Effect of different sources of pectin feedstuffs on chewing activities in early lactating Holstein cows

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different<br><br>sources of pectin feedstuffs on blood metabolites in early lactating<br><br>Holstein cows. Eight primiparous early lactating Holstein cows (60 ±<br><br>23 d postpartum, weighing 530 ± 60 kg) were assigned into a duplicated<br><br>4 × 4 Latin square design with 4 3-wk periods. Cows were allocated<br><br>into 4 diets whit 1)10% barley grain, 2)10% sugar beet pulp, 3)10%<br><br>wheat bran and 4) 10% dried citrus pulp . Each experimental period<br><br>was 21 d including 14 d adaptation period and 7 d collecting samples.<br><br>Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein 2h after the morning<br><br>feeding. Blood serum was collected after centrifuged at 1,500 ×<br><br>g for 20 min, frozen at – 40°C, and later analyzed for glucose, urea<br><br>N, cholesterol, triglyceride, alkaline phosphate and albumin. Blood<br><br>metabolites data and DMI are shown in Table 1.There were no differences<br><br>(P &gt; 0.05) on daily intake of DM (kg/d) (Table 1). Similarly, no<br><br>treatments effects were observed blood metabolites (Table 1). These<br><br>data suggest that, the addition of sources of pectin feedstuffs at 10%<br><br>levels (dry matter basis) of the dairy cow ration instead of cereal grain;<br><br>will decrease the cost of milk production without any negative effect<br><br>on DMI and blood metabolites.