The influence of a protected tallow supplement on milk yield and composition

G.F. Wilson and I.M. Brookes

Massey University, Palmerston North

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Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1975, 35: 41-46

Thirty Friesian cows in early lactation were fed a basal diet of pasture and maize silage together with one of three dietary supplements: dried lucerne chaff (C); dried lucerne chaff mixed with a formaldehyde-treated tallow and soybean supplement, containing 45% fat (HI-EN); and dried lucerne chaff mixed with ground barley meal (B), to provide an equal amount of energy to that supplied by diet HI-EN.

No significant treatment differences in milk yield were observed over the three-week feeding period. Cows fed HI-EN produced milk with a higher fat content than those fed diets B or C, and also yielded more fat than those fed diet C. About 24% of the supplemental fat appeared as long chain fatty acids in milkfat but, because mammary gland synthesis of short chain fatty acids (C4-C14) was depressed the extra milk fat produced was equivalent to only 17% of the fat in the supplement.

Cows fed diet B produced milk with a higher protein content than those fed HI-EN.

Keywords: NZSAPAB;

Last Updated 24-08-2000