Prilled Fat Research Articles

Comparative efficiency of various fats rich in medium-chain fatty acids to suppress ruminal methanogenesis as measured with RUSITEC

A RUSITEC apparatus equipped with eight fermenters was used to investigate the effects of seven different fats with high proportions of medium-chain fatty acids (C8:0–C16:0) supplied at a level of 53 g kg−1 DM. In detail, coconut oil, palm kernel oil, palm oil, tallow, milk fat and two types of canola oils, both genetically enriched with lauric acid, were compared with a diet supplemented with prilled fat. The prilled fat was selected from three different rumen-protected fats in a preliminary experiment as the least effective one regarding methane release. Palm kernel oil, coconut oil and one of the canola oils significantly (P < 0.05) decreased methane release, methanogens and ciliates whereas the other fats had only minor effects. With the use of the three effective fats, NDF degradation was also suppressed (P < 0.05), but the rumen fluid concentration of volatile fatty acids remained unchanged. However, at constant acetate proportion, butyrate proportion increased (P < 0.05) at the expense of propionate. Apart from a high proportion of lauric and myristic fatty acids in the fatty acid composition, complete melting at rumen fluid temperature seems to support the ability of some fats to reduce methanogenesis and to suppress methanogens and ciliates. Key words: Methane, fats, medium-chain fatty acids, laurate canola, fermentation, ruminants

Influence of Fat Source and Sorghum Grain Treatment on Performance and Digestibilities of High Yielding Dairy Cows

Forty-eight lactating Holstein cows averaging 81 d in milk were allotted to eight blocks based on milk yield during the 14-d pretreatment period and randomly assigned to six treatment groups in a 2×3 factorial arrangement of treatments for 64 d. Factors were type of sorghum grain processing dry-rolled vs. steam-flaked; fed at 34% of dry matter (DM) in a total mixed ration (TMR) based on alfalfa] and type of supplemental fat (2.5% of DM as cottonseed oil, tallow, or prilled fatty acids). Compared with dry-rolled sorghum, steam-flaked sorghum did not affect milk yield, fat percentage, or fat yield but did increase milk protein percentage, body weight gains, and estimated net energy for lactation (22%). Fat source did not affect lactational response, but, compared with tallow, prilled fatty acids tended to decrease DM intake. Steam-flaked sorghum, compared with dry-rolled sorghum, increased digestibilities of DM, organic matter, crude protein, and starch, regardless of fat source. The TMR containing prilled fat had lower digestibilities of DM and organic matter than did TMR containing cottonseed oil or tallow; and TMR containing prilled fat had lower digestibilities of crude protein and total fatty acids than did TMR containing tallow. This study showed that steam-flaking of sorghum grain increased milk protein content, body weight gains, and estimated net energy for lactation, regardless of dietary fat source.

Effects of Ruminally Inert Fat and Evaporative Cooling on Dairy Cows in Hot Environmental Temperatures

Under hot summer conditions of Tucson, Arizona, 24 Holstein cows (X¯ = 80 d of lactation) were assigned for 56 d to four treatments in a randomized block design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Factors were 1) medium [4.6% of dry matter (DM)] versus high (7.4% of DM) amounts of dietary fat and 2) corral shade only versus shade equipped with evaporative cooling. The high fat diet contained 3% prilled fatty acids. The efficiency of the conversion of feed to milk tended to be better for cows fed prilled fat than for cows fed medium dietary fat, but other lactation measurements were unaffected. Cows with access to evaporative cooling had greater milk yields than did cows with access to shade only. Prilled fatty acids did not depress the percentage of milk protein, but reduced short- and medium-chain fatty acids (C6:0 to C14:0) in milk fat and increased palmitic acid. Digestibilities of DM, organic matter, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and starch were unaffected by amount of fat or by cooling method, but prilled fatty acids tended to decrease apparent digestibility of fatty acids. No differences were observed among treatments in respiration rates or rectal temperatures. When rectal temperatures were determined, cows were crowded, which probably negated detection of an effect of evaporative cooling. Evaporative cooling increased milk yield of cows in hot weather, but the addition of 3% fatty acids did not increase yield, and no interactions were observed.

Dietary Prilled Fat and Layer Chicken Performance and Egg Composition ,

Prilled and poultry fat were fed at 2% to 58-wk-old hens and at 4% to 26-wk-old hens for 8 wk. Comparisons by dietary fat source were made within age groups for BW, feed consumption, egg production, egg weight, yolk cholesterol, and fatty acid composition, egg quality, plasma cholesterol, dietary fatty acid utilization, dietary ME, and gastrointestinal transit time of feed.Old hens fed prilled fat had lower egg weight, increased egg production, lower plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (P < 0.08), and reduced energy utilization. Young hens fed prilled fat were lighter in weight and had lower plasma total and low density and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Young hens fed prilled fat had a lower utilization of stearic acid (P < 0.07) but a higher utilization of linoleic acid. In both groups, prilled fat increased yolk saturated fatty acids and decreased polyunsaturated fatty acids. Gastrointestinal transit time of feed was increased by 29 to 31 min (P < 0.09) in young and old hens fed prilled fat.

