Investigating the interaction between body condition at calving and pre-calving energy and protein nutrition on the early lactation performance of dairy cows

2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 1507 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. Stockdale
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Protein Diet ◽  
Canola Meal ◽  
Dietary Energy ◽  
Mating Period ◽  
Cereal Grain ◽  
Additional Protein

The experiment was an investigation into the interaction between body condition at calving and the provision of additional dietary energy or protein to a total mixed ration (TMR) in late gestation on milk production and indices of reproductive performance. Seventy-two Holstein–Friesian multiparous cows (12 per treatment) were fed to achieve target body condition scores (BCS) of either 4 (3.5–4.5) or 6 (5.5–6.5) units by 1 month before they calved (July). They were individually fed 1 of 3 diets during the last 26 (s.d. ± 7.4) days before calving date (mean of 19 August; s.d. ± 9.7). The 3 diets were (1) a TMR containing maize silage, barley grain, canola meal and hay, fed at 1.5% of liveweight (control diet), (2) the TMR plus 3.5 kg DM of wheat-based pellets (energy diet), and (3) the TMR plus 3.1 kg DM of soyabean meal (protein diet). Cows grazed highly digestible pasture after calving at pasture allowances of about 35 kg DM/cow.day, and were supplemented with 6 kg DM of cereal grain-based pellets per day. Cows were fed this diet for an average of about 10 weeks, from calving until the start of mating at the end of October. The provision of additional dietary energy and protein before calving did not affect post-partum production, and there were no interactions with body condition. On average, the BCS 6 cows were 111 kg heavier (P<0.05), and were 1.8 units of body condition higher (P<0.05), than the BCS 4 cows. The thin cows maintained body condition during the month before parturition while the fat cows lost condition. The cows offered additional protein improved their body condition (+0.07 units) during this time, while the cows in the other 2 dietary treatments lost condition (–0.10 units). Average daily rumen fluid pH was lowest in the cows fed the additional energy. Blood urea and rumen fluid ammonia concentrations were increased markedly by feeding the protein diet. In comparison with cows offered the control and energy diets, the cows offered additional protein had the highest (P<0.05) urine pH levels (6.24 v. 5.64 and 5.59 for the protein, control and energy diets, respectively), the lowest (P<0.05) blood serum concentrations of calcium at calving (1.74 v. 2.06 and 1.99 mmol/L for the protein, control and energy diets, respectively), and tended to have more milk fever and retained foetal membranes. Regression analysis indicated that the response to improving BCS at calving was 1.1 kg milk per additional BCS at calving (P<0.05), and the fatter cows produced milk with a higher (P<0.05) milk fat concentration (3.46 v. 3.07%) than the thinner cows. There was no effect (P>0.05) of treatment on days to first ovulation or in-calf rates although only about 80% of cows conceived during the 12-week mating period.

Protein supplementation of cows grazing limited amounts of paspalum (Paspalum dilatatum Poir.)-dominant irrigated pasture in mid-lactation

2000 ◽  
Vol 40 (7) ◽  
pp. 923 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Wales ◽  
D. W. Dellow ◽  
P. T. Doyle
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Cottonseed Meal ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Protein Supplementation ◽  
Canola Meal ◽  
Paspalum Dilatatum ◽  
Protein Supplements ◽  
Cereal Grain

