title: Milk production and composition in cows and goats fed alpha-ketoisocaproate.
abstract: To examine whether alpha-ketoisocaproate supplementation affects milk production, 10 goats were fed either 0 or 1.1% calcium-alpha-ketoisocaproate for 2 wk and 12 cows were fed either 0 or .75% Na alpha-ketoisocaproate for 3 wk. Supplementation with alpha-ketoisocaproate increased milk fat content, milk fat yield, and 4% FCM yield in cows by an average of 5, 10, and 8%, respectively, for the treatment period. In cows, response of milk fat yield to alpha-ketoisocaproate was 120 g during wk 1 of treatment but diminished to 55 g by wk 3. Milk yield and milk protein yield tended to be greater in cows fed alpha-ketoisocaproate, but milk production efficiency and body weight were not altered by treatment in either species. Supplementation with alpha-ketoisocaproate had no significant effect on fatty acid composition of milk but tended to increase the percentage of C10 and C12 fatty acids. In goats, supplementation with alpha-ketoisocaproate had no significant effect on milk production or composition, but trends toward increased milk fat and protein content were observed. Results indicate that alpha-ketoisocaproate acutely stimulates milk fat production in lactating cows and that this effect seems to diminish with time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames 50011.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Vandehaar
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Flakoll
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Beitz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nissen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002208:Caproates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats / Q000502:physiology*; D007651:Keto Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008892:Milk / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D002208:Caproates; D007651:Keto Acids; C013082:alpha-ketoisocaproic acid