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Milk Production and Composition in Cows and Goats Fed -Ketoisocaproate

Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames 50011

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ABSTRACT

To examine whether -ketoisocaproate supplementation affects milk production, 10 goats were fed either 0 or 1.1% calcium--ketoisocaproate for 2 wk and 12 cows were fed either 0 or .75% Na -ketoisocaproate for 3 wk. Supplementation with -ketoisocaproate increased milk fat content, milk fat yield, and 4% FCM yield in cows by an average of 5, 10, and 8%, respectively, for the treatment period. In cows, response of milk fat yield to -ketoisocaproate was 120 g during wk 1 of treatment but diminished to 55 g by wk 3. Milk yield and milk protein yield tended to be greater in cows fed -ketoisocaproate, but milk production efficiency and body weight were not altered by treatment in either species. Supplementation with -ketoisocaproate had no significant effect on fatty acid composition of milk but tended to increase the percentage of C₁₀ and C₁₂ fatty acids. In goats, supplementation with -ketoisocaprate had no significant effect on milk production or composition, but trends toward increased milk fat and protein content were observed. Results indicate that -ketoisocaproate acutely stimulates milk fat production in lactating cows and that this effect seems to diminish with time.

² Present address: Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824.

³ Present address: Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.