Two experiments were undertaken in summer to investigate production responses by dairy cows offered paspalum (Paspalum dilatatum Poir.)-dominant irrigated pasture to the inclusion of protein supplements with different rumen degradable protein characteristics in cereal grain-based concentrates. In experiment 1, cows in mid lactation were offered limited amounts of herbage, at an allowance of 28 kg DM/cow. day together with 8.0 kg DM/cow. day of a pelleted supplement containing: (i) mainly barley and wheat; (ii) barley, wheat and canola meal; or (iii) barley, wheat and cottonseed meal for 35 days. The 3 supplements were formulated to have similar in vitro DM digestibilities. In experiment 2 aspects of rumen function were measured in 9 rumen fistulated lactating cows, individually fed indoors on paspalum-dominant herbage harvested daily with a finger bar mower. Cows were offered the same amount of supplements for 28 days. Pasture intakes were similar to those of the grazing cows in experiment 1. In experiment 1, there were no effects (P>0.05) of dietary treatment on herbage intake (10.2 kg DM/cow. day) or selection of nutrients from herbage. The concentration of crude protein in the total diet consumed was lower (P<0.05) for the barley + wheat treatment (137 g/kg DM), compared with the barley + wheat + canola meal and barley + wheat + cottonseed meal treatments, which were 179 and 183 g/kg DM, respectively. In vitro DM digestibility of the feed consumed by cows was similar across the treatments, and all diets contained greater than 400 g neutral detergent fibre/kg DM, indicating there were no limitations due to dietary fibre. There were no significant effects (P>0.05) of dietary treatments on milk production (21.8 kg/cow. day), milk fat concentration (34.1 g/kg) or milk protein concentration (29.8 g/kg). Urea-N was higher (P<0.01) in the milk of cows fed the barley + wheat + canola meal and the barley + wheat + cottonseed meal treatments compared with the barley + wheat treatment. In experiment 2, rumen fluid pH was higher in cows consuming barley + wheat pellets than in cows consuming barley + wheat + canola meal on most sampling occasions. Rumen ammonia-N concentration was lowest in the barley + wheat treatment and highest in the barley + wheat + canola meal treatment. When cows grazing paspalum-dominant irrigated pasture were supplemented with 8 kg DM of a cereal-based supplement, metabolisable protein was calculated to be present in sufficient quantities to support at least 22 kg milk/cow. day and, hence, was not limiting milk production. It is concluded that protein supplements offered to cows in mid-lactation, grazing irrigated pastures in summer, are unlikely to give a milk production response beyond that achieved with cereal grain.

A comparison of textured versus pelleted concentrates on rumen degradability, dry matter intake, milk yield and composition in lactating Holstein cows

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. G. von Keyserlingk ◽  
W. C. Gardner ◽  
L. J. Fisher ◽  
J. A. Shelford
Keyword(s):  
Milk Fat ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Holstein Cows ◽  
Canola Meal ◽  
Concentrate Mixture ◽  
The Impact

A study was undertaken to compare the feeding of a ground-pelleted concentrate mixture with a textured one. Parameters studied were in situ rumen degradability characteristics of the concentrates, dry matter intake and yield of milk and milk components. A concentrate mixture consisting of barley, corn, canola meal and a vitamin-mineral premix was manufactured in two forms. In the one form, all ingredients were ground and pelleted while in the second, only the canola meal and premix were pelleted while the corn and barley were steam rolled prior to mixing. Initially the degradability characteristics and digestive tract disappearance of the two concentrates were determined in an in situ trial using two non-lactating Holstein cows fitted with rumen and duodenal cannulae. Nylon bags containing 2–3 g of material were prepared in quadruplicate (two replicates per cow per incubation time) and incubated in reverse order 72, 48, 24, 12, 8, 4, 2 and 0 h for each concentrate. Total intestinal disappearance was determined using the mobile nylon bag procedure. The results of the in situ trial indicated that the degradable fraction b of the dry matter was greater for the textured compared with the pelleted form (34.7 vs. 31.2%) while effective degradability of the dry matter was higher for the pelleted form (74.5 vs. 68.0%). Total tract disappearance of the dry matter and protein fractions were not influenced by form of concentrate but rumen disappearance of crude protein was higher for the pelleted form (70.4 vs. 64.2%). The feeding trial employed 14 lactating Holstein cows fed a forage mixture consisting of corn silage and grass silage. Milk and milk protein yields and protein content of the milk were higher, while milk fat content was lower, for cows fed the pelleted compared with those fed the textured concentrate. Rumen pH (6.79 vs. 6.58) was lower for cows fed the pelleted compared with the textured concentrate. There was, however, no effect of form of concentrate on concentrations of volatile fatty acids in the rumen fluid. Form of concentrate fed did not influence dry matter intake but in terms of net energy (Mcal NEL) the diet containing the pelleted concentrate tended to have a higher energy value than the diet containing the textured concentrate (1.76 vs. 1.66 Mcal NEL kg DMI−1). The marked difference in the ratio of milk fat to milk protein, 1.14 vs. 1.29 for pelleted and textured concentrates, respectively, coupled with the impact on rumen degradability characteristics indicated that minor differences in processing can have an impact on product yield from the milk and the efficiency of utilization of the diet. Key words: Textured versus pelleted concentrate, degradability, lactating cows

