Influence of rumen bypass fat in cattle supplements on forage utilization

Incorporation of rumen bypass fat into a supplement to be fed with low quality forage did not affect total dry matter digestibility or ruminal dry matter fill. Similarly, no difference in digestibility was observed among types (animal vs. plant) or levels (low vs. high) of lipids used in this study. Rumen bypass fat apparently avoids the negative impact on forage utilization seen with conventional fats

Effects of rumen-escape lipid in a range supplement on postpartum reproductive function in beef cows

Postpartum cows receiving a range supplement containing rumen-escape lipid exhibited altered hormone and cholesterol levels compared to cows not fed lipid. Sixty-seven percent of lipid-fed cows exhibited a normal (18.2 d) first estrous cycle vs 33% for cows not receiving lipid. Incorporation of rumen-escape lipid into range supplements appears to significantly improve postpartum reproductive characteristics

Evaluation of wheat middlings as a supplement for cattle consuming winter range forage

Intake of dormant, bluestem-range forage was increased by feeding steers supplements based on wheat middlings or soybean meal + sorghum grain, although the degree of influence on forage intake depended on type and level of supplementation. All supplements increased (P<.10) total diet digestibility. However, fiber digestibility tended to be slightly lower for steers receiving the high level of wheat middlings and the soybean meal + sorghum grain supplement

Desempenho reprodutivo, concentrações de progesterona e metabólitos lipídicos no pós-parto de vacas mestiças H/Z, submetidas a uma dieta hiperlipidêmica Reproductive performance, concentrations of progesterone and lipidic metabolites in the postpartum crossbred dairy cows submitted to a hyperlipidemic diet

Para avaliar o efeito de uma dieta hiperlipidêmica nos níveis séricos de metabólitos lipídicos e progesterona e no desempenho reprodutivo, 42 vacas mestiças foram submetidas a dois tratamentos: T1 (n=21) dieta-controle e T2 (n=21) dieta hiperlipidêmica, tendo como principal fonte de lipídios o grão de soja integral. Os intervalos médios para a primeira e segunda ovulações pós-parto foram 26,3 e 35,9 dias para os animais do T1 e 21,7 e 37,4 dias para os do T2. Os intervalos médios do parto ao início da atividade luteal, primeiro estro e primeiro ciclo estral normal foram, respectivamente, 29,9; 39,5; e 53,9 dias para T1 e 25,7; 33,3; e 52,3 dias para T2. A duração média do primeiro ciclo estral foi de 14,7 e 16,9 dias e do segundo de 19,8 e 19,5 dias para T1 e T2, respectivamente. As concentrações de progesterona nos ciclos estrais normais ocorridos durante o período de 90 dias pós-parto variaram de valores mínimos de 0,27 (T1) e 0,31 ng/mL (T2), nos dias 0 e 1 (dia 0 = ovulação), para valores máximos de 6,71 ng/mL (T1), nos dias 10 e 11, e 7,04 ng/mL (T2), nos dias -9 e --8, retornando a níveis basais (<1 ng/mL) nos dias -3 e -2. As concentrações médias de colesterol total e colesterol HDL para T1 e T2 foram, respectivamente, 100,74 e 67,3 mg/dL e 162,25 e 95,8 mg/dL. O efeito de hipercolesterolemia da dieta foi confirmado nesta pesquisa, mas sem nenhum aumento nas concentrações de progesterona e desempenho reprodutivo.<br>To evaluate the effect of a hiperlipidemic diet on the reproductive performance, lipidic metabolites and serum progesterone levels, 42 Holstein-Zebu crossbred cows were submitted to two treatments: T1 (n=21), control diet, and T2 (n=21), hyperlipidemic diet, consisting mainly on whole soybean. The mean intervals to the first and second postpartum ovulations were 26.3 and 35.9 days for animals of T1 and 21.7 and 37.4 days for those of T2. The average intervals from calving to onset of the luteal activity, first estrus and first normal estrus cycle length were respectively, 29.9, 39.5, and 53.9 days for T1 and 25.7, 33.3, and 52.3 days for T2. The average first estrus cycle was 14.7 and 16.9 days and of the second 19.8 and 19.5 days for T1 and T2, respectively. The concentrations of serum progesterone in the normal estrus cycles during the period of 90 days postpartum, varied from minimum values of 0.27 ng/mL (T1) to 0.31 ng/mL (T2) on the days 1 and 0 (day 0 = ovulation) to maximum values of 6.71 ng/mL (T1) on days 10 and 11 and 7.04 ng/mL (T2) on days -9 and --8, returning to basal levels (<1 ng/mL) on days -3 e -2. The total cholesterol and HDL average concentrations for T1 e T2 were 100.74 and 67.3 mg/dL (T1) and 162.25 and 95.8 mg/dL (T2) respectively. The hypercholesterolemic effect of the diet was confirmed, but without any increase in the concentration of progesterone and reproductive performance