The use of prilled fat to coat and protect amino acids from ruminal degradation

AbstractA series of trials was conducted to determine the effectiveness and limitations associated with the use of partially hydrogenated triglycerides as a protective coating to enhance amino acid escape from the rumen. Commercially prepared prills and laboratory‐synthesized prills containing either lysine or methionine were incubated from 0–24 h in situ, in a fistula Ted cow fed hay and grain (1:1, w/w DM). Multiple factors were found to affect the ability of fat to protect amino acids. Examination of prill size where prills were separated by sieves into sizes ranging from 703 μm to 2.5 mm indicated that, overall, larger prills provided greater protection than smaller prills. Differences in protection exist between amino acid source, as methionine recovery was consistently greater than lysine. Reduction of lysine particle size improved its protection, but was still not protected as well as methionine. Prills with iodine values (IV) of &lt; 1, 17 and 40 were also examined. Differences in protection between IV levels was not great, however, IV &lt; 1 and 17 provided greater protection than IV 40. Utilizing results from the various trials, maximal protection level was achieved (approximately 90%) for methionine in prills made from IV 17 which ranged in size from 2 to 2.5 mm.

The Influence of Forage Type on the Production Response of Lactating Dairy Cows Supplemented with Different Types of Dietary Fat

Research has demonstrated a difference in fat utilization by lactating dairy cows with different dietary forage types. Responses appear to be greatest on alfalfa-based diets and poorest on all corn silage-based diets. The addition of extruded soybeans to dairy cow diets containing corn silage and alfalfa hay increased fat-corrected milk (FCM) production by an average of 2.4% compared to 10% for all alfalfa silage-based diets. In 11 experiments, the addition of whole cottonseed (WCS) to corn silage-based diets decreased FCM production by an average of 4% whereas the addition of WCS to alfalfa hay-based diets increased average milk fat percent and FCM production by 11 and 6%, respectively. When WCS was included in diets with corn silage as the primary forage and alfalfa hay or bermudagrass hay as a secondary forage, the fatinduced milk fat depression found on corn silagebased diets appeared to be alleviated. Alfalfa diets supplemented with yellow grease increased average milk production by 6.6% with milk fat percentage unchanged. Results supported the inclusion of tallow at 500g/cow/day in diets based on ryegrass silage whereas the inclusion of tallow or blended animal-vegetable fats on corn silage- or cottonseed hull-based diets was not supported by summarized experiments. Supplementing corn silage/alfalfa silage-based diets with prilled fat increased FCM production by an average of 6.2% whereas the inclusion of prilled fat in alfalfa silage or corn silage based diets had inconsistent effects on production responses. The supplementation of different forage-based diets with Ca-salts of fatty acids resulted in an average FCM production increase of approximately 5%.

Nutrient Digestion and Lactation Performance of Dairy Cows Fed Combinations of Prilled Fat and Canola Oil

Four combinations of prilled fat and canola oil were fed to 10 lactating Holstein cows in a replicated 5×5 Latin square to determine whether mixing plant oil with a rumen inert fat had additive effects on digestive and lactation responses. Five diets of concentrate and corn silage (1:1, DM basis) contained either no added fat (control) or 5% fat comprising 100, 67, 33, or 0% prilled fat and the remainder canola oil. The fat supplement containing 100% prilled fat appeared to be rumen-inert because it caused no changes in ruminal VFA concentration, acetate to propionate ratio, or total tract fiber digestion. Prilled fat increased milk production, FCM, and milk fat percentage but decreased milk protein percentage, including casein content. Increasing canola oil in the fat supplement caused linear declines in ruminal VFA, acetate to propionate ratio, and milk production. Milk production efficiency (weight FCM/weight DMI) exceeded the control diet when fat supplements contained 100 or 67% prilled fat but dropped below control for 33 and 0% prilled fat. This study demonstrates additive effects of combining canola oil with hydrogenated, prilled fat on ruminal fermentation but nonadditive effects on milk production efficiency and milk composition. At low levels of supplementation, plant oils, such as the canola oil used in this study, can inhibit ruminal fermentation but still maintain milk production efficiency.