scholarly journals Identification of the Potential Role of the Rumen Microbiome in Milk Protein and Fat Synthesis in Dairy Cows Using Metagenomic Sequencing

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1247
Author(s):  
Xin Wu ◽  
Shuai Huang ◽  
Jinfeng Huang ◽  
Peng Peng ◽  
Yanan Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Metagenomic Sequencing ◽  
Amino Acid Synthesis ◽  
Prevotella Species

The rumen contains abundant microorganisms that aid in the digestion of lignocellulosic feed and are associated with host phenotype traits. Cows with extremely high milk protein and fat percentages (HPF; n = 3) and low milk protein and fat percentages (LPF; n = 3) were selected from 4000 lactating Holstein cows under the same nutritional and management conditions. We found that the total concentration of volatile fatty acids, acetate, butyrate, and propionate in the rumen fluid was significantly higher in the HPF group than in the LPF group. Moreover, we identified 38 most abundant species displaying differential richness between the two groups, in which Prevotella accounted for 68.8% of the species, with the highest abundance in the HPF group. Functional annotation based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG), evolutionary genealogy of genes: Non-supervised Orthologous Groups (eggNOG), and Carbohydrate-Active enzymes (CAZy) databases showed that the significantly more abundant species in the HPF group are enriched in carbohydrate, amino acid, pyruvate, insulin, and lipid metabolism and transportation. Furthermore, Spearman’s rank correlation analysis revealed that specific microbial taxa (mainly the Prevotella species and Neocallimastix californiae) are positively correlated with total volatile fatty acids (VFA). Collectively, we found that the HPF group was enriched with several Prevotella species related to the total VFA, acetate, and amino acid synthesis. Thereby, these fulfilled the host’s needs for energy, fat, and rumen microbial protein, which can be used for increased biosynthesis of milk fat and milk protein. Our findings provide novel information for elucidation of the regulatory mechanism of the rumen in the formation of milk composition.

scholarly journals 142 Reproductive performance of land race hair sheep ewes in different breeding seasons under a semi-continuous production

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 76-76
Author(s):  
Stephan Wildeus ◽  
Dahlia O’Brien
Keyword(s):  
Pregnancy Rate ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Production System ◽  
Continuous Production ◽  
Transrectal Ultrasound ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Production Cycle ◽  
Hair Sheep ◽  
Mating Period ◽  
Lamb Survival

