Zinc-methionine supplementation prevents the live weight loss in the early lactation of Ongole-Crossbred cows in the reproduction cycle

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate the reproductive performance of Ongole crossbred (PO) cows offered zinc methionine (ZincMeth) during the late gestation and early lactation. Thirty-two PO pregnant cows, 400 kg live weight (LW) were weighed and measured body condition score (BCS) before the experiment. The experimental design was a 2 x 2 factorial with two nutritional and two ZincMeth treatments, with eight cows in each nutrition x ZincMeth group. All cows were offered elephant grass (EG), 16 cows offered a concentrate diet (CONS) containing 15% crude protein (CP) and 16 cows offered a CONS containing 11% CP at 3% LW on a DM basis, the ratio of EG: CONS was 40:60. Five grams of ZincMeth was added to the CONS prepared for individual cows. The parameters observed were LW gain, BCS, post-partum anestrus period, luteinizing hormone, volatile fatty acid, and blood metabolite concentrations. The results showed that the BCS change was greater in cows fed a high CP diet, they also had high plasma glucose, urea, and total protein concentrations. ZincMeth prevented LW loss in the early lactation and increased plasma urea concentration. Thus, the ZincMeth maintained the LWG during the critical period but did not affect any reproductive parameters.