IMPROVING EFFICIENCY OF PRODUCTION IN EARLY LACTATING DAIRY COWS THROUGH AUGMENTATION OF RUMEN BIOMASS PRODUCTION
Loading...
Date
2022-01-08
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR
Abstract
A study was conducted to assess the effect of supplementation of condensed
tannin (CT), yeast and biotin alone and in combination on rumen biomass production
and efficiency of production in early lactating dairy cows fed on total mixed rations
(TMR). The study was conducted in four different phases. In first phase, TMR with
13% CP, 35% NDF and 60% NDF were prepared as basal diet. The TMR was
supplemented with different levels of yeast and biotin and in vitro evaluation was
conducted using in vitro gas production technique (IVGPT). In second phase the
TMR was supplemented with combinations of yeast and biotin and in third phase
combinations of yeast, biotin and CT were supplemented and evaluated as in phase I.
Best combinations was selected based on true dry matter digestibility, true organic
matter digestibility, metabolizable energy, total volatile fatty acid production,
microbial biomass production and methane production using cluster analysis. Using
the selected best two TMR, a feeding trials of two-months duration was conducted.
In fourth phase twenty-five crossbred dairy cows (non-descriptive X Holstein
Friesian X Jersey) in early lactation (within 10 days of calving) were selected from
University Livestock Farm and Fodder Research and Development Scheme,
Mannuthy, and were divided into five groups of five animals each. Yeast, biotin and
tamarind seed testa (source of condensed tannin) were purchased from local market.
The animals were allotted randomly to one of the five dietary treatments, G1
(Control)- TMR containing CP- 13%, NDF-35%, TDN- 60%, G2- G1+ 0.5g yeast,
1.5 mg biotin and 2.5g CT/kg feed, G3- TMR containing CP- 13%, NDF- 35%,
TDN- 60% + 1.5 mg biotin and 5g CT/kg feed, G4 – TMR containing CP- 11%,
NDF- 35%, TDN- 60% + 1.5 mg biotin and 2.5g CT/kg feed and G5 – TMR
containing CP- 11%, NDF- 35%, TDN- 60% + 1.5 mg biotin and 5g CT/kg feed. All
the experimental animals were fed as per ICAR feeding standard (ICAR, 2013).
There was no significant difference in the average body weight and dry matter
intake of lactating cows maintained on dietary treatments G1, G2, G3, G4 and G5.
The digestibility of organic matter, ether extract and the neutral detergent fibre were
significantly higher (P 0.05) in various haemato biochemical parameters such as haemoglobin, total protein, albumin, globulin, blood
urea nitrogen, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and
beta-hydroxybutyrate whereas the non-esterified fatty acids and blood urea nitrogen
were significantly lower in G2, G3, G4 and G5 compared to G1. There was no
significant difference in serum mineral concentration between the groups and values
were in the normal range for lactating dairy cows. In rumen fermentation parameters,
total nitrogen, trichloro acetic acid precipitable nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, acetic
acid, butyric acid and total volatile fatty acid concentrations were not altered, whereas
the propionic acid concentration and pH was significantly higher and acetate to
propionate ratio was significantly lower in G2, G3, G4 and G5 compared to G1. The
total purine derivatives and microbial protein production were significantly higher in
G2, G3, G4 and G5 compared to G1. A relative bacterial abundance study using 16S
rRNA based metagenome sequencing revealed that Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes
were the predominant phyla in all the five dietary treatments. An increase in the
Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio was observed in G2 and G5 compared to G1, G3
and G4. Feed cost per kg milk produced were Rs. 20.06, 16.58, 19.60, 19.13 and
17.98 in G1, G2, G3, G4 and G5 respectively.
Milk production in group G5 where low protein diet was fed, was comparable
with that of group G2 animals fed on high protein diet. Thus, it can be inferred that
supplementation of yeast, biotin and CT as prescribed for G5 can support milk yield
as in groups given high protein feed. A significant increase in rumen pH, propionic
acid concentration, better microbial protein yield along high concentration of fibre
digesting bacteria might have facilitated this result.
Description
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Animal Nutrition