ENERGY AND PROTEIN NUTRITION OFTRANSITION DAIRY COWS

José Eduardo P. Santos

Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center School of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of California - Davis

Grouping Dry Cows

• Dry period:– Far off– Close up

• Several metabolic and endocrine changes taking place associated with different nutrient requirements

• Parity– Primiparous– Multiparous

• Social interaction, competition, and different nutrient requirements

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

Nu

mb

er

of

co

ws

250 255 260 265 270 275 280 285 290 295 300

Gestation period, d

Distribution of the Gestation Period of Holstein Cows (Oetzel, 1998)

24 % 76 %

Performance of primiparous when grouped separately frommultiparous cows

Item Multipar. + Primip. Primiparous Only

Eating time, min/d 184 205

Eating bouts / d 5.9 6.4

Concentrate intake, kg/d 10.1 11.6

Silage intake, kg/d 7.7 8.6

Lying time, min/d 424 461

Resting periods/d 5.3 6.3

Milk yield, kg/130d 2,383 2,590

Milk fat, % 3.92 3.97

Adapted from Grant and Albright (1997)

Four Major Tasks Must be Achieved During the Transition Period:

• Adapt the rumen to a high energy diet– Rumen papillae and microflora

• Minimize the degree of negative EB

• Maintain normocalcemia

• Reduce the degree of immunosuppression around parturition

Average Cross Section Area of Rumen PapillaeDirksen et al. (1985)

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1

1.1

1.2

1.3

-10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

week relative to calving

mm

2

Low energy High energy

Dietary Energy Concentration, Papillae Surface Area and Rate of VFA Absorption (Dirksen et al., 1985)

05

101520253035404550

Low High Low

Diet Energy Density

Surface area (mm2) Absorption rate (mmol/min)

Effect of initiation of lactation on DMI and nutrient requirementsof dairy cows (CPM-Dairy, 1999)

Day Relative to Calving

Item Multiparous Primiparous

- 21 0* -21 0**

BW, kg 720 730 610 620

DMI, kg/d 13.2 9.90 9.50 7.71

DMI, % BW 1.84 1.36 1.56 1.24

Requirements

Energy, Mcal/d 16.8 20.5 15.5 17.7

MP, g/d 880 3,155 884 2,730

Ca, g/d 13.0 43.0 13.0 36.0 * 13 kg of colostrum with 5% fat and 16% CP ** 10 kg of colostrum with 5% fat and 16% CP

Effect of Prepartum DMI on Energy Metabolism of Transition Cows

Control Force-Fed

D -2 D 1 D 28 D –2 D 1 D 28

Glucose, mg/dl 63.4 60.3 56.7 76.5** 59.0 50.1

BHBA, mg/dl 11.9 17.6 17.1 12.5 18.1 18.2

NEFA, mEq/l 0.876 0.992 0.395 0.641 1.064 0.534

Hepatic (DM basis)

Total lipid, % 30.7* 30.6 --- 23.5 35.1

TG, % 23.2** 26.9 --- 12.4 25.3

Glycogen, % 2.5 3.6 --- 4.2 2.7

Bertics et al. (1992)

Effect of Fatness on DMI

6

8

10

12

14

-21 -18 -15 -12 -9 -6 -3 0

Days From Calving

kg

/ d

ay

Thin Cows

Fat Cows

Adapted from Hayirili, 1998

Energy for Prepartum Cows

11.61

9.67

2.88 3.41 3.69

0

3

6

9

12

15

NE

L,

Mc

al/

d

Heifer Mature Cow -60 -21 -1

Energy Requirements of Heifers and Mature Cows Prepartum

Predicted DMI (% BW) of Prepartum Holstein CowsGrummer (1998)

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

2.2

-21 -18 -15 -12 -9 -6 -3 0

Mature Young

Estimated Energy Required by Prepartum Holstein Cows

1

1.25

1.5

1.75

2

2.25

2.5

-25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0

Day relative to calving

NE

L,

Mc

al/k

g

Mature Young

Correlation between individual week prepartum DMI and postpartum DMI

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5

r va

lue

-4 -3 -2 -1

Week relative to calving

Putnam et al., (1997), Dann et al, 1999

Manipulation of Energy Content of the Diet

– Utilize better quality forages

– Ratio forage:concentrate

– Increase the level of NFC in the diet

– Supply a CHO source with greater rumen digestibility

– Add fat to the diet

Effect of Status and NDF on DMI of Transition Cows

1013161922252831343740434649

-21 -17 -13 -9 -5 -1 1 5 9 13 17 21 25 30

days relative to calving

lb/d

Multi-HF Multi-MF Prim-MF

Interaction Between Parity and Prepartum Dietary Fat on DMI (Hayirli et al., 1999)

