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Effect of protein level and grain source on milk production, nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation in primiparous Holstein cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2021

H. Mirzaei-Alamouti Open the ORCID record for H. Mirzaei-Alamouti [Opens in a new window] ,
A. Mohammad ,
M. Vazirigohar ,
P. Rezamand  and
M. Mansouryar
H. Mirzaei-Alamouti*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Zanjan, Zanjan45371-38791, Iran
A. Mohammad
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Zanjan, Zanjan45371-38791, Iran
M. Vazirigohar
Affiliation:
Zist Dam Group, University Incubator Center, University of Zanjan, Zanjan45371-38791, Iran
P. Rezamand
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Idaho, Moscow83844-2330, USA
M. Mansouryar*
Affiliation:
Zist Dam Group, University Incubator Center, University of Zanjan, Zanjan45371-38791, Iran
*
Authors for correspondence: H. Mirzaei-Alamouti, E-mail: alamoutih@znu.ac.ir; M. Mansouryar, E-mail: mansooryar@znu.ac.ir
Authors for correspondence: H. Mirzaei-Alamouti, E-mail: alamoutih@znu.ac.ir; M. Mansouryar, E-mail: mansooryar@znu.ac.ir
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Abstract

This study investigated whether the interaction of protein level and grain type can affect milk production, nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation in primiparous Holstein cows. Four dietary treatments were used: high-protein with barley as the only grain source, HP-B; (2) high-protein with an equal mix of barley and maize, HP-BM; (3) low-protein with barley as the only grain source, LP-B and (4) low-protein with equal proportions of barley and maize, LP-BM. High-protein diets showed no improvement in milk or protein yield compared with low-protein, but barley and maize mix diets increased energy-corrected milk yield and fat yield compared with barley-only diets. The highest total apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and neutral detergent fibre was observed for LP-BM whereas HP-BM showed the greatest crude protein digestibility. Treatment had no effect on total volatile fatty acid concentrations, molar proportion of acetate and propionate and acetate to propionate ratio. The lowest ruminal pH was observed for LP-B. High-protein diets resulted in greater concentrations of ammonia nitrogen (N), urinary N, blood and milk urea nitrogen compared with low-protein diets, whereas low-protein diets showed better nitrogen utilization efficiency. This study showed that primiparous lactating cows do not benefit from high-protein diets with different fermentation rates of grain sources, but barley and maize diets may improve milk production performance, ruminal fermentation and pH under the present dietary conditions. The current results on milk production performance should be interpreted with caution due to the small number of cows used (eight in each treatment).

Keywords

Barley graindairy cowmaize grainprotein
Type
Animal Research Paper
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 158 , Issue 8-9 , November 2020 , pp. 767 - 773
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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