The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different levels of fibrolytic enzyme on nutrient utilization and milk production in dairy cows. Four multiparous early-to-mid-lactation Holstein-Friesian crossbred cows were randomly allocated in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Cows were fed a balanced total mixed ration (TMR) on a dry matter (DM) basis containing 0, 1.2, 2.4, and 3.6g/kg DM of fibrolytic enzyme in TMR, where the TMR comprises 60% concentrate supplemented with a fibrolytic enzyme at 0, 2, 4, and 6g/kg DM of concentrate, and 40% urea-molasses-treated sugarcane bagasse (UMSB) was used as a roughage source. Fibrolytic enzyme supplementation in TMR containing UMSB did not affect dry matter intake (DMI) of dairy cows (p > 0.05). There was a quadratic effect of fibrolytic enzyme levels on the digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) (p < 0.05), and the maximal response was reached at 1.2-2.4g/kg DM of fibrolytic enzyme added in the TMR. Furthermore, 3.5% fat-corrected milk, milk fat, total volatile fatty acids, and propionic acid were greater in a cow fed with 1.2-2.4g/kg DM of fibrolytic enzyme, resulting in a lower ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid (p < 0.05). In conclusion, adding a fibrolytic enzyme in TMR containing UMSB improved nutrient utilization, rumen fermentation, and milk production of lactating dairy cows.
Read full abstract