PSVIII-A-6 Effects of Feeding Ground Whole Flaxseed, Defatted Flaxseed Meal and Organic Flaxseed Meal on Production Performance, Rumen Fermentation, and Total-Tract Nutrient Digestibility in Dairy Cows

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to determine the effects of feeding ground whole flaxseed and two types of mechanically extracted flaxseed meals on dry matter intake (DMI), milk production and composition, ruminal fermentation characteristics, and total-tract nutrient digestibility in dairy cows. Twelve multiparous Holstein cows [122 ± 20 days in milk (DIM) at the start of the study] were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 4 dietary treatments. One square had 4 ruminally cannulated cows that were used to determine dietary effects on ruminal fermentation characteristics and total tract nutrient digestibility. The 4 dietary treatments tested were a barley silage-based diet with canola meal (CM; 21.1% of diet DM) as the main protein source (designated CON), and diets containing ground whole flaxseed (designated GWF; 4.92% of diet DM), defatted flaxseed meal (designated DFM; 19.7% of diet DM), or organic flaxseed meal (designated OFM; 20.2% of diet DM) as partial replacements for CM. The crude fat contents of CM, GWF, DFM, and OFM were 3.20, 37.7, 9.9, and 12.9% (DM basis), respectively, and experimental diets were balanced for crude fat content (4.51%; DM basis). Experimental periods consisted of 18 d of dietary adaptation and 10 d of data and sample collection. Orthogonal contrasts were used to test for the following treatment differences: CON vs. GWF; CON vs. [DFM + OFM]; and GWF vs. [DFM + OFM]. Dry matter intake was lower (P < 0.01) for cows fed CON compared with those fed GWF and [DFM + OFM]. Milk yield tended to be greater (P = 0.06) for cows fed CON compared with those fed GWF (P = 0.06) and [DFM + OFM] (P = 0.06). Milk fat content and yield were unaffected by diet; however, milk protein content was reduced for cows fed CON compared with those fed GWF (P = 0.001) and [DFM + OFM] (P < 0.001). Milk urea-N (MUN) concentration was greater (P ≤ 0.001) in cows fed CON compared with those GWF and [DFM + OFM]. Also, MUN concentration was decreased for cows fed GWF compared with those fed [DFM + OFM]. Ruminal NH3-N concentration was less (P ≤ 0.04) in cows fed CON than those fed GWF and [DFM + OFM], but ruminal pH and short-chain fatty acid concentrations were unaffected by diet. Fecal N excretion (g/d) was greater (P < 0.01) for cows fed CON compared with those fed GWF and [DFM + OFM] and, therefore, total-tract CP digestibility was reduced (P < 0.001) in cows fed CON compared with those fed GWF and [DFM + OFM]. In conclusion, partial replacement of CM with GWF or [DFM + OFM] increased DMI; however, it tended to reduce milk yield.