 47.7 kg, respectively. Milk fat content tended to increase upon rumen-protected L-carnitine inclusion (p = 0.1). Cows fed rumen-protected L-carnitine had higher fat- and energy-corrected milk compared with the control group. Pre- and post-partum administration of L-carnitine decreased both high- and low-density lipoprotein concentrations in peripheral blood of post-partum cows. The results of this study indicated that the concentration of triglycerides and beta-hydroxybutyrate was not significantly different between the groups, whereas the blood non-esterified fatty acid concentration was markedly decreased in cows supplemented with L-carnitine. Animals in the RLC group had a significant (p < 0.05) lower blood haptoglobin concentration at 7 and 14 DIM than the control. Animals in the RLC group had a lower concentration of blood enzymes than those of the control group. The mRNA abundance of Toll-like receptors 4, cluster of differentiation 14, and myeloid differential protein 2 did not significantly change upon the supplementation of L-carnitine in the transition diet. In summary, the dietary inclusion of RLC improved dairy cow's performance during the early lactation period. Greater production, at least in part, is driven by improved energy utilization efficiency and enhanced metabolic status in animals during the periparturient period.
Highlights
In dairy cows, the transition from gestation to lactation is challenged by energy requirement for milk production and secretion, inadequate feed intake, and metabolic disorders [1, 2]
Milk SCC clearly decreased (p < 0.05) in the cows fed the transition diet supplemented with the rumenprotected L-carnitine
Results of the present experiment provide evidence that dietary inclusion of rumen-protected L-carnitine during the transition period could improve the productivity of highproducing dairy cows early post-partum
Summary
The transition from gestation to lactation is challenged by energy requirement for milk production and secretion, inadequate feed intake, and metabolic disorders [1, 2]. Concentrations of various hormones and metabolites begin to alter in order to support the milk yield [2] This would eventually lead to higher milk production while there is a lag in the dry matter intake (DMI) to provide nutrient demands of the animals post-partum. This phenomenon triggers the animals to mobilize the body fat reservoirs, which enters them in a state of negative energy balance and could last for a long period (i.e., several months) in various cases [5]. Cows with a metabolic challenge have a more pronounced decrease in BCS from days 14 to 35 after calving, indicative of a higher degree of body fat mobilization
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
