Using a meta-analysis of literature data, this study aimed to quantify the dry matter (DM) intake response to changes in diet composition, and milk responses (yield, milk component yields and milk composition) to changes in dietary net energy for lactation (NE L ) and metabolizable protein (MP) in dairy cows. From all studies included in the database, 282 experiments (825 treatments) with experimentally induced changes in either NE L or MP content were kept for this analysis. These treatments covered a wide range of diet characteristics and therefore a large part of the plausible NE L and MP contents and supplies that can be expected in practical situations. The average MP and NE L contents were, respectively (mean ± SD), 97 ± 12 g/kg DM and 6.71 ± 0.42 MJ/kg DM. On a daily supply basis, there were high between-experiment correlations for MP and NE L above maintenance. Therefore, supplies of MP and NE L above maintenance were, respectively, centred on MP supply for which MP efficiency into milk protein is 0.67, and NE L above maintenance supply for which the ratio of NE L milk/NE L above maintenance is 1.00 (centred variables were called MP 67 and NE L100 ). The majority of the selected studies used groups of multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows in mid lactation, milked twice a day. Using a mixed model, between-and within-experiment variation was split to estimate DM intake and milk responses. The use of NE L100 and MP 67 supplies substantially improved the accuracy of the prediction of milk yield and milk component yields responses with, on average, a 27% lower root mean square error (RMSE) relative to using dietary NE L and MP contents as predictors. For milk composition (g/kg), the average RMSE was only 3% lower on a supply basis compared with a concentration basis. Effects of NE L and MP supplies on milk yield and milk component yields responses were additive. Increasing NE L supply increases energy partitioning towards body reserve, whereas increasing MP supply increases the partition of energy towards milk. On a nitrogen basis, the marginal efficiency decreases with increasing MP supply from 0.34 at MP 67 = −400 g/day to 0.07 at MP 67 = 300 g/day. This difference in MP 67 supply, assuming reference energy level of NE L100 = 0, equates to a global nitrogen efficiency decrease from 0.82 to 0.58. The equations accurately describe DM intake response to change in dietary contents and milk responses to change in dietary supply and content of NE L and MP across a wide range of dietary compositions.Keywords: dairy cow, milk composition, energy, protein, meta-analysis Implications Current feed evaluation systems are not suitable to predict animal responses to dietary changes. This paper quantifies average dry matter intake, milk yield and milk composition responses to change in net energy and metabolizable protein. The equations were derived from a meta-analysis of literature studies, which assembles a large number of dairy cow rations with a large range in dietary net energy and metabolizable protein contents.

The aim of this work was to study the effects of the dietary percentage of concentrate on patterns of intake, the evolution of rumen fermentation characteristics and plasma metabolites after a meal, nutrient digestibility, and milk production and composition in a medium-term trial in dairy goats. These effects have been well studied in dairy cattle but seldom in goats. Thirteen ruminally and duodenally cannulated dairy goats (95±4 d in milk) fed ad libitum were used in this study. Goats were assigned to 1 of 2 dietary treatments: high-concentrate (70% concentrate on dry matter basis) or a low-concentrate (35%) total mixed rations. The experiment was conducted over a period of 10 wk, including 3 wk of adaption to the diets. Patterns of intake, rumen fermentation characteristics, and plasma metabolites after a meal and fatty acids profile of milk fat were compared at the onset and at the end of the experiment. The increase in dietary percentage of concentrate decreased rumen pH, acetate to propionate ratio, ammonia-N concentration, and plasma urea concentration. The percentage of concentrate did not affect total volatile fatty acid concentrations. The high-concentrate diet increased the rate of intake during the morning meal at the onset of the experiment, whereas it decreased total dry matter intake and the rate of intake during the morning meal at the end of the experiment. The high-concentrate diet resulted in greater organic matter digestibility. Raw milk yield and protein yield were greater in goats fed the high-concentrate diet, whereas fat yield was not affected by dietary treatments. The milk fat content was lower in goats fed the high-concentrate diet. Proportions of the trans-C18:1 isomer relative to total fatty acids in milk were higher with the high-concentrate diet, but no modification of the proportion of total trans-C18:1 was detected, in particular no shift from trans-11 C18:1 to trans-10 C18:1 was observed. Further, the isomer trans-10,cis-12 C18:2 was not detected. Data from this study could be used for a new modeling approach or to improve existing models.

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faba bean, but tended to be higher with lupin. Milk yield was increased by 2.6 kg with faba bean blend extruded at 140°C compared with faba bean blend extruded at 160°C. Milk fat and milk protein concentrations were decreased by 3.1 and 2.3 g/kg, respectively, with lupin blends compared with soybean meal. Nitrogen partitioning between milk, feces, and urine did not change. Nitrogen apparent digestibility decreased by 3 g/100 g of N between faba bean blend extruded at low and at high temperatures. The content of Maillard compounds in feces was higher with blends extruded at 160°C than with raw or extruded at 140°C blends within both experiments. Total plasma AA tended to be higher with extruded blends than with raw in the faba bean experiment. Both extrusion temperatures appeared to protect dietary proteins from ruminal degradability, but proteins seemed to be overprotected at 160°C.