title: Effects of fumaric acid on rumen fermentation, milk composition and metabolic parameters in lactating cows.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of fumaric acid (FA) on ruminal fermentation and its effects on the acid-base balance of seven ruminally and duodenally fistulated multiparous German Holstein cows. The experiment was conducted in a change-over design with three periods in which the animals were randomly arranged in one of three treatments: Control (C; without FA), 300 or 600 g FA per day. The diets consisted of 7.4 kg DM grass silage, 4.2 kg concentrate mixture and 0, 300 or 600 g FA or wheat starch as isocaloric compensation per day and cow. FA supplementation decreased the rumen pH, acetic acid and butyric acid and increased propionic acid in rumen fluid. The results of the single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis (SSCP) did not show an influence of FA on the microbial population in the rumen. The beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentration in blood and the pH of the urine decreased, while the blood gases were unaffected by supplementation of the acid. The microbial protein per MJ ME decreased in the duodenum with FA supplementation. The milk fat concentration decreased after addition of FA. We conclude that in this study feeding of up to 600 g FA per day did not result in an acidosis. It seems that up to 600 g FA per day did not have a significant influence on the acid-base balance of dairy cows.
authors: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Remling
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Riede
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Lebzien
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Meyer
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Höltershinken
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Kersten
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Breves
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Flachowsky
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Dänicke
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001105:Archaea / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D005650:Fumarates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007774:Lactation; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D012417:Rumen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005650:Fumarates; C032005:fumaric acid
keywords: digestibility acid-base balance; fumaric acid; grass silage; lactating cows; rumen fermentation