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

LF HF

DM

I, %

BW

Primiparous Multiparous

P < 0.001

Interaction Between Concentration of Dietary Fat and NDF on Prepartum DMI (Hayirli et al., 1999)

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

Low NDF High NDF

DM

I, %

BW

Low Fat High Fat

P < 0.001

Effect of Grain Processing on Performance of TransitionCows

Prepartum Postpartum

Cracked Flaked Cracked Flaked

DMI, kg/d 13.6 14.6 18.4 19.6

BW, kg 754 759 652 671

Milk, kg/d --- --- 41.8 42.8

Fat, % --- --- 3.64 3.69

kg/d --- --- 1.60 1.65

Protein, % --- --- 2.92 2.93

kg/d --- --- 1.29 1.32

Dann et al. (1998)Steam-flaked corn decreased NEFA by 40% (P < 0.05)

Prepartum DMI

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

2.2

2.4

-28 -26 -24 -22 -20 -18 -16 -14 -12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0

Day Relative to Parturiton

DM

I (%

of

BW

)

CC

SFC

x = 1.88%SE = 0.06

13.6 vs 14.6 kg DMI; P<0.12

Prepartum Treatment Effect on Milk Production

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14Week of Lactation

Milk

(kg/

d)

Pre CC

Pre SFC

Pre P = 0.08

+1.90 kg milk

Effect of NFC and Niacin on Prepartum DM and Energy Intakes

Diet

LNFC HNFC LNFC + N HNFC + N Contrast

DMI, kg/d 10.2 13.0 10.1 12.6 NFC***

NEL intake,Mcal/d

13.5 21.2 13.5 20.4 NFC***

EB, Mcal/d 0.10 7.39 -0.24 6.76 NFC***

Minor et al. (1998)

Effect of Prepartum Diet on Plasma and Liver Metabolites ofTransition Cows

Diet

LNFC HNFC LNFC + N HNFC + N Contrast

Glucose, mg/dl 59.4 62.2 61.0 64.0

NEFA, M 378 293 389 225 NFC***

BHBA, mg/dl 11.4 8.0 11.0 7.8 NFC***

Hepatic

Glycogen, % 4.5 6.8 4.5 8.2 NFC***

TG, % 5.0 4.1 7.9 4.3 NFC*

Minor et al. (1998)

Effect of Supplemental Fat Prepartum on Performance of Dairy Cows

DMI Milk FCM Fat Protein

Prep. Postp. kg/d % Reference

Control

Fat

11.7

12.1

21.8

21.6

38.4

42.0

36.3

39.3

3.14

3.15

3.00

2.87

Skaar etal. (1989)

Niacin

Niacin+Fat

12.1

11.3

19.8

21.3

36.3

41.3

34.5

38.2

3.19

3.12

2.87

2.89

Control

High Fat

High Grain

Medium

Low

High

17.9

18.4

18.7

35.1

35.7

35.5

30.0

29.5

32.0*

3.11

2.89

3.38**

2.96

3.13*

3.07

Grum etal. (1996)

Effect of Diet Composition on DMI PrepartumGrum et al. (1996)

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

-9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 Calving

Week relative to calving

kg/d

Control High Fat High Grain

Effect of Diet Composition on Energy Intake PrepartumGrum et al. (1996)

10111213141516171819202122

-9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 Calving

Week relative to calving

NE

L,

Mc

al/

d

Control High Fat High Grain

Effect of Supplemental Fat Prepartum on Hepatic Metabolism

Hepatic Total Lipids, % TG, %

-3 wk 0 wk 5 wk1 -3 wk 0 wk 5 wk1 Reference

Control

Fat

13.7

13.2

22.4

24.9

21.9

26.0

2.1

1.8

14.3

13.4

10.5

14.4

Skaar etal. (1989)

