HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kung, L. Articles by Cook, R. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Kung, L., Jr. Articles by Cook, R. M.

Influence of Adding Malic Acid to Dairy Cattle Rations on Milk Production, Rumen Volatile Acids, Digestibility, and Nitrogen Utilization¹

Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824

ABSTRACT

Thirty-two lactating Holstein cows (16 in early and 16 in midlactation) were fed for 100 days either 0, 70, 105, or 140 g of malic acid per day. Rations were corn and corn silage, and 25% of the total nitrogen was urea. Milk persistency was greater for the group fed 140 g malic acid per day. Malic acid increased total volatile fatty acids during early lactation. Intake of dry matter, milk composition, glucose and urea in plasma, and rumen ammonia and pH did not differ among treatments.

In another study, six steers with rumen fistulas received 0, 100, or 200 mg/kg body weight of malic acid in a Latin square design. The basal diet was ground shelled corn and corn silage (equal dry matter) supplemented with urea to increase crude protein to 12% (of dry matter) and minerals. Malic acid increased rumen propionate, but digestibilities of nutrients, retained nitrogen, urea and ammonia in plasma, and rumen ammonia did not differ among treatments.

In a third trial four rumen-fistulated steers received malic acid at 0 and 200 mg/kg body weight in a 2 x 2 Latin square. In this trial 80% of the dry matter was high moisture corn, and 20% was corn silage. Rumen propionate again tended to be greater for steers fed malic acid. No differences among treatments were shown for other rumen and blood measurements.

¹ Published with approval of the Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station as Journal Article No. 9936. Partially supported by Dow Chemical Co., Midland, MI.

² T and K Consultants, Mason, MI.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. W. Cardozo, S. Calsamiglia, A. Ferret, and C. Kamel Effects of alfalfa extract, anise, capsicum, and a mixture of cinnamaldehyde and eugenol on ruminal fermentation and protein degradation in beef heifers fed a high-concentrate diet J Anim Sci, October 1, 2006; 84(10): 2801 - 2808. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. D. Carro, M. J. Ranilla, F. J. Giraldez, and A. R. Mantecon Effects of malate on diet digestibility, microbial protein synthesis, plasma metabolites, and performance of growing lambs fed a high-concentrate diet J Anim Sci, February 1, 2006; 84(2): 405 - 410. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. Vicini, H. G. Bateman, M. K. Bhat, J. H. Clark, R. A. Erdman, R. H. Phipps, M. E. Van Amburgh, G. F. Hartnell, R. L. Hintz, and D. L. Hard Effect of Feeding Supplemental Fibrolytic Enzymes or Soluble Sugars with Malic Acid on Milk Production J Dairy Sci, February 1, 2003; 86(2): 576 - 585. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]