Combined Inclusion of Former Foodstuff and Distiller Grains in Dairy Cows Ration: Effect on Milk Production, Rumen Environment, and Fiber Digestibility

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the substitution, in dairy cow rations, of traditional protein and starch sources with more sustainable “circular” feeds to increase the sustainability of dairy production. For this purpose, eight multiparous mid-lactating cows were blocked and assigned to one of four treatments and were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin squares design with 21-days periods (14 days of adaptation and 7 of data collection). Two different circular feedstuffs were tested: a bakery’s former foodstuff (FF) and a wheat distiller’s grain with solubles (WDGS). These ingredients were used, alone and in combination, in three experimental diets (FF, WDGS; FF + WDGS) and compared to a standard ration (CTR). Dry matter intake and rumination time were not influenced by these diets. Conversely, dietary treatments partially influenced the milk yield, rumen pH, Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA) production, and fibre digestibility. In particular, the combined inclusion of FF and WDGS increased milk production (37.39 vs. 36.92, 35.48, 35.71 kg/day, for FF, WDGS and CTR diets, respectively) and reduced milk urea content (13.14 vs. 16.19, 15.58, 16.95 mg/dL for FF, WDGS, and CTR diets, respectively). No effects of this association were found in the milk composition, acetic and propionic production, and fibre digestibility. These results suggest that the association of former foodstuff and wheat distillers’ grains could be safely included in dairy cow rations to increase the sustainability of cow nutrition and improve milk production without impairing animal health, dry matter intake, and fibre digestibility.

Adverse Effects of Wet Distillers Grains With Solubles (Wdgs) in the Diet of Dairy Cows

“…Statistically highly signifi cant (< 0.01) drop in milk fat content between 0 and 21 st day of our treatment with 25% of WDGS is not in compliance with the fi ndings of Kavitha et al (2021), who concluded that WDGS could be included up to 35% of DM requirement with no adverse eff ect on milk yield and composition of the crossbred cows for economical production. A similar positive statement was reported by Mammi et al (2022), who found out that the rational inclusion of wheat distillers in properly formulated rations represented a safe opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of dairy farming while maintaining high production levels.…”

Evaluation of antimicrobial and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory treatments for BRD on health and welfare in fattening bulls: a cross-sectional study

“…Analytical TMR analyses were performed at the University of Bologna feed analysis laboratory according to the methodology described in previous studies (Mammi et al. 2022 ).…”

Nutrient intake, digestibility, performance, carcass traits and sensory analysis of meat from lambs fed with co-products of Amazon oilseeds

“…They are generated from the oil extraction process, to meet the growing demand of the sectors: pharmaceutical; to feed; biofuels and cosmetics ( 4 ). The inclusion of these co-products in ruminant feed has been studied due to the levels of neutral detergent fiber, crude protein and energy, through the residual ether extract, and show promising results ( 5 – 8 ), including in combined inclusion ( 9 ).…”