Niacin

Niacin+Fat

14.1

15.2

29.8

30.1

26.2

31.8

1.4

2.9

17.5

19.3

16.1

23.0

Control

High Fat

High Grain

5.2

5.4

5.3

12.5

11.5

5.5**

11.3

11.3

4.2**

0.5

0.8

0.6

7.3

5.8

1.5**

6.3

5.4

1.2**

Grum etal. (1996)

1 Grum et al. (1996) = day 21 postpartum

Effect of Dietary Fat on Liver TG Depletion During Feed Restriction

Treatment

Item Control Fat

d 3 TG, % 18.7 24.3

d 6 TG, % 13.8 20.0

NEFA, mEq/L 0.272 0.345

Glucose, mg/dl 62.9 57.7

Bertics and Grummer (1998)

What about twin pregnancy and nutrient requirements?

Effect of twin pregnancy on performance (Different diets)

Singlen = 38

Twinn = 6

Singlen = 38

Twinn = 6

Item Prepartum Postpartum

DMI, kg/d 14.7** 12.5 23.6 22.5

BW, kg/d 717*** 623 658*** 575

BCS, 1-5 3.81** 3.44 3.50*** 2.55

Van Saun and Sniffen (1995)

Protein for Prepartum Cows

• NRC (1989) may underestimate protein requirements of close-up cows (Goff and Horst, 1998; Van Saun and Sniffen, 1996; Van Saun et al., 1993).

• Curtis et al. (1985) concluded that close-up cows receiving diets with more than 11% CP had less RFM and ketosis

• Amino acid requirements for fetal growth and for synthesis of colostrum may deplete maternal protein reserves

• Amino acids can be used as gluconeogenic precursors

• Enhance complete oxidation of FA by the hepatic tissue

– Reduce TG infiltration into the liver

– Reduce ketogenesis

487449

362

479

538

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

CP

, g

/d

Heifer Cow -60 -21 -1

CP Requirements for Heifers and Mature Cows Prepartum

Predicted DMI (% BW) of Prepartum Holstein CowsGrummer (1998)

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

2.2

-21 -18 -15 -12 -9 -6 -3 0

Mature Young

Estimated CP % Required by Prepartum Holstein CowsGrummer (1998)

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

-25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0

Day relative to calving

CP

, %

Mature Young

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10

20

30

40

He

pa

tic

pro

tein

syn

the

sis

(%

/d)

-47 -9 6 44

Day relative to calving

Fractional Protein Synthetic Rate in The Liver of Holstein Cows (Bell, 1995)

Effect of Supplemental Methionine on Hepatic Metabolism

Item

Treatment HepaticTG, mg %

NEFA,mEq/l

Glucose,mg/dl

Reference

Control 23.0 0.270 61.2

13 g Met 20.0 0.346 59.4

Bertics andGrummer, 1998

Control 12.7 0.820 58.0**

13 g Met 15.4 1.076** 50.3

Bertics andGrummer, 1997

Effect of Supplemental Methionine or Methionine + Lysine onHepatic Metabolism (Socha, 1994)

Item

Treatment Hepatic TG, mg % NEFA,mEq/l

Glucose,mg/dl

16 % CP wk 1 wk 3

Control 28.6 26.7 0.399 80.8*

10.5 g Met 24.8 24.6 0.374 78.3

10.2 g Met. + 16 g Lys 35.6 27.7 0.461 73.8

18.5 % CPControl 21.5 24.2 0.377 80.1*

10.5 g Met 24.8 24.9 0.447 79.0

10.2 g Met. + 16 g Lys 26.2 25.5 0.431 74.1

Effect of CP/RUP on Hepatic TG of Multiparous Transition Cows

Treatment(Diet CP, %)

Hepatic TG, %

11.7

(26.5 % RUP)

15.5

(43.2% RUP)

20.6

(51.5% RUP)

Prepartum 0.55 0.75 1.04

Postpartum 5.6 7.0 7.0

Huyler et al. (1999)

