title: Effect of feeding calcium soaps of fatty acids on production and reproductive responses in high producing lactating cows.
abstract: The effect of feeding Ca soaps of fatty acids for 120 d from parturition on productive and reproductive performance of dairy cows was examined, together with changes in blood lipids and progesterone. Cows fed Ca soaps received 1.5 Mcal NE1 d more than controls fed isonitrogenous and equi-forage rations. Cows fed Ca soaps produced more milk and fat for 60 d, and more FCM for 90 d after calving. In these cows, BW decreased more, and reached a minimum later than controls. Plasma free fatty acids were higher until 50 d postpartum, when phospholipid, and later triglyceride, concentrations were elevated. Cows fed soaps commenced ovarian cyclicity later than controls as shown by frequency distribution of the time required to reach cyclic plasma progesterone concentrations, 2 ng/ml progesterone in plasma, or behavioral estrus. However, once cyclicity commenced, more fat-fed cows had normal cycle length (18 to 26 d) than controls. Progesterone concentrations were higher in Ca soap-fed cows in the luteal phase before AI and were higher 9 and 24 d after AI in percent that conceived. Conception rate was higher in cows fed Ca soaps for 2nd to 4th AI, a higher proportion of cows were pregnant at 150 d after calving and number of open days was reduced. Feeding Ca soaps of fatty acids resulted in higher production at the expense of body reserves close to calving, and subsequently enhanced lipid concentrations in plasma. Higher progesterone production was accompanied by increased pregnancy rate and reduced open days.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agriculture, Hebrew University, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sklan
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Moallem
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Folman
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004435:Eating; D004971:Estrus; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012098:Reproduction; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008055:Lipids; D011374:Progesterone