Abstract A system for semi-continuous lamb production was evaluated using Barbados Blackbelly and St. Croix hair sheep ewes under 8-mo accelerated mating. Ewes were managed in a forage-based production system using rotational grazing. Two flocks of ewes (n = 30–35), equally representing the breeds, were bred 4 mo apart. Ewes were synchronized by feeding melengestrol acetate for 10 d, and mated in two single sire groups to like breed sires in November (NOV), March (MAR), and July (JUL) in a 25-d mating period. Pregnancy was recorded by transrectal ultrasound 22 d after breeding. Ewes were supplemented with corn/soybean meal during late gestation (0.75% of BW) and during lactation (1.5% of BW). They lambed on pasture with limited supervision, and lambs were weaned at 2 mo of age. Lambs had access to the supplement provided to ewes. Ewe performance (pregnancy rate, litter size, lamb survival, and birth and weaning weight) was recorded during a 2 yr production cycle, and analyzed for the effect of mating season. Pregnancy rate was not statistically different (P &gt; 0.1) between season, and ranged from 93.9% in NOV, to 85.9 and 86.6% in MAR and JUL. Litter size (lambs born/ewe lambing) was higher (P &lt; 0.05) in NOV (2.09) than MAR (1.68) and JUL (1.82). Lamb survival at birth was reduced (P &lt; 0.001) in JUL (86.5%) compared to NOV (99%) and MAR (100 %), but was not different between seasons for survival to weaning (86 to 90%). Lamb birth weights were higher (P &lt; 0.05) in MAR (3.16 kg) than JUL (2.99 kg), with NOV (3.05 kg) intermediate, while lamb weaning weights were higher (P &lt; 0.001) in NOV (13.6 kg) compared with MAR (11.9 kg) and JUL (11.4 kg) mating. Data suggest that dual flock, accelerated mating of landrace hair sheep ewes can produce lamb cohorts of similar size in 4 mo intervals under a low-input, forage-based production system.

scholarly journals 27 Defining a robust sow: swine nutrition perspective on reproduction and lactation

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 13-13
Author(s):  
Joel M DeRouchey ◽  
Mike D Tokach ◽  
Robert D Goodband ◽  
Jason C Woodworth ◽  
Steve S Dritz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Fetal Growth ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Energy Requirement ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Mammary Development ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Embryo Survival

Abstract Improvements in modern sow prolificacy have markedly increased the number of pigs weaned, thus the ability of sows to provide nutrients to support fetal growth and milk production has been enhanced. The goals of the gestation nutrition program consist of meeting the nutrient requirements for maintenance and growth and for adequate conceptus development, while managing body condition. Early gestation represents the best opportunity for replenishing body reserves, whereas in late gestation, both estimated protein deposition and energy requirement are exponentially increased and directed towards fetal growth and mammary development. Increased feed intake after breeding has been presumed to be detrimental to embryo survival; however, data with modern line sows demonstrates to feed thin sows to recover body condition as quickly as possible while avoiding feed deprivation immediately after breeding. Importance of body condition scoring remains unchanged: feed thin sows to bring back to adequate body condition and prevent over-conditioned sows at farrowing. A recent meta-analysis showed increasing late gestation feed intake seems to modestly improve piglet birth weight by 28 g per piglet in gilts and sows. Also, recent findings in gestating sows suggest modern genotypes have improved feed efficiency and propensity for growth. Therefore, increasing energy intake during late gestation has a modest effect on piglet birth weight and a negative effect on stillborn rate. Historically, lactation catabolism impacted subsequent reproductive performance of sows, particularly in first-parity. However, contemporary sows appear to be increasingly resistant to the negative effects of lactational catabolism. Even so, continued emphasis on maximizing lactation feed intake is critical to support milk production and prevent excessive lean tissue mobilization. Research data suggests that ad libitum feeding and offering lactation diets during the wean-to-estrus interval is not needed. Modern genetic sow lines appear to be more robust from a nutritional perspective than in the past.

Effects of feeding peas to high-producing dairy cows

1995 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 625-629 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. R. Corbett ◽  
L. A. Goonewardene ◽  
E. K. Okine
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Dairy Herd ◽  
Protein Source ◽  
Canola Meal ◽  
Stage Of Lactation ◽  
Nutrient Analyses ◽  
Protein Milk

