Effects of rumen-protected methionine supplementation on dairy cows during early postpartum

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of rumen-protected methionine (RPM) supplementation during early lactation on performance and metabolic parameters of dairy cows. Forty-two Holstein cows were blocked by parity (22 primiparous and 20 multiparous) and calving date, then randomly assigned to two groups, Control and RPM. From calving through 29 ± 8 d in milk, cows received an early lactation diet [1.59 Mcal/kg of DM, 10.7% rumen-degradable protein and 6.5% rumen-undegradable protein] with no added methionine (Control, n = 21) or with supplementation of Smartamine M (RPM, Adisseo Inc, n = 21). RPM cows were supplemented with 12 g/day Smartamine M (7.2 g of metabolizable methionine), individually top-dressed over the total mixed ration. Blood and milk samples were collected during the first two weeks of lactation and milk yield recorded until 30 days in milk. No differences in milk yield or blood metabolites were observed. Cows supplemented with RPM increased milk fat and total solids contents and fat-to-protein ratio by 0.48% units, 0.66% units, and 0.09 units, while tended to increase milk total protein content by 0.13% units, respectively. This study showed beneficial effects of early postpartum RPM supplementation on milk composition of dairy cows.

Evaluation of peripartum supplementation of methionine hydroxy analogue on beef cow–calf performance

“…Glucose concentration was not affected by dietary treatment, agreeing with previous MHA supplementation in B. indicus -influenced beef heifers ( Moriel et al, 2020 ) and early lactating dairy cows ( Michelotti et al, 2021 ). Collins et al (2019) observed greater serum glucose during late gestational RPMet supplementation in beef cows; however, Palmer et al (2020) noted peripartum MHA supplementation resulted in lower glucose in lactation.…”

“… Socha et al (2008) observed a tendency for decreased NEFA during peak lactation and a quadratic decrease over a range of duodenal infusions of methionine during mid lactation; however, there were no effects observed during early lactation or during an earlier study they conducted ( Socha et al, 2005 ). In contrast, early lactational RPMet supplementation in primiparous and multiparous Holstein cows resulted in elevated NEFA ( Michelotti et al, 2021 ). By supplying a more optimal amino acid balance via methionine supplementation, the liver is more effective in exporting NEFA to be used for the synthesis of very low-density lipoproteins ( Socha et al, 2008 ).…”

“…In fact, it should be noted that the M30 treatment had the lowest numerical plasma urea N at all postpartum timepoints. Supplementation with RPMet resulted in no change in plasma urea N in lactating dairy cows ( St-Pierre and Sylvester, 2005 ; Michelotti et al, 2021 ), or in growing beef calves until 6 g of sulfur amino acids were provided ( Hersom et al, 2009 ). When Lee et al (2015) supplemented dairy cows with MHA, plasma urea N quadratically decreased compared with controls.…”

Meta-Analysis of Rumen-Protected Methionine in Milk Production and Composition of Dairy Cows

“…The retrieved studies were screened according to the corresponding inclusion criteria. After excluding the duplicate and unqualified literature, the meta-analysis included 14 studies, as shown in Table 1 [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. To make it easier to visualize the studied datasets, the mean, maximum, minimum, and standard deviation of each study parameter are summarized in Table A1 of Appendix A .…”