Effectiveness of potassium carbonate sesquihydrate to increase dietary cation-anion difference in early lactation cows

Abstract

The effect of additional dietary potassium in early lactation dairy cows was evaluated with the addition of potassium carbonate sesquihydrate, which increased dietary K from 1.3 to 2.1% of dry matter (DM) from wk 3 to 12 of lactation. Cows fed potassium carbonate sesquihydrate in the form of DCAD Plus (Church & Dwight Co. Inc., Princeton, NJ) had increased DM intake, milk fat percentage and yield, energy-corrected milk, and efficiency of milk production per unit of DM intake. Milk fat of cows fed higher dietary K had a lower concentration of trans fatty acids, suggesting a role for potassium carbonate sesquihydrate in the rumen in the biohydrogenation processes converting linoleic to stearic acid. Cows fed the diet with 2.1% K had greater apparent balance of K, and no effects were noted on the concentration of blood Mg or amount of fecal Mg. The data support the feeding of greater amounts of K in the early lactation cow.

The effect of dietary cation-anion difference concentration and cation source on milk production and feed efficiency in lactating dairy cows

“…For example, Harrison et al (2012) reported that FE improved by 0.11 units when DCAD was increased from 490 to 700 mEq/kg of DM with added dietary K as the cation source. Erdman et al (2011) reported a 0.14-unit increase in FE by increasing DCAD in a corn silage-based diet from 255 to 336 mEq/kg of DM with added K 2 CO 3.…”

“…In the present studies, dietary treatments were applied in 3-wk experimental periods, which are probably sufficient to allow for changes in milk fat percentage to be expressed (Rico and Harvatine, 2013) but insufficient to measure the full magnitude of milk production and DMI effects. In the studies of Erdman et al (2011) and Harrison et al (2012), treatments were applied at the beginning of lactation and lasted for 140 and 70 d, respectively. Thus, under commercial conditions, the expected FE response to DCAD would be expected to be greater when dietary changes in DCAD are applied at the herd level and maintained continuously.…”

“…Although Erdman et al (2011) and Harrison et al (2012) illustrated the potential for K supplementation to increase dairy FE, the optimal DCAD concentration for maximal FE has not been determined. The NRC (2001) nutrient requirements for a 680-kg dairy cow producing 45 kg/d milk with 3.5% fat suggest minimal dietary concentrations of 1.06, 0.22, and 0.28% for K, Na, and Cl, respectively.…”

“…Dairy feed efficiency (FE) measured as 3.5% FCM/DMI was improved by 7.7% (0.14 units) when the DCAD concentration increased from 251 to 336 mEq/kg of DM using K 2 CO 3 supplementation (Erdman et al, 2011). Similarly, Harrison et al (2012) reported a 6.7% (0.11 unit) increase in FE by increasing DCAD from 463 and 665 mEq/kg of DM using K 2 CO 3 ·1.5 H 2 O. Erdman et al (2011) reported that K addition reduced feed costs by approximately $1/cow per day-a $365,000 reduction for a 1,000-cow dairy.…”

“…Thus, there is renewed interest among dairy producers in feeding strategies that improve feed utilization and increase milk output per unit feed input. Erdman et al (2011) and Harrison et al (2012) demonstrated improved FE in lactating dairy cows by increasing DCAD (Na + K -Cl) using potassium carbonate (K 2 CO 3 ) and potassium carbonate sesquihydrate (K 2 CO 3 ·1.5H 2 O) supplementation, respectively. Dairy feed efficiency (FE) measured as 3.5% FCM/DMI was improved by 7.7% (0.14 units) when the DCAD concentration increased from 251 to 336 mEq/kg of DM using K 2 CO 3 supplementation (Erdman et al, 2011).…”