Milk fat is the most valuable component in milk. These three studies published recently show different approaches for improving milk fat yield.
A work conducted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln evaluated the additive effects of starch and fat as risk factors associated with milk fat depression in dairy diets.
The researchers (Ramirez Ramirez et al., 2015) compared a control diet (fat 5.2%, starch 19%) with three other similar diets containing either 0.97% added corn oil (fat 6.4%, starch 18%) or 8.5% additional ground corn (fat 5.5%, starch 22%), or both 0.97% corn oil and 7.6% corn (fat 6.5%, starch 23%). All diets contained 33% corn silage, 10% alfalfa haylage, and 20% DDGS.
The results, published in the Journal of Dairy Science, showed the inclusion of oil, starch, or a combination of both induce milk fat depression, measured as a reduction on the overall concentration and yield of de novo synthesised fatty acids (<16 carbons) in milk.
The results, published in the Journal of Dairy Science, showed the inclusion of oil, starch, or a combination of both induce milk fat depression, measured as a reduction on the overall concentration and yield of de novo synthesized fatty acids (<16 carbons) in milk. Compared with the control diet (3.3% milk fat), diets with additional corn oil or corn starch decreased milk fat by 0.3 percentage units, whereas the diet containing both risk factors decreased milk fat by 0.6 units. Interestingly, ruminal pH was not affected by the diet, averaging 5.87 with an average minimum of 5.50 and an average maximum of 6.71 across treatments.><16 carbons) in milk. Compared with the control diet (3.3% milk fat), diets with additional corn oil or corn starch decreased milk fat by 0.3 percentage units, whereas the diet containing both risk factors decreased milk fat by 0.6 units. Interestingly, ruminal pH was not affected by the diet, averaging 5.87 with an average minimum of 5.50 and an average maximum of 6.71 across treatments.
Continue reading this article published in International Dairy Topics.
