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Full-fat corn germ in diets for dairy cows as an alternative to ground corn

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2023

Antônio J. Netto ,
Marco A. S. da Gama ,
Sebastião I. Guido ,
Jonas G. Inácio ,
Juana C. C. Chagas ,
Mohammad Ramin Open the ORCID record for Mohammad Ramin [Opens in a new window] ,
Milena N. Rabelo ,
Silas B. Félix ,
Camila S. da Silva  and
Marcelo de A. Ferreira
Antônio J. Netto
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
Marco A. S. da Gama
Affiliation:
Embrapa Southeast Livestock, São Carlos, Brazil
Sebastião I. Guido
Affiliation:
Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco, São Bento do Una, Brazil
Jonas G. Inácio
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
Juana C. C. Chagas
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
Mohammad Ramin
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
Milena N. Rabelo
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
Silas B. Félix
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
Camila S. da Silva*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
Marcelo de A. Ferreira
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
*
Author for correspondence: Camila S. da Silva, Email: camilaszootecnia@gmail.com
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Abstract

The experiments reported in this research paper address the effects of replacing ground corn (GC) with full-fat corn germ (FFCG) on nutrient intake and digestibility, nitrogen utilization efficiency, performance, and predicted methane production in dairy cows fed cactus cladodes and sugarcane. We hypothesized that the inclusion of FFCG in the diet would not alter the performance of lactating cows but would reduce the predicted methane production in vivo. Ten multiparous Holstein cows at 90 ± 10 d of lactation and yielding 24.2 ± 3.5 kg milk/d were assigned to dietary treatments consisting of different levels of replacement of GC by FFCG (0; 25; 50; 75 and 100% of diet dry matter) in a replicated 5 × 5 Latin square design with 21-d periods. Methane production was predicted using an automated gas in vitro production system. Except for ether extract intake, which increased, the intake of all nutrients decreased linearly with the replacement of GC by FFCG. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and neutral detergent fiber reduced, whereas the digestibility of ether extract increased linearly with FFCG. There were no changes in the digestibility of crude protein. The nitrogen intake and daily excretion in urine and feces decreased, while nitrogen use efficiency increased linearly. There was no significant effect of diets on nitrogen balance or microbial protein synthesis and efficiency. The yield of protein, lactose and total solids in milk showed a quadratic behavior. On the other hand, milk fat yield and energy-corrected milk yield decreased linearly with the replacement of GC by FFCG. No effect on pH or ammonia nitrogen was observed. The production of methane (CH4, g/kg DM) and total CH4 (g/d), and CH4 intensity decreased linearly with the replacement of GC by FFCG. In conclusion, FFCG has been shown to be an effective source of fat to reduce methane production in dairy cows, partially supporting our initial hypothesis. However, as it decreases milk fat production, it is not recommended to replace more than 50% of GC by FFCG for lactating cows fed cactus cladodes and sugarcane.

Keywords

Alternative feedsin vitrolipid sourcesmethanetropical forage

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 90 , Issue 2 , May 2023 , pp. 111 - 117
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Hannah Dairy Research Foundation

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