Abstract #349
Section: Ruminant Nutrition (orals)
Session: Ruminant Nutrition IV: Additives
Format: Oral
Day/Time: Tuesday 10:15 AM–10:30 AM
Location: Ballroom F
Session: Ruminant Nutrition IV: Additives
Format: Oral
Day/Time: Tuesday 10:15 AM–10:30 AM
Location: Ballroom F
# 349
The effect of fibrolytic enzymes on lactation performance, feeding behavior, and digestibility in high-producing dairy cows fed a barley silage-based diet.
Basim Refat*1, David A. Christensen1, John J. McKinnon1, Aaron D. Beattie2, Tim McAllister3, Wenzhu Yang3, Ousama AlZahal4, Peiqiang Yu1, 1Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, 2Crop Development Center, Department of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, 3Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, 4AB Vista, Marlborough, United Kingdom.
Key Words: feeding efficiency, fiber digestibility, fibrolytic enzyme
The effect of fibrolytic enzymes on lactation performance, feeding behavior, and digestibility in high-producing dairy cows fed a barley silage-based diet.
Basim Refat*1, David A. Christensen1, John J. McKinnon1, Aaron D. Beattie2, Tim McAllister3, Wenzhu Yang3, Ousama AlZahal4, Peiqiang Yu1, 1Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, 2Crop Development Center, Department of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, 3Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, 4AB Vista, Marlborough, United Kingdom.
The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of pre-treating dairy cow rations with a fermentation extract derived from Trichoderma reesei (FETR, mixture of xylanase and cellulase; AB Vista, UK) on lactation performance, digestibility, and feeding behavior of dairy cows fed a barley silage-based diet. Before starting the in vivo experiment, in vitro incubations of barley silage (using a batch culture technique) were conducted to determine whether the addition of FETR would have a response on these animal performance characteristics when applied to a barley silage-based diet for dairy cows. The in vivo experiment was performed using 8 Holstein dairy cows. Cows were assigned randomly to one of 4 treatments: 0, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 mL of FETR/kg DM of diet in a replicated Latin square design. The pre-treatment was applied to the complete diet during the mixing process. The experimental period lasted for 22 d with each experimental period comprising 16-d adaptation period and 6-d sampling period. Feeding time and daily feed intake of each individual cow was monitored using Insentec feed bins. Feeding behavior characteristics were assessed in this study in the last 6 d of each experimental period using feed bin attendance data. Data were analyzed using the mixed procedure of SAS. The application of FETR linearly (P = 0.02) increased in vitro DM digestibility and tended to improve in vitro NDF digestibility in barley silage. The diet supplemented with an intermediate dosage level of FETR (0.75 mL FETR/ kg of TMR) has exhibited a higher milk fat (1.2 vs. 1.4 kg/cow/day), FCM (38.9 vs. 36.4 kg/cow/day) and ECM (38.9 vs. 36.8 kg/ cow/day) compared with control. The milk protein percentage linearly (P < 0.05) improved in response to FETR. Increasing FETR levels resulted in a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) on feed efficiency. There was no effect (P > 0.10) of FETR level on feeding behavior. In conclusion, pre-treating dairy cow barley silage-based diet with FETR increased the feed efficiency without affecting DMI. The positive effect of adding FETR could benefit the dairy industry in Western Canada where barley silage-based diets are common.
Key Words: feeding efficiency, fiber digestibility, fibrolytic enzyme
