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Calcium Sources for Milk Production in Holstein Cows via Changes in Dry Matter Intake, Mineral Utilization, and Mineral Source Buffering Potential¹

Cook College, Rutgers — The State University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903

ABSTRACT

Three supplemental sources of inorganic calcium (calcite flour, aragonite, albacar), each differing in particle size and rate of reactivity, provided .6 or .9% calcium in corn silage:grain (1:1 dry matter) diets of high producing dairy cows. All cows were fed calcite flour at .6% calcium during the first 4 wk of lactation. On d 29 of lactation 5 cows were assigned to each of the six diets. Peak milk yield paralleled dry matter intake and was 1) higher when calcite flour and aragonite provided .9% calcium, 2) intermediate when all sources provided .6% calcium, and 3) lower when albacar provided .9% calcium. However, adaptations to calcium source and to particle sizes of a calcium source (.35 to 1190 µ) were made within 40 d by lactating Holsteins. Starch increased and pH decreased in feces of cows fed albacar. Increasing calcium in the diet provided more buffering capacity in the gastrointestinal tract. True absorption of calcium did not differ from linearity due to source when fecal calcium was regressed on ingested calcium but did vary as a function of diet percentage. Thus, calcium retention was increased when cows were fed .9 vs. .6% calcium. These data suggest that a slow reacting (coarser) inorganic calcium source should be fed at a higher amount to optimize feed intake and milk production.

¹ New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Publication Number D-06901-1-86. Supported by state Regional Research Project 108, US Department of Agriculture Animal Health, and Harold Wetterberg Foundation Funds. Material and financial support were also received from Limestone Products Corp., Sparta, NJ; Agway Inc., Syracuse, NY; and FMC Corporation, Princeton, NJ.

² Department of Animal Sciences.