Dairyman, E J de Jong of Wreden Ranch, located in the heart of the Central California milk shed, has made it a practice to collaborate with University of California (Davis campus) researchers to conduct studies on his dairy just south of Hanford.
The UC researchers working at Wreden Ranch were Jill Havlin, and Dr. Peter Robinson, with Kip Karges of Poet Nutrition. Inc. (Sioux Falls, SD). The objective of the experiment was to determine whether increasing the net energy (NEL) of a total mixed ration (TMR) with mainly unsaturated fat from corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) vs. rumen inert (RI) fat has similar impacts on dairy cow performance.
The study included three different rations over four periods of 28 days each and followed 1,140 cows from an average of 112 to 224 Days in Milk on de Jong's dairy. The total study lasted 16 weeks. Three early lactation pens with 380 multiparous Holstein cows in each were used. Dakota Gold was used as the high protein/low fat DDGS.
Wreden Ranch milks 5,000 cows 3X with production at 81 lbs FCM/cow/day and 3.59 BF.
The three treatments for the test groups were:
- The control ration with 5.8 lbs/day/cow of low fat/high protein DDGS;
- A DDGS ration with 6.6 lbs/day/cow of typical DDGS at 12% fat;
- A third treatment of EnerGII plus low fat DDGS in a ration included 0.8 lb EnerGII (calcium salts of fatty acids), and 5.8 lbs low fat/high protein DDG.
The average 0.8 lb/day intake of EnerGII (calcium salts of fatty acids) provides the same intake of fatty acids from typical 12% fat DDGS. The control diet that was lower in total fatty acids included the low fat (high protein) distillers at 5% fat.
"The results of the Distillers Grains vs. EnerGII study reinforce the production efficiency gains we expect from feeding EnerGII with overall positive impacts on milk production, milk fat test, fat corrected milk, dry matter intake, body condition score, feed efficiency, fatty acid digestibility and income over feed cost," said Kevin Murphy, global technical director for Virtus Nutrition, maker of EnerGII.
Dairyman tweaks ration
"Because of what we saw in the study, we adjusted our feeding program and went all-in on bypass fat feeding about ½ pound of EnerGII which has resulted in higher milk production, better body condition scores and higher pregnancy rates," de Jong said. "When we saw the cows were gaining weight we knew we'd gotten rid of the negative energy balance and they were getting pregnant quicker.
"I always learn something through the research projects, which ultimately improves my overall operation," de Jong said. "We've changed the way we were doing things. I've started feeding a lot more bypass fat in our diets. UC researchers were doing extra milk tests, monitoring body condition scores, and so much more, during their visits to the dairy at least two days a week."
What researchers find
"Increased feeding levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), from corn-based 12% fat DDGS, increased dry matter (DM) intake and decreased whole tract digestibility of NDF while having little impact on milk production and composition, although BCS gain was increased" explained Robinson. "It's likely that these changes were at least partly due to negative effects of PUFA on fibrolytic microbes in the rumen and a shift in energy toward increasing body fat gains and away from milk fat synthesis.
"Conversely, when saturated fatty acids (SFA) were increased in the diet to levels similar to those with the unsaturated fats by means of rumen inert (RI) calcium salts of palm oil, the cows substantively increased milk and components yield as well as BCS gain," according to Robinson. "The rumen inert fatty acids were evidently able to supply an increased amount of fat, which was utilized to support milk synthesis and stimulate BCS gain, but apparently without negatively impacting rumen fermentation.
"Findings indicate that use of 12% fat DDGS in rations for lactating dairy cows should be limited, as their addition (i.e., to create a diet with a higher fat and calculated NEL level) had little positive overall impact on animal performance. In contrast, addition of RI calcium salts of palm oil to increase the fat, and calculated NEL level, of the diet resulted in substantially increased animal productivity," Robinson concluded.
Follows the data
"I believe the research study data penciled out pretty well," said de Jong. "That's what I like about having the research done on my dairy because I see the integrity of the numbers. None of the data were manipulated and I know things were done right. Dr. Robinson has conducted three research projects on my dairy over the years and he and members of his team are easy to work with, and we follow their protocols."
Dairy manager, Cesar Rodriguez, made certain his crews had things in order for researchers when they were scheduled to be on site. "There are a lot of things to take care of when we are doing extra chores because of the research project, but I love my job and love the cows," Rodriguez declared.
"On the dairy's organizational chart you can put all the employees on the same level and they all report to Cesar," de Jong said. "He carries a lot of responsibility."
What Researchers Find
The results in the experiment comparing EnerGII to 5% fat DDGS (control) and to 12% fat DDGS were:
- Milk per cow: 94.6 lbs/cow/day for EnerGII treatment; +4.0 lbs for EnerGII vs. control and +4.9 lbs. for EnerGII vs. 12% fat DDGS.
- Milk fat %: 3.96% for EnerGII treatment; +.13% for EnerGII vs. control and +.19% for EnerGII vs. 12% fat DDGS.
- 3.5 FCM: 101.7 lbs for EnerGII treatment; +6.2 lbs for EnerGII vs. control and +8.1 lbs for EnerGII vs. 12% fat DDGS.
- Dry Matter Intake: 58.1 lbs/day for EnerGII treatment, +0.4 lbs for EnerGII vs. control and -4.5 lbs for EnerGII vs. 12% fat DDGS.
- Feed Efficiency: 1.75 (FMC/day / DMI/day) for EnerGII treatment; +.09 for EnerGII vs. control and +.25 for EnerGII vs. 12% fat DDGS.
- Income over feed costs: $9.19 (FCM$/day / DMI$/day) for EnerGII treatment; +$.66 for EnerGII vs. control and $1.83 for EnerGII vs. 12% fat DDGS.
- Body Condition Score gain: .32 units in 28 weeks for EnerGII treatment; a gain of +.26 for EnerGII vs. control and +.03 for EnerGII vs. 12% fat DDGS.
- Fatty Acid Digestion: 85% digestibility for EnerGII treatment, +6% for EnerGII vs. control and +1% for EnerGII vs. 12% fat DDGS.
When the research project was finished, Robinson summarized it in a nutshell as, "overfeed corn oil to lactating cows at your peril. High fat diets for lactating dairy cattle are best achieved by feeding rumen inert saturated fatty acids."
Readers who would like a PDF copy of the full research report may e-mail Dr. Robinson at phrobinson@ucdavis.edu and request one.
2.16.2015