The effect of substituting peas for soybean and canola meals as a protein source in a high-producing dairy herd was studied in 66 Holstein cows, divided into two groups based on stage of lactation, parity, level of milk production and days in milk. Two 18.5% crude protein grain concentrate diets were formulated based on the nutrient analyses of the forages available. The control grain mix contained standard protein sources, principally soybean and canola meal (SBM\CM) while the test grain mix was formulated to contain approximately 25% field peas as the major source of protein. Both grain rations were formulated to the same nutrient specifications and balanced for undegradable protein. The duration of the trial was 6 mo during which grain feeding levels were adjusted monthly based on milk yield. For cows in early lactation, 4% fat-corrected milk yield was higher (P < 0.05) for cows fed pea based concentrates (31.3 kg d−1) than for cows fed SBM\CM supplement (29.7 kg d−1). Fat-corrected milk yield was not affected by source of protein in mid- and late-lactation cows. Fat-corrected milk production was not different (P > 0.05) for cows fed SBM\CM compared with cows fed the pea supplement when cows across all stages of lactation were included in the analyses. Milk fat percent was significantly higher (P < 0.05) for early- and mid-lactation cows fed the pea supplement. The results suggest that peas can be substituted for SBM\CM as a protein source for high-producing dairy cows. Key words: Dairy cow, pea, soybean and canola meal supplement, undegradable protein, milk production

PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THE ADDITION OF GLUCOGENIC MATERIALS TO THE RATIONS OF LACTATING COWS

1971 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 721-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. FISHER ◽  
J. D. ERFLE ◽  
F. D. SAUER
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Propylene Glycol ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Preliminary Evaluation ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Beta Hydroxybutyrate

Glutamate, succinate, propylene glycol, or glycerol were added to a basic concentrate at 3.3% of air-dry feed. Each concentrate was fed both ad libitum and in restricted amounts to four cows in early lactation. Dietary intake, milk yield and composition, molar proportions of rumen volatile fatty acids and blood glucose, ketones and plasma free fatty acids were used as criteria of effect of these supplements. Propylene glycol in the diet resulted in a lower intake of concentrate compared with glycerol (11.44 versus 14.30 kg/day) and significantly decreased (P < 0.05) rumen butyrate and plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate. Glutamate supplementation prevented the fall in milk fat content which occurred when the other three supplemented concentrates were fed ad libitum, and this effect may have been related to the constancy in the ratio of acetate to propionate in the rumen fluid.

Realimentation of Cull Range Cows. I. Effect of Final Body Condition and Dietary Energy Level on Rate, Efficiency and Composition of Gains

1979 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 913-918 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. Swingle ◽  
C. B. Roubicek ◽  
R. A. Wooten ◽  
J. A. Marchello ◽  
F. D. Dryden
Keyword(s):  
Energy Level ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Dietary Energy

Replacing wheat with canola meal and maize grain in the diet of lactating dairy cows: Feed intake, milk production and cow condition responses

2017 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruairi P McDonnell ◽  
Martin vH Staines
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Canola Meal ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Holstein Friesian ◽  
Maize Grain ◽  
The Difference

This research paper describes the effect of partially replacing wheat with maize grain and canola meal on milk production and body condition changes in early lactation Holstein-Friesian dairy cows consuming a grass silage-based diet over an 83-d period. Two groups of 39 cows were stratified for age, parity, historical milk yield and days in milk (DIM), and offered one of two treatment diets. The first treatment (CON) reflected a typical diet used by Western Australian dairy producers in summer and comprised (kg DM/cow per d); 8 kg of annual ryegrass silage, 6 kg of crushed wheat (provided once daily in a mixed ration), 3·6 kg of crushed lupins (provided in the milking parlour in two daily portions) and ad libitum lucerne haylage. The second treatment diet (COMP) was identical except the 6 kg of crushed wheat was replaced by 6 kg of a more complex concentrate mix (27% crushed wheat, 34% maize grain and 37% canola meal). Lucerne haylage was provided independently in the paddock to all cows, and no pasture was available throughout the experiment. The COMP group had a greater mean overall daily intake (22·5vs20·4 kg DM/cow) and a higher energy corrected milk (ECM) yield (29·2vs27·1 kg/cow;P= 0·047) than the CON cows. The difference in overall intake was caused by a higher daily intake of lucerne haylage in COMP cows (4·5vs2·3 kg DM/cow). The CON group had a higher concentration of milk fat (42·1vs39·3 g/kg;P= 0·029) than COMP cows. Milk protein yield was greater in COMP cows (P< 0·021); however, milk fat yield was unaffected by treatment. It is concluded that partially replacing wheat with canola meal and maize grain in a grass silage-based diet increases voluntary DMI of conserved forage and consequently yields of ECM and milk protein.

