Energy Efficiency in Ruminant

Improve energy efficiency in ruminant diets.

Energy efficiency in ruminant is critical to insure optimal performances and profitability. In Dairy cows for example, a lack of energy at the early stage could impair milk production, milk solids and calving interval.

On average, 30 to 35% (ranging from 23 to 45%) of the digestible energy is exported into milk. Some of the loss in digestible energy is unavoidable, but we can influence the rumen environment to make it more energy efficient. This can be done by changing the VFA balance such as reducing the acetate to propionate ratio. Propionic acid has the best energy efficiency (glucose precursor), and by increasing its proportion in the rumen you are subsequently making the rumen more energy efficient. An added benefit of reducing the acetate: propionate ratio is that propionate requires more hydrogen when compared to acetate, as a consequence, methane (CH4) will be reduced due to limited supply of hydrogen for conversion to CH4.  Production of CH4 represents a substantial loss of digestible energy of up to 12%, this loss can be minimized by reducing the acetate: propionate ratio.

It is important to formulate diet according to the animal needs and secure the quality of energy.

ELENSIS® is part of our nutritional approach to balance diet and optimise performances.

Effect of a blend of essential oils on dairy cows milk performance and efficiency.

G Forgeard*1, A Lemesle1

1Techna France Nutrition, Couëron, France

INTRODUCTION

  • Energy efficiency in ruminant is critical to insure optimal performances and profitability. It is important to formulate diet according to the animal needs and secure the quality of energy .
  • Modulation of rumen fermentation with specific natural active ingredient can participate to improve digestibility and energy efficiency. Among them, essential oils are known to modify rumen microbial activity including the possibility of enhancing or inhibiting specific microbial populations to optimize carbohydrate fermentations (Calsamiglia & al.,2007; Bodas & al., 2012). Different scientific publication have also shown the potential of essentials oils and other natural active ingredients to improve performances in ruminant (Calsamiglia & al, 2021).

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this experimental design was to determine the effect of feeding a blend of essential oils (Elensis, Techna) to dairy cows on zootechnical performances.

MATERIALS & METHODS

  • The trial was carried out in a commercial farm (Ireland) from March to April 2020 for a 6 weeks period.
  • 4 groups were formed for the trial : 2 similar groups of 23 multiparous cows Prim’Holstein and 2 similar groups of 11 primiparous cows Prim’Holstein , according to their parity, days in milk, milk production, fat and protein content, live weight.
  • All the cows received a complete diet (6,8 NeL (0,97 UFL), 15,4% CP, 17.3 % starch + sugar) based on grass silage, grass haylage, immature cereals, concentrate and minerals
  • The treatment group received the blend of essential oil by the concentrate of the diet (10g/head/day).
  • Statistical analysis : two sample t-test and analysis of variance (model under R software).

CONCLUSION

  • Multiparous milk production is significantly improved with Elensis (+3,8%) and the increase is higher than the primiparous ( +3,1%).
  • Global milk was significantly improved with Elensis (+3,6%).
  • Those Results are in line with what we did observe on some other farm trials in term of performances.

REFERENCES

  • Bodas, R., Prieto, N., García-González, R., Andrés S., Giráldez, F.J., López, S., 2012. Manipulation of rumen fermentation and methane production with plant secondary metabolites. Anim. Feed Sci. Techno. l. 176, 78– 93.
  • Calsamiglia, S., Busquet, M., Cardozo, P.W., Castillejos, L., Ferret, A., 2007. Essential oils as modifiers of rumen microbial fermentation. J. Dairy Sci. 90, 2580–2595.
  • Calsamiglia, S., Rodriguez-Prado, M., Fernandez-Turren, G., Castillejos, L., 2021. Current Status and Future Prospective of the Use of Plant Bioactive Compounds in Dairy and Beef Cattle. J. Animal Science 99, 132

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