Effects of 00-rapeseed meal inclusion in Parmigiano Reggiano hay-based ration on dairy cows’ production, reticular pH and fibre digestibility

Abstract

Hay-based diets are typically used in Parmigiano Reggiano cheese production. Parmigiano Reggiano feeding regulation prohibits 00-rapeseed dietary inclusion. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of substituting soybean-meal with different levels of 00-rapeseed-meal in dairy cows' diets, to evaluate the possibility to include it in Parmigiano Reggiano regulation. The study had a Latin square design with 8 tie stall dairy cows. The isoenergetic and isoproteic dietary treatments differed in protein source (% of DM): S (0.0% 00-rapeseed-meal, 9.3% of soybean-meal), LR (3.8% 00-rapeseed-meal, 6.8% of soybean-meal), MR (8.5% 00-rapeseed-meal, 3.4% of soybean-meal), and HR (13.2% 00-rapeseed-meal, 0.0% of soybean-meal). DMI, milk production and composition, rumination and reticular-pH were recorded daily. Dietary fibre digestibility was evaluated by in vitro fermentation and milk gointrin content was quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Statistical analysis was performed by mixed model. Milk yield, protein and casein content increased for incremental 00-rapeseed-meal dietary levels. MR treatment compared to the others resulted in higher daily reticular-pH (5.92), and fewer minutes with pH below 5.8 (467) and 5.5 (72). Goitrin was detectable in milk when 00-rapeseed-meal was included in the diet. Overall, the inclusion of 00-rapeseed-meal in the Parmigiano Reggiano type ratio did not compromise the performances of cows pointing to it as a reliable substitute for soybean-meal. Our results suggest that 00-rapeseed-meal should be tested in feeding studies to determine its effects on milk organoleptic characteristics and cheese production and quality to see if it can be included in the Italian PDO cheese regulation. HIGHLIGHTS 00-rapeseed inclusion on hay-based diet improve DMI, ECM and rumen health 00-rapeseed-meal introduction in Italian PDO cheese regulation is suggested

Immune‐metabolic‐inflammatory markers in Holstein cows exposed to a nutritional and environmental stressing challenge

“…This decrease was worsen further by the lower peNDF and uNDF content in the ration, especially in the treatment ration (13.10% and 3.05% of DM), that is lower than those suggested by other authors to ensure an optimum rumen pH (Humer et al, 2018). In previous research projects conducted using dry hay and straw in the diets, as commonly happens in the Parmigiano Reggiano PDO area, it was possible to decrease the amount of peNDF till 11.2% of DM with no rumen health negative effects (Buonaiuto et al, 2021;Cavallini et al, 2021;Fustini et al, 2016;Fustini, Palmonari, et al, 2017) The innate immune responses to non-infectious stressors have been highlighted by several authors (Trevisi et al, 2018), which also deal with the metabolic stress of high-yielding dairy cows. Our data agree with the results of previous nutritional challenge works (Trevisi et al, 2018), in which an increase in plasma concentrations of positive acute phase protein (+APP) was observed when rumen pH was below 5.8 for at least 6 h a day, as expected when we fed rich grain diets.…”

“…This decrease was worsen further by the lower peNDF and uNDF content in the ration, especially in the treatment ration (13.10% and 3.05% of DM), that is lower than those suggested by other authors to ensure an optimum rumen pH (Humer et al, 2018). In previous research projects conducted using dry hay and straw in the diets, as commonly happens in the Parmigiano Reggiano PDO area, it was possible to decrease the amount of peNDF till 11.2% of DM with no rumen health negative effects (Buonaiuto et al, 2021; Cavallini et al, 2021; Fustini et al, 2016; Fustini, Palmonari, et al, 2017). In those experiments, the dietary starch content was lower (23.2, % DM, on avg) and comparable to the CTR diet, offered before the challenge.…”

Effect of an Immunomodulatory Feed Additive in Mitigating the Stress Responses in Lactating Dairy Cows to a High Concentrate Diet Challenge

“…The latter was lower than min. levels recommended by other authors [ 49 ], but previous experience with feeding diets similar to the one fed in this trial, a diet based on hay and straw as required in the Parmigiano Reggiano production area [ 50 , 51 ] has shown it is possible to decrease the level peNDF to 11.2% of DM without compromising rumen health [ 52 , 53 , 54 ]. In all those examples the starch content of the ration (avg.…”

Effects of Turmeric Powder on Aflatoxin M1 and Aflatoxicol Excretion in Milk from Dairy Cows Exposed to Aflatoxin B1 at the EU Maximum Tolerable Levels

“…Cows were housed in a naturally ventilated free stall barn and had free access to feed and water. Rations were formulated to mimic total mixed rations used in the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese production area, in Italy, which consisted of all dry and nonfermented components, as detailed in previous studies [ 50 , 51 ].…”