Production responses of dairy cows grazing well-managed kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) pastures to energy and protein supplementation

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 763 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Reeves ◽  
WJ Fulkerson ◽  
RC Kellaway
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Protein Supplementation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Plasma Urea ◽  
Pennisetum Clandestinum ◽  
Cereal Grain ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Production Response

Three studies were conducted to examine the production response of Friesian cows grazing well-managed lukuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) pasture to supplementation with a cereal grain concentrate, with and without the inclusion of formaldehyde-treated protein meal. Mean (¦ s.e.) levels of nutrients in the pasture (g/kg DM) on offer were: 205 ¦ 3 crude protein; 683 ¦ 7 in vitro organic matter digestibility; 239 ¦ 2 acid detergent fibre; 615 ¦ 8 neutral detergent fibre and 4.47 ¦ 0.16, 2.51 ¦ 0.06, 31.96 ¦ 0.98, 0.39 ¦ 0.03 and 3.18 ¦ 0.09 of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and magnesium, respectively. Study 1 was a 3-farmlet study conducted over 45 days (March-April 1993) involving cows 5-6 months into lactation, which compared 3 levels of concentrate feeding at 0 (R0), 3 (R3) or 6 (R6) kg crushed barley/cow.day. Study 2 was an 18-day extension of study 1 with animals in the seventh month of lactation. The concentrate fed was 72% barley and 24% formaldehyde-treated sunflower meal. Pasture intake of individual cows was determined using an alkane technique. Mean milk yields (L/cow. day) in study 1 were 14.2, 18.3 and 18.0, and in study 2 were 12.5, 18.5 and 17.4 for treatments R0, R3 and R6, respectively. Milk fat (3.77 v. 3.26%), but not milk protein, content of the Ro cows was significantly higher than R6 cows in study 1 only. In study 2, the apparent whole-diet digestibility remained constant as concentrate level rose, indicating a negative effect of concentrate fed on forage digestibility in the absence of buffers. Study 3 was a 3 x 4 factorial design plus a 'control' group (0.5 kg barley/cow.day used as a carrier for minerals) to examine the milk production response to 3 levels of concentrate feeding (3, 6 and 9 kg/cow.day) with 4 levels of formaldehyde-treated canola meal (FTCM; 0, 20, 40 and 60% of concentrate). Rations were iso-energetic within levels of concentrates fed. The control group had significantly lower milk production (17.2 L/cow.day), as well as milk protein (2.90%), plasma urea (PU) (5.90 mmol/L) and P-hydroxybutyrate (G-OHB) (0.525 mmo1L) than other treatment groups. The mean milk production response of 0.6 L milk/kg concentrate fed in study 3 at the 3 kg/day level of feeding was lower than observed in studies 1 and 2 (1.4 and 2.0 L/kg concentrate, respectively). The level of metabolisable energy in the concentrate in study 3 had a significant influence on milk production, milk fat and milk protein levels. Plasma glucose and G-OHB levels significantly increased with the incorporation of FTCM into the concentrate. Nonesterified fatty acid levels dropped significantly below levels of other treatments at the lowest level of inclusion of FTCM. PU levels generally increased in response to increasing metabolisable energy and inclusion of FTCM in the concentrate, with an interaction between them. Milk urea (MU) levels (mmol/L) showed a significant linear (P<0.001; r2 = 0.44) relationship to PU levels (mmol/L) as follows: MU = 0.167 + 0.272PU.

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