Nitrogen balance

Effect of Prepartum CP on Postpartum Performance

DMI Milk Fat Protein

Treatment kg/d % Reference

ControlHigh CP

20.820.1

38.4**34.6

4.053.91

3.063.11

Crawley andKilmer, 1995

Low CPMedium CPHigh CP

11.010.511.1

40.839.240.2

3.803.663.76

2.983.093.01

Putnam andVarga, 1998

Low CPHigh CP

22.019.5

44.0*39.0

Noeffect

Noeffect

Greenfieldet al., 1998

Effect of Protein Degradability on Performance of Prepartum Cows

Intake, kg/d MPbalance

Milk Fat Protein

RUP DM CP RUP g/d kg/d % Reference

Low

High

9.7

9.2

1.20

1.40

0.32

0.54

- 14

+ 102

25.1

24.6

3.57

3.74

2.96

3.18

Van Saun etal. (1993)

LowHigh

14.414.5

2.022.16

0.680.89

+ 539+ 740

41.140.8

3.613.64

2.852.89

Wu et al.(1995)

LowHigh

14.515.4

2.002.29

0.710.97

+ 793+ 949

46.845.4

NANA

2.832.88

Carson et al.(1998)

Low

High

16.2

15.5

2.19

2.33

0.685

0.909

NA

NA

36.5

36.0

3.98

4.11

3.09

3.11

Crawley andKilmer, 1995

Effect of Prepartum Dietary Protein Content on

Lactation Performance of Dairy Cows (Santos et al., 2001)

26283032343638404244

kg

/d

Milk

PM PH MM MH

26283032343638404244

kg

/dFCM

PM PH MM MH

TRT x Parity: P < 0.05

Effect of Prepartum CP on Colostrum Composition (Santos et al., 2001)

Moderate CP High CP

Treatment Prim. Mult. Prim. Mult.

Total solids, % 27.36 24.91 29.02 22.86

CP, % 17.15 15.52 17.31 15.02

Ash, % 1.11 1.00 1.14 1.01

Total IgG, g/dl 6.65 5.89 6.25 5.36

P > 0.15

Recommendations

• 2 groups of dry cows: far off and a close up

• Group primiparous separated from multiparous cows– Social interaction– Different nutrient requirements

• Feed a more nutrient dense diet during the close up period– High quality forage (low K for close ups)– High NFC diet– Grain source of high rumen digestibility– Fat ?

• 12% CP (35% RUP) prepartum seems adequate to multiparous cows

• Primiparous cows should be fed diets with 14 to 15% CP – Consider using a high RUP source to increase CP

and to raise RUP to 38 to 40% of the total CP

• Avoid extreme nutritional changes during transition

• Maximize DMI

Guidelines for Feeding Transition Cows

Far Off Close Up Fresh

Cows Heifers

NEL, Mcal/lb 0.60 - 0.65 0.70 – 0.75 0.70 – 0.75 0.78

CP, % 12 – 13 12 – 13 14 - 15 19.0

RUP, % CP 32 35 35 39

RDP, % 8.0 8.0 8.5 11.0

Fat, % 3.0 4.0 4.0 5.0

NFC, % 32 38 - 42 38 - 42 < 42

ADF, % 25 22.0 22.0 21.0

NDF, % 40 32 - 35 32 - 35 31

NDFPE, % 26 23 23 22

DCAD, mEq/kg > 0 (?) -100 to - 50 ? 350 to 400

Minerals and Vitamins

• Macro minerals*:– Ca, P, Mg, K, S, Na, and Cl

• Trace minerals*:– Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Se, Co, and I

• Fat Soluble Vitamins*– A, D, and E

• Water Soluble Vitamins (?)– Vitamins B (thiamin, biotin, niacin, etc)– Vitamin C

Guidelines for Feeding Transition Cows

Item Far Off Close Up Fresh

Ca, % 0.6 1.0 – 1.2 0.8

P, % 0.30 - 0.4 0.35 - 0.4 0.40 - 0.45

Mg, % 0.4 0.4 0.4

K, % 1.2 < 1.2 1.6 to 1.8

Na, % 0.2 < 0.1 0.4 – 0.5

S, % 0.2 0.35 0.2

Cl, % 0.3 0.5 – 0.7 0.3

Cu, ppm 20 20 20

Mn, ppm 60 60 - 80 80

Zn, ppm 60 60 - 80 60

I, ppm 0.8 0.8 0.8

Se, ppm 0.3 0.3 – 0.5 0.3

Co, ppm 0.2 0.3 0.2

Vit. A, IU/d 100,000 150,000 100,000

Vit. E, IU/d 500 - 1,000 1,000 – 4,000 1,000 – 2,000