Dietary supplementation with N-carbamoylglutamate initiated from the prepartum stage improves lactation performance of postpartum dairy cows

Fengfei Gu; Chao Miao; Luyi Jiang; Diming Wang; Hongyun Liu; Jianxin Liu

Animal Nutrition (Mar 2021)

Dietary supplementation with N-carbamoylglutamate initiated from the prepartum stage improves lactation performance of postpartum dairy cows

Fengfei Gu,
Chao Miao,
Luyi Jiang,
Diming Wang,
Hongyun Liu,
Jianxin Liu

Affiliations

Fengfei Gu: Institute of Dairy Science, MoE Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
Chao Miao: Institute of Dairy Science, MoE Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
Luyi Jiang: Institute of Dairy Science, MoE Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
Diming Wang: Institute of Dairy Science, MoE Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
Hongyun Liu: Institute of Dairy Science, MoE Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
Jianxin Liu: Corresponding author.; Institute of Dairy Science, MoE Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 232 – 238

Abstract

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The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of supplementing N-carbamoylglutamate (NCG), an Arg enhancer, on amino acid (AA) supply and utilization and productive performance of early-lactating dairy cows. Thirty multiparous Chinese Holstein dairy cows were randomly divided into control (CON, n = 15) and NCG (CON diet supplemented with NCG at 20 g/d per cow, n = 15) groups at 4 wk before calving. Diets were offered individually in tie-stalls, and NCG was supplemented by top-dress feeding onto total mixed ration for the NCG group. The experiment lasted until wk 10 after calving. Dry matter intake tended to be higher (P = 0.06), and yields of milk (P < 0.01), milk protein (P < 0.01), and milk fat (P < 0.01) were higher in the NCG-cows than in the CON-cows. Plasma activities of aspartate aminotransferase (P < 0.01), alanine aminotransferase (P = 0.03), and plasma level of β-hydroxybutyrate (P = 0.04) were lower in the NCG-cows than in the CON-cows, whereas plasma glucose (P = 0.05) and nitric oxide (NO, P < 0.01) concentrations were higher. Coccygeal vein concentrations of Cys (P < 0.01), Pro (P < 0.01), Tyr (P = 0.05), most essential AA except Thr and His (P < 0.01), total essential AA (P < 0.01), and total AA (P < 0.01) were higher in the NCG-cows than in the CON-cows. The arterial supply of all AA was greater in the NCG-cows than in the CON-cows. The NCG-cows had higher mammary plasma flow of AA (P = 0.04) and clearance rate of Cys (P < 0.01), Pro (P < 0.01) and Asp (P < 0.01), and higher ratios of uptake to output of Met (P = 0.05), Lys (P < 0.01), Cys (P = 0.01), Pro (P = 0.03), and Asp (P = 0.01). In summary, addition of NCG initiated from the prepartum period improved the lactation performance of postpartum dairy cows, which might attribute to greater Arg and NO concentrations, as well as improved AA supply and utilization, liver function, and feed intake in these cows.

Published in Animal Nutrition

ISSN: 2405-6545 (Print)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Animal culture
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/animal-nutrition/

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