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Effects of B vitamins and methyl group donors on milk production, milk composition and blood biochemistry in dairy cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

S.E Richards
Affiliation:
NuTec Ltd, Eastern Avenue, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 7SE, U.K.
S Hicklin
Affiliation:
Myerscough Agricultural College, Myerscough Hall, Bilsborrow, Preston, Lancashire, PR3 0RY, U.K.
T Lord
Affiliation:
Myerscough Agricultural College, Myerscough Hall, Bilsborrow, Preston, Lancashire, PR3 0RY, U.K.
A Nickson
Affiliation:
Myerscough Agricultural College, Myerscough Hall, Bilsborrow, Preston, Lancashire, PR3 0RY, U.K.
J Long
Affiliation:
Pye Farm Feeds, Lansil Way, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA1 3QY, UK
J Brackenbury
Affiliation:
NuTec Ltd, Eastern Avenue, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 7SE, U.K.
J.R. Newbold
Affiliation:
Provimi Research & Technology Centre, Sint-Stevens-Woluwe, B-1932 Belgium
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Extract

Recent reviews highlight the importance of the liver in the coordination of nutrient fluxes in support of pregnancy and lactation (e.g. Drackley et al., 2001). Mobilisation of body fat reserves in the late dry period and early lactation leads to an increase in uptake of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) by the liver. Their metabolic fate is either oxidation or esterification into triacylglycerides (TAG) that are either exported in very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) or accumulated within liver cells. Recent evidence indicates that TAG accumulation impairs ureagenic and gluconeogenic capacity of the liver, with consequent reductions in feed intake and milk yield, increased incidence of disease and decreased reproductive performance (Overton and Piepenbrink, 1999).

LiFTTM (NuTec Ltd.) is a proprietary mixture of B-group vitamins and methyl group donors (rumen protected choline, niacin, vitamin B12, biotin, folic acid and thiamine) designed to reduce the accumulation of TAG in the liver and accelerate VLDL export. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of LiFT on milk yield and composition and concentrations of metabolites in blood.

Type
Poster Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2002

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References

Drackley, J.K., Overton, T.R. and Douglas, G.N. 2001. Adaptations of glucose and long-chain fatty acid metabolism in liver of dairy cows during the periparturient period. Journal of Dairy Science 84: E100112 Google Scholar
Overton, T.R. and Piepenbrink, M.S. 1999. Liver metabolism and the transition cow. Proceedings of the Cornell Nutrition Conference 118126 Google Scholar