Abstract
Thirty-two multiparous Holando argentino cows in mid lactation were randomly assigned to two treatments: control or HFF (hydrogenated fish fat) at Rafaela, 31° 11’ South, during summer 1997/1998, to evaluate the effect of using HFF as a supplement under grazing conditions. Animals in both treatments grazed an alfalfa pasture, and were confined from 1000 hours to 1700 hours daily in a shaded pen where water was provided ad libitum. During each milking, animals in the control group received 3.73 kg dry matter per cow each day (DM cow–1 day–1) concentrate (15% crude protein; 8.69 MJ energy for location/kg DM). Cows in the HFF group received 3.25 kg DM cow–1 day–1 concentrate, plus 0.200 kg DM cow–1 day–1 HFF. Both diets presented similar energy, protein and neutral detergent fibre contents. The trial was performed during a strong ”El Niño” event, which resulted in a total rainfall of 396.3 mm (80% higher than normal). The mean temperature was 23.7 (SD 3.2)°C and the mean temperature humidity index was 72.9 (SD 4.96).
Production data were analysed using a completely randomised design with analysis of covariance. Supplementation with HFF produced an increase in daily milk production (26.4 (SD 2.46) l/cow compared to 23.9 (SD 2.68) l/cow for the controls; P<0.05). Milk fat production was higher for HFF (P<0.05): 941 (SD 96) g cow–1 day–1 as compared to controls, which yielded 846 (SD 95) g cow–1 day–1. Milk protein yields also differed significantly (P<0.05), the respective values for HFF and controls being 795 (SD 72) g cow–1 day–1 and 715 (SD 83) g cow–1 day–1. It was concluded that hydrogenated fish fat could be a good ingredient to sustain high yields and elevated maintenance requirements in a grazing system during hot conditions.
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Received: 15 March 2000 / Revised: 12 March 2001 / Accepted: 21 March 2001
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Gallardo, M., Valtorta, S., Leva, P. et al. Hydrogenated fish fat for grazing dairy cows in summer. Int J Biometeorol 45, 111–114 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004840100091
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004840100091