Effects of Hard Fats on In Vitro and In Vivo Rumen Fermentation, Milk Production, and Reproduction in Dairy Cows

Adding 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% of substrate as prilled or unprilled fatty acids [palmitic (47 to 48%), stearic (36 to 37%), and oleic (14%) acids] to an in vitro rumen fermenter had no effect on total VFA production. Acetate:propionate ratio was reduced by fatty acid concentrations of 15 and 20% (prilled and unprilled).In a 4 × 4 Latin square, increasing dietary prilled fatty acids (0, 3, 6, or 9% of DM) decreased DM intake, increased percentage of milk fat, and had no effect on percentage of milk protein. Milk volume and FCM increased with 3% but decreased with 6 and 9% dietary fatty acids. Rumen fluid acetate:propionate decreased with increasing dietary fatty acids.Holstein cows in three herds in Pennsylvania and Friesian cows in an Israeli herd were assigned randomly to receive, from 0 to 110 to 150 d postcalving, diets containing 0 or 2% of DM prilled fat. In Israel, dietary fat increased milk yield, FCM, and fat percentage during the first 90 d postcalving. In Pennsylvania, prilled fat had variable effects on milk composition and little effect on milk yield and FCM. Conception rate was improved in cows consuming rations containing prilled fat: first service, 59.1 versus 42.6%; all services, 59.3 versus 40.7%. The inclusion of prilled fat at 2% of DM in dairy cattle rations had slight effects on rumen fermentation, variable effects on milk yield and composition, and beneficial effects on conception rate.

Effects of Fat Supplementation and Immature Alfalfa to Concentrate Ratio on Lactation Performance of Dairy Cattle

Forty-six multiparous Holstein cows were assigned 5 d postpartum to a completely randomized design employing a 2 × 3 factorial treatment arrangement. Factors were 0 or 5% added prilled fat (DM basis) substituted for shelled corn and alfalfa silage fed in forage-to-concentrate ratios of 45:55, 64:36, and 84:16 (DM basis). Interactions between fat and forage level were not observed for any of the parameters measured. Energy density, calculated using data from a digestibility trial, was similar between 45:55 and 64:36 diets (1.66 Mcal NE1/kg) and was lower with 84:16 diets (1.48 Mcal NE1/kg) for the 100 d trial. Fat supplementation increased energy density of the diets (1.67 vs. 1.53 Mcal NE1/kg). Dry matter digestibility, energy intake, and 4% FCM yields were similar for cows fed 45:55 and 64:36 diets and lower for those fed the 84:16 diets. Fat supplementation did not affect DM digestibility. Dry matter intake declined with increasing forage level and fat supplementation. Milk yield decreased as forage level increased. Fat supplementation did not affect yield of milk or FCM. Milk fat percentage was lower for cows fed 45:55 than 64:36 or 84:16 diets. Fat supplementation increased milk fat percentage. Milk protein yield decreased as forage level increased but was unaffected by fat supplementation. Results suggest higher levels of concentrate support higher milk yields, and prilled fat supplementation improves fat test when fed with immature forages. Prilled fat supplementation did not enhance lactation performance because of depressed DM intake in early lactation.

Seasonal Effects of Prepartum and Postpartum Fat and Niacin Feeding on Lactation Performance and Lipid Metabolism

Control, prilled fat (5% of ration DM), niacin (12 g/d), or fat and niacin treatments were fed to 39 Holstein cows beginning 17 d prior to expected calving through 15 wk postpartum to determine effects on hepatic lipid content, plasma ketone concentration, and lactation performance. Cows were blocked according to season of calving (cool = November 1 through April 1, warm = April 2 through August 1). Fat supplementation tended to increase milk yield but only for cows that calved in the warm season. Milk composition was not affected by treatments. Fat supplementation did not decrease BW loss in early lactation but increased rate of BW gain after 8 wk postpartum. Dry matter intake and glucose, nonesterified fatty acid, and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations in plasma were not different among treatments. Fat and niacin supplementation tended to increase hepatic total lipid and triglyceride content. Between 17 d prior to expected calving and 1 to 2 d postpartum, hepatic lipid content increased approximately 2-fold and triglyceride content increased 6- to 10-fold. Hepatic lipid and triglyceride contents were greater postpartum during the warm season than the cool season and were greater at 5 wk than at freshening during the warm season but lower at 5 wk than at freshening during the cool season. The cause of the dramatic increase in hepatic lipid and triglyceride content prepartum is unknown.

Influence of Prilled Fat and Calcium Salt of Palm Oil Fatty Acids on Ruminal Fermentation and Nutrient Digestibility

Four rumen cannulated Holstein cows were used in a Latin square design to examine the effect of supplemental calcium salt of palm oil fatty acids (.68 kg/d) or prilled fat (.68 or .91 kg/d) on DM intake, rumen fermentation, and nutrient digestibility. Basal diet contained 45% concentrate, 27.5% alfalfa silage, and 27.5% corn silage (DM basis), and treatments were balanced for calcium. Dry matter intake was similar among treatments. Ruminal pH, total VFA, and molar percentage acetate and propionate were not affected by fat supplementation. Feeding prilled fat decreased slightly ruminal molar percentage butyrate. Forage DM and neutral detergent fiber disappearance from ruminally suspended dacron bags did not differ due to treatment. For unknown reasons, total tract apparent digestibility of DM and NDF was lower when cows received the low amount but not the high amount of prilled fat. Milk yield and fat percentage were not significantly affected by treatment. Milk protein was maintained during prilled fat supplementation but decreased .13% during calcium salt of palm oil fatty acid supplementation. Both fat supplements appeared inert in the rumen and did not markedly affect nutrient digestion when supplemented at 3.5% or less of the total ration DM.