Relationships Among Early Lactation Milk Fat Depression, Cattle Productivity and Fatty Acid Composition on Intensive Dairy Farms in Northern Italy

An observational study was conducted on three northern Italy Holstein dairy herds to evaluate the impact of milk fat depression (MFD, defined as milk fat lower than 3.2) on milk production and fatty acids (FA) composition in order to investigate the practical consequences and the possible origin of this phenomenon. The diet composition and the individual milk production and composition, were monitored during the first six months of lactation. Two virtual groups were created in each farm on the basis of the milk fat levels observed during the first two months of lactation (higher or lower than 3.2). Individual milk samples were taken from 16 animals /group/farm for composition and fatty acid analysis. The diet of Farm A, characterized by the highest average prevalence of MFD (33.1%), showed the highest acidogenic attitude (high NFC, low NDF, low peNDF8). The milk fat level differed significantly per group over time in all farms. Cattle with MFD showed tendentially lower energy corrected milk output and greater concentrations of C12:0÷C15:0, C18:1trans10, total polyunsaturated, total odd chain (OCFA), total n-6 as well as OCFA/branched chain fatty acids, and C18:1trans10/C18:1trans11 ratios. Farm A milk fat showed higher values of C12:0, C13:0, C14:0 and C15:0. It appears that MFD cattle are characterized by lower mammary energy output and a milk FA profile similar to cattle fed acidogenic diets, thus suggesting an alteration in the rumen fermentation patterns, as occurs in acidotic cattle

Efeitos dos níveis de extrato etéreo no sucedâneo do leite sobre o desenvolvimento corporal de bezerros Jersey Effects of different ether extract levels of a milk replacer on body development of Jersey calves

Utilizaram-se 20 bezerros Jersey com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito dos níveis de extrato etéreo no sucedâneo comercial sobre o peso corporal, o ganho de peso médio diário, a altura na cernelha, o perímetro torácico e o consumo de concentrado, do 8º ao 90º dia de idade, visando determinar o melhor nível de extrato etéreo. Os animais foram distribuídos nos tratamentos, que consistiram de quatro dietas líquidas: leite integral (T1), sucedâneo lácteo comercial padronizado com gordura suína para 10 (T2), 15 (T3) e 20% (T4) de extrato etéreo (EE) na matéria seca, de acordo com a seqüência de nascimento. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso com arranjo fatorial desbalanceado, em que os fatores foram a dieta (n=4) e o sexo (n=2). Os dados de desenvolvimento corporal e consumo de alimento foram submetidos à análise de variância. Aos 56 dias de idade, os bezerros alimentados com leite integral e sucedâneo a 10% EE apresentaram diferença significativa no peso corporal e no ganho de peso médio diário (8-56 dias). Os bezerros que receberam leite integral apresentaram maior perímetro torácico e, após o desaleitamento, medidas de peso corporal, ganhos de peso médio diário (57 a 89 dias), perímetro torácico e altura na cernelha superiores às dos que receberam o sucedâneo. Na fase de aleitamento, o sucedâneo a 10% EE promoveu ganho de peso superior ao sucedâneo a 15 e 20% de EE na matéria seca e ganho de peso similar ao leite integral.<br>Twenty Jersey calves were used to investigate the effects of different ether extract levels of a commercial milk replacer on body weight, average daily weight gain, height at withers, heart girth, and starter intake from the 8th to the 90th day after birth. It was of particular interest to determine the optimum milk replacer ether extract level. This trial was conducted at EMBRAPA Clima Temperado, CPACT, from October 2000 to May 2001. Animals were assigned, according to their birth date, to one of four liquid diets as follows: whole milk (T1) or milk replacer plus different proportions of lard to yield 10 (T2), 15 (T3) or 20% (T4) ether extract on dry matter basis. Statistical analysis was performed as a randomized complete block design with an unbalanced factorial arrangement and diets (n=4) and sex (n=2) as factors. Data from body development and starter intake were both submitted to analysis of variance. Body weight at 56 days of age and average daily weight gain from eight to 56 days post-calving were significantly higher for animals receiving T1 and T2 than for those fed T3 and T4 liquid diets. In addition, heart girth at 56 days of age was greater on calves fed whole milk than on those fed milk replacer with different proportions of lard. After weaning, calves on T1 diet had increased body weight, average daily weight gain (57-89 days), heart girth, and height at withers compared to calves on milk replacer diets. In the weaning phase, feeding T2 to calves resulted in higher body weight gain than those fed T3 and T4 diets while no difference was observed comparing T2 andT1