Ethyl-cellulose rumen-protected methionine enhances performance during the periparturient period and early lactation in Holstein dairy cows

Abstract

The onset of lactation in dairy cows is characterized by severe negative energy and protein balance. Increasing Met availability during this time may improve milk production, hepatic lipid metabolism, and immune function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding ethyl-cellulose rumen-protected methionine (RPM; Mepron, Evonik Nutrition and Care GmbH, Hanau-Wolfgang, Germany) on the performance of dairy cows during prepartum and early-lactation periods. Sixty multiparous Holstein cows were used in a block design and assigned to either a control or an ethyl-cellulose RPM diet. Ethyl-cellulose RPM was supplied from -28 to 60 d relative to parturition at a rate of 0.09% and 0.10% of dry matter during the prepartum and postpartum periods, respectively. That rate ensured that the ratio of Lys to Met in metabolizable protein was close to 2.8:1. Cows fed ethyl-cellulose RPM had dry matter intakes (DMI) that were 1.2 kg/d greater during the prepartum period and consequently had overall greater cumulative DMI than cows in the control group. Compared with controls, during the fresh period (1-30 d in milk; DIM) feeding ethyl-cellulose RPM increased DMI by 1.7 kg/d, milk yield by 4.1 kg/d, fat yield by 0.17 kg/d, milk protein yield by 0.20 kg/d, 3.5% fat-corrected milk by 4.3 kg/d, and energy-corrected milk by 4.4 kg/d. Although ethyl-cellulose RPM supplementation increased milk protein content by 0.16 percentage units compared with the control during the fresh period, no differences were observed for milk fat, lactose, and milk urea nitrogen concentration. During the high-producing period (31-60 DIM), cows fed ethyl-cellulose RPM increased DMI and milk yield by 1.45 and 4.4 kg/d, respectively. Ethyl-cellulose RPM also increased fat yield by 0.19 kg/d, milk protein yield by 0.17 kg/d, 3.5% fat-corrected milk by 4.7 kg/d, and energy-corrected milk by 4.8 kg/d compared with controls. Ethyl-cellulose RPM supplementation reduced plasma fatty acids in the fresh period and decreased γ-glutamyl transferase, indicating better liver function. In conclusion, when lysine was adequate, feeding ethyl-cellulose RPM to achieve a ratio close to 2.8:1 in metabolizable protein improved dairy cow performance from parturition through 60 DIM. The greater milk production was, at least in part, driven by the greater voluntary DMI and better liver function.

Effects of rumen‐protected methionine on milk production in early lactation dairy cattle fed with a diet containing 14.5% crude protein

“…Our current results for DMI and milk production (Table ) were not consistent with previous findings: in other studies, DMI (Schingoethe et al., ; Sun et al., ), milk yield (Batistel et al., ), 4% fat‐corrected milk (Sun et al., ), or yield or percentage of milk protein (Patton, ) changed when RPMet was supplemented. According to AminoCow, using the data from the production trial (DMI, milk yield, milk content of protein and fat), only the adequacies of Lys and Met were less than 110%.…”

“…In addition, Batistel et al. () reported that plasma γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase levels decreased when cows were supplemented with 15 g/day of RPMet. From these previous reports and our results, we infer that some plasma items might change when diets contain RPMet at 15 g/day or more, but supplementation at the rate we used did not affect plasma profiles.…”

“…However, Batistel et al. () found that the frequency of mastitis was unchanged when RPMet at 22 g/day was added, and Sun et al. () found that the milk somatic cell count was unchanged when RPMet was fed at 15 g/day.…”

“…One meta‐analysis has revealed that RPMet supplementation enhances the percentage and yield of true milk protein (Patton, ). RPMet supplementation increases milk yield through increased voluntary dry matter intake (DMI) and enhanced liver function (Batistel et al., ). RPMet improves postpartum lactation performance and enhances immune function in transition dairy cows (Sun et al., ).…”

“…Many studies of RPMet have been performed on diets (e.g., CP 17%, Batistel et al., ) that include CP at levels higher than that recommended by the JFS (NARO, 2006). Furthermore, some studies have reported that feeding RPMet to cows in early lactation does not improve production (Misciatteilli et al., ; Ohgi et al., ).…”