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Supplementation of Dairy Cow Diets with Ammonium Salts of Volatile Fatty Acids¹

Health and Nutrition Research Division, Eastman Chemicals Division Research Laboratories, P.O. Box 1911, Rochester, NY 14603

T. F. Sweeney

Department of Dairy and Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802

K. A. Cummins

Animal and Dairy Science, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849

H. R. Conrad

Department of Dairy Science, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, Wooster 44691

L. D. Muller

Department of Dairy and Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802

ABSTRACT

The objective was to determine the efficacy of a blend of ammonium salts of the volatile fatty acids, isobutyric, 2-methylbutyric, isovaleric, and valeric as a supplement to diets for dairy cows. Treatments of 0 (control) or 120 (supplemented) g/cow of the blend were fed daily from approximately 3 wk prepartum through a complete lactation. Five trials were conducted concurrently with a total of 116 multiparous Holstein cows. Dietary ingredients or combinations of ingredients differed in each of the trials. Diets contained either 1) corn gluten meal and urea, 2) soybean meal, or 3) cottonseed meal as the primary grain source of crude protein. The forage portion of the diets contained corn silage in combination with one or more of the following: alfalfa hay, alfalfa haylage, or wheat silage. Cows fed the supplement produced more milk and fat-corrected milk than the control cows for the 305-d lactation on four of the five diets, resulting in an average increase of 1.7 kg/d or 7%. Feed intake of cows on the supplemented diet was generally similar or lower than intake of the control cows throughout lactation, indicating that increased milk yield was associated with improved feed utilization. Percent milk fat was similar for cows on the supplemented diet, but fat yield was higher. Percent milk protein was lower for supplemented cows, but protein yield was about the same for both treatments because of higher milk yield. Health and reproduction were similar for all cows.

¹ Authorized for publication as Paper No. 7118 in the Journal Series of the Pennsyvania Agricultural Experiment Station.

² Present address: Eastman Chemicals Division, Animal Nutrition Supplements, Kingsport, TN 37662.