Rumen: Feeding Fat to Dairy Cows
Published: October 17, 2008
Source : Manitoba Agriculture Food, and Rural Initiatives
The intake of supplemental fat should not exceed 5% of the ration. This corresponds to approximately 0.7 to 0.9 kg fat/day (1.5 to 2 lbs). If this is exceeded, rumen fermentation can be affected and milk fat depression, reduced feed intake and off-feed problems may occur. There are three sources of supplemental fat.
Whole Oilseeds
The most common oilseeds grown in Manitoba are canola and sunflowers. Both contain approximately 40% fat and 20% protein. Soybeans contain 20% oil and about 40% protein. The seed coat protects the rumen from rapid exposure to the fat and prevents rumen fermentation from being adversely affected. Some of the benefit from the seed coat will be lost if seeds are processed prior to feeding.
Sunflower seeds are a popular fat source. Whole canola seeds are less digestible because of their small size and hard seed coat. The digestibility can be increased by processing but the small size and high oil content of the seed makes on-farm processing difficult. Some form of commercial processing may be necessary to maximize fat utilization. The University of Manitoba has fed up to 2 kg of whole canola seed with no detrimental effects.
Commodity Fats
Commodity fats include animal fats (tallow, lard) and vegetable oils. Vegetable oils are unsaturated fats and will likely cause changes in rumen fermentation. Animal fats are saturated fats and are less likely to cause milkfat depression. Special equipment is necessary to keep tallow in a liquid state. Feed intake will be reduced if rancid tallow is fed.
Commercial Fats
A number of commercial products are available (ex, Booster Fat, Golden Flake, Megalac). These fats are "protected" so they have the advantage of being inactive in the rumen. They are easy to handle but are a more expensive form of fat.
|
|
|
|
Kg Required |
|
|
Canola Seed |
40 |
$200/tonne |
1.75 |
$0.35 |
|
Sunflower Seed |
40 |
$320/tonne |
1.75 |
$0.56 |
|
Tallow |
100 |
$600/tonne |
0.7 |
$0.42 |
|
Commercial Product A |
80 |
$1.05/kg |
0.9 |
$0.95 |
|
Commercial Product B |
100 |
$1.50/kg |
0.7 |
$1.05 |
By Karen Dupchak (Farm Production Extension, Animal Nutritionist)
Manitoba Agriculture Food, and Rural Initiatives
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19 de octubre de 2008
Dairy needs energy for milk production. The fat energy is mainly oxidative energy which may help the cow for synthesing milk constituents. However fatty acids could not supply glucose for conversion to lactose. Also glucose is needed for NADPH formation for the conversion acetate to milk fat. Therefore feeding of oil should be viewed for the supply of ATP and LCFA. Again the feeding of oil shall be controlled otherwise it may alter the milk fat fatty acids and also the formation of cholesterol in milk. The feeding of fat may increase the secretion of glucagones which is needed for the break down of fatty acids. the glucagone may inhibit insulin which is needed for glucose metabolism. The low insulin may predispose to ketosis in high yeilding cows.
Regards.
Dr.George K John
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IDAL
2 de diciembre de 2008
...that could be another reason why some calcium soaps work better than others... glicerol content in the product naturally part of the oils used as raw material.
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