Energy Balance and Lactation Response in Holstein Cows Supplemented with Cottonseed with or Without Calcium Soap

¹ Department of Animal and Nutritional Sciences and Office of Biometrics, University of New Hampshire, Durham 03824
² Department of Animal Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington 05401

Holstein cows (n = 58, 21 primiparous), fed corn and wilted grass silages (63:37, DM basis) for free choice consumption, were assigned to control concentrate or supplemented concentrate during wk 1 to 16 postpartum with linted whole cottonseed (15% of projected DMI) alone or with Megalac® (.54 kg/d). Our objective was to examine the effects of fatty acids on energy and N balances, total tract digestibility, and milk fatty acids in wk 7 and 16 and to assess total lactation responses. During balance measurements, fatty acids constituted 4.1, 6.8, and 8.6% of DM in control, oilseed, and oilseed plus protected fatty acid diets. Fat additions reduced fiber digestion (attributed to oilseed) and, to some degree, DMI and milk yield, but enhanced fat test without affecting protein percentage. Supplementary fat increased the proportion of C_18:0 in milk at the expense of shortchain fatty acids. Supplemental oilseed with or without protected fatty acids reduced total heat production by 6% and reduced heat in excess of maintenance by 8%. Best estimates of NE_L in linted whole cottonseed and of fat in Megalac® were 1.81 and 5.69 Mcal/kg of DM. In total lactation, primiparous cows yielded more milk and FCM when fed oilseed plus Megalac® and less of each when fed oilseed alone than controls. In pluriparous cows, milk yield was reduced by 2.7 kg/d relative to other treatments when oilseed plus Megalac® was fed; FCM yield increased about 2 kg/d only when oilseed was supplemented alone. Overall, data suggest that basal ration fat and oilseed supplementation were too high or that supplementation should have been delayed until feed intake was higher.

Key Words: calcium soap • cottonseed • tissue balance

Submitted on October 4, 1991
Accepted on March 2, 1992

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