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The Effect of Fibrolytic Enzymes Sprayed onto Forages and Fed in a Total Mixed Ratio to Lactating Dairy Cows¹

L. Kung, Jr.^*, M. A. Cohen^*, L. M. Rode and R. J. Treacher

^* Delaware Agricultural Experiment Station Department of Animal and Food Sciences College of Agriculture Natural Resources University of Delaware Newark 19717-1303
Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada Lethbridge, Canada
Finnfeeds International Ltd. Marlborough, Wiltshire, U.K.

Corresponding author:
L. Kung, Jr.; e-mail:
lkung{at}udel.edu.

We investigated the effect of spraying different combinations of fibrolytic enzymes onto forages on their nutritive value for lactating cows. Holstein cows were fed a TMR consisting of 30% corn silage, 15% alfalfa hay, and 55% concentrate (dry matter basis). During a 12-wk treatment period, the forages were treated with no enzymes (control), cellulase D and sultanas B, or cellulase D and xylanase C. Enzymes were diluted in water and sprayed onto the forages while mixing. Both combinations of enzymes supplied similar amounts of fibrolytic activity based on classical enzyme assays conducted at 50°C. Cows fed forages treated with cellulase D and xylanase B tended to produce more 3.5% FCM (+2.5 kg/d) than did cows fed the untreated forages. Dry matter intake, milk production, milk fat, and milk protein were unaffected by treatment. In vitro production of gas from forages treated with enzymes was greater than from untreated forage, but 96-h volatile fatty acid production was not different among treatments. With an alternative enzyme assay based on the depolymerization of dyed substrate at 40°C, activity of xylanase C was greatest at a pH of 6.5 but was substantially reduced as the pH of the assay was decreased. In contrast, xylanase B showed highest activity at pH 5 and enzyme activity was twice that of xylanase B at pH 5.5 and 6. Overall, the results of this study provide more evidence that fibrolytic enzymes can be used to improve milk production in lactating cows.

Key Words: cellulase • xylanase • enzyme • dairy cow

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