THE CHANGES OF METABOLIC STATUS AND LACTATION PERFORMANCE IN DAIRY COWS UNDER FEEDING TMR WITH GLYCERIN (GLYCEROL) SUPPLEMENT AT PERIPARTURIENT PERIOD

Rafał Bodarski¹, Tomasz Wertelecki¹, Felix Bommer², Stanisław Gosiewski^3
1 Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland
² Inter-Harz GmbH, Elmshorn, Germany
³ FHU OVER Poland

ABSTRACT

Experiment was conducted with 36 dairy cows (in II-VI lactation), divided as analogues to three groups per 12 weeks (3 weeks before calving to 0 day – day of calving and second period first 70 days of lactation): group I – without glycerin supplement, group II – 300 ml·head^-1·day^-1 and III – 500 ml·head^-1·day^-1 supplemented to daily feed ration. All cows were fed two kinds of TMR, according to DLG requirements for each physiological phases: for dry period and for the first 100 days of lactation. The body condition, feed intake, milk production, milk chemical composition and main blood metabolites as glucose, BHB, NEFA were analyzed in experimental period. Total milk production or mean daily milk yield in group II and III was higher in 10 weeks of lactation in comparison to control group about 14.6 and 12.5% respectively. With increase dose of glycerin the protein level in milk was increased (P<0.05). In group III in 3rd week of lactation the concentration of BHB in blood serum was higher but glucose lower in comparison to other groups. The concentration of NEFA in blood serum in group III in 1st and 3rd weeks of lactation and in group II in 3rd week after calving was lower in comparison to control (I) group. The feed intake (in DM) of TMR was better in both groups with supplemented glycerin in comparison to control, especially between 4. and 9. week of lactation (P<0.05). At 70 days in cows fed TMR with glycerin better body score condition index was observed in comparison to control (P<0.05).

Key words: dairy cows, glycerol, lactation performance, metabolite, periparturient.

INTRODUCTION

During the periparturient period in dairy cows is observed the decreasing of feed intake. In the opinion presented by Linn et al. [9] before calving feed intake by dairy cows is about 10-12 kg of DM, but after calving thought increase of requirements, possible feed intake is about to 15 kg of DM. In connection with therewith the higher milk production in first part of lactation is more dependent of reserve fat catabolism, but this physiological process lead to metabolic diseases as ketosis or fat liver syndrome [1, 4]. The prophylactic methods of metabolic diseases in post calving period inclusive special chemical feed supplements as: propylene glycol [2, 11] or propionic acids salts [10].

One of the alternative feed supplement for dairy cows on post calving period is a glycerin (glycerol), a waste product during bio-diesel production from rape or soya oil, and practical application this supplement for animal is gradually increasing [12].

The aim of present study was evaluation of glycerin employing as a feed supplement for dairy cows during periparturient period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The trial was conducted with 36 dairy cows (animals were from II toVI lactation) divided into three experimental groups as analogous – 12 animals per group (with included parameters: number of lactation, milk yield from the last lactation and body score index – Table 1). Cows were kept individually. Nutrition system during experiment contained two TMR rations: TMR feeding with dairy cows on first part of experiment: 3 weeks before calving to 0 day (day of calving) and second TMR on post calving part of experiment: first 100 days of lactation. All mixtures as TMR was balanced according to DLG 1997 standards. Compounds and chemical composition of diets presented in Table 2.

The experimental factor was a liquid form of pure glycerin (glycerol 99.7%) as a commercial product Energy Plus® added to groups II in dose 300 ml·head^-1 and III in dose 500 ml·head^-1 per 12 weeks (two weeks before calving and 10 weeks post calving) one time per each day (with morning feeding to TMR).

After calving one time per weeks the individually milk yield and dry matter of TMR intake was estimated. One time per month during milk production control the chemical milks’ composition was analyzed using Milkoscan apparatus. Also on the end of experiment the body score condition index was estimated for each experimental animals (according to BSC key). The blood chemical (include serum) parameters as glucose (full blood – One Touch Test), BHB betahydroxybutyrate acid (serum – Ranbut Randox test – kinetic enzymatic method with 2-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and UV method) and NEFA nonestrificated fatty acids (serum – NEFA Randox test – enzymatic method with acyl CoA synthetase, acyl CoA oxidase and peroxidase, and colorimetric method) was estimated from half numbers of cows in each group (6 cows) in period: 2 weeks before calving and 7, 21, 42 and 70 days of lactation. The blood samples were collected individually from external jugular vein before morning feeding.

All estimated results where statistically analyzed with one way ANOVA and Duncan test using SAS procedures [15].

RESULTS

The different level of glycerin supplement influenced a milk yield during first 10 weeks of lactation, Fig. 1. In first three weeks of lactation the highest milk production was observed in III group (500 ml of glycerin) in comparison with other groups (in second week these differences were significantly important P<0.05, too). In other weeks of lactation to end of experiment better milk production was observed in II group. Total milk production or mean daily milk yield in group II and III was higher (P<0.01) during 10 weeks of lactation in comparison to control group about 14.6 and 12.5% respectively (Table 3).

