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Responses of Lactation, Rumen Fermentation and Blood Biochemical Parameters with Increasing Dietary Inulin Supplementation in Mid-Lactation Dairy Cows

Authors :
Yiguang Zhao
Yue Wang
Xuemei Nan
Linshu Jiang
Yapin Wang
Jun Liu
Junhu Yao
Md. Tanvir Rahman
Benhai Xiong
Source :
Agriculture, Vol 12, Iss 4, p 521 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2022.

Abstract

Effects of dietary supplementation of inulin in dairy cows were investigated in this study. Thirty-six mid-lactation Holstein dairy cows were randomly divided into six groups with six cows per group and offered a total mixed ration supplemented with 0 (control), 50, 150, 200, 250 and 350 g/d inulin per head, respectively. The animals were pre-fed for 2 weeks before rumen fluid, milk and blood samples were collected weekly for 3 weeks. With increasing inulin doses, milk yield (p < 0.01) and milk fat concentration (p = 0.04) were linearly increased, while milk urea nitrogen (p < 0.01) and somatic cell count (p = 0.04) were linearly decreased. Linear increases were also detected in the proportions of milk saturated fatty acids (p < 0.01) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (p = 0.04); however, milk monounsaturated fatty acids were linearly decreased (p = 0.04). The ruminal concentrations of acetate, propionate and butyrate increased, while the ruminal pH and the concentration of NH3-N reduced at a decreasing rate with increasing inulin doses (p < 0.01). Moreover, the concentrations of lactic acid (p = 0.03) and total volatile fatty acids (p < 0.01) were linearly upregulated. There were linear increases in the serum concentrations of superoxide dismutase (p = 0.02), immunoglobin G (p < 0.01), immunoglobin M (p = 0.04), interleukin-2 (p < 0.01) and interleukin-10 (p = 0.04); quadratic increases in serum total protein (p < 0.01) and albumin (p = 0.02) and linear decreases in serum total cholesterol (p = 0.02), triglyceride (p < 0.01) and malondialdehyde (p < 0.01). The results indicated that inulin increased milk production, shifted milk fatty acid profile, upregulated rumen volatile fatty acid concentration, and enhanced antioxidant and immunity function in dairy cows in a dose-dependent manner.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20770472
Volume :
12
Issue :
4
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Agriculture
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.42c5f0fc450243d29e47ab2f75a00c35
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12040521