The glycerol supplement influenced a some chemical composition of milk, as f.e. protein content were statistically differenced between treatments (P<0.05). With increase dose of glycerin the protein level in milk was increased (Table 3). The other chemical compositions of milk as fat, urea, lactose and dry matter were not statistically changed by glycerin supplement (Table 3).

In whole experimental period the interesting tendency of changes the biochemical parameters in blood were observed (Figs. 2-4). In group III in 3rd week of lactation the concentration of BHB in blood serum was higher (Fig. 2) and in parallel the glucose concentration was lower in comparison to other groups (Fig. 3). The concentration of both metabolite markers in blood correspondences to values presented in references for healthy cows (without ketosis) [17]. The concentration of NEFA in blood serum in group III in 1st and 3rd weeks of lactation and in group II in 3rd week after calving was lower in comparison to control (I) group (Fig. 4). During next week of lactation the content of NEFA in blood serum was not changed between groups.

The feed intake (in DM) of TMR was better in both groups with supplemented glycerin in comparison to control, especially between 4. and 9. week of lactation (P<0.05) – Fig. 5. In whole period of lactation (to 70 day) the total feed intake was in group II and III significantly better about 2 kg (DM) then in control group (P<0.05), Fig. 6. Also the better feed intake in cows fed diets with glycerin supplement influenced a body condition index during 10 weeks of lactation. At 70 day in group II or III was observed better body score condition index in comparison to group I (P<0.05), Table 3.

DISCUSSION

Reported in present study positive effect of glycerin supplement as increase of feed intake and milk yield and decrease a body weight losses was observed in early study by Fisher et al. [5, 6], too. In contrary results presented by De Frain et al. [3] pointed that glycerin supplement to TMR for dairy cows has a negative effect on feed intake, decreased glucose content in blood, increased BHB concentration in serum and not changed the milk yield. In opinion presented by Remond et al. [14] the negative effect of glycerin supplement on dairy cows is dependent of specific metabolic path in rumen: after intake, for example with TMR, this compound could be very fast absorbed in unchanged form from the rumen (near 52% of intake glycerin) and the other percent of intake glycerin could be transformed to propionic acid and absorbed as volatile fatty acids. Second part of intake glycerin – 48% could be fermented in rumen to acetic or butyric acids. In opinion presented by Remond et al. [14] the first metabolic pathway of glycerin is more effective for ruminants, from rest of glycerin or propionic acids the glucose could be formed in liver. This way of glycerin changes to glucose could be a better for ketosis prophylactics. From the other side a second metabolic pathway of glycerin transformation to butyric acid is more dangerous for dairy cows, because this volatile fatty acid is a main precursor of betahydroxybutyric acid - ketosis biochemical marker [13]. Into consideration to presented thesis about glycerin metabolic ways, sometimes in practice were observed different results of that supplementation as a glycerin addition could intensified a ketosis effect in dairy cows [3]. Some authors suggested that important factor during glycerin supplementation for dairy cows is a technical aspect of addition: more effective and better results in ketosis prophylactic was observed by Goff and Horst [7] or Kaiser et al. [8], when glycerin has been added in drench.

In presented studies with the higher glycerin supplement (group III – 500 ml) was observed increase of BHB and decrease of glucose concentration, according to results presented by De Frain et al. [3], but in everyone cows were not observed a ketosis symptoms (according to veterinary sings of ketosis). In present experiment the better production parameters of dairy cows fed TMR with glycerin could be explain by influence this supplement on energy balance in rumen. Used in experiment standard TMR has a lower concentration of NFC and starch, higher of NDF in comparison to data from study of DeFrain et al. [3] and nitrogen balance was about +77.4 in rumen g. These results suggested that the experimental TMRs has higher concentration of nitrogen in comparison to useful energy for rumen (according to DLG thesis – nitrogen balance). Supplement of glycerin could compensated a possible energy deficient in rumen, which intensified microbial protein synthesis. This process was in positively correlation with higher protein content in milk, what has been observed.

Also the sweet flavor of glycerin and possible better rumen fermentation increased feed intake by cows from group II and III. The other studies, for example presented by Vallimont et al. [16] pointed on high significant correlation coefficients (negative value) between feed intake per day and concentration in serum of NEFA in dairy cows. At this study in groups fed TMR with glycerin supplement NEFA content in serum was lower in comparison to control group. Similarly the body score condition index was higher in “glycerin” groups, than in control cows, as an effect of better dietary energy balance.

CONCLUSIONS

In presented conditions a glycerin supplementation for TMR fed with dairy cows during periparturient period (from 2 weeks before calving to 10 weeks after calving) increased dry matter intake, milk production and protein content in milk, as well as decreased a body weight losses and fat tissue lipolysis in this critical physiological time to first 10 weeks after calving. From the other side presented in experiment system of glycerin application were not effectively for ketosis prophylactic, because not increased glucose content and not decreased a BHB level in blood.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors express their appreciation to the Inter-Harz GmbH, Germany and FHU OVER, Poland for financial support of this study.

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