title: Incremental amounts of Ascophyllum nodosum meal do not improve animal performance but do increase milk iodine output in early lactation dairy cows fed high-forage diets.
abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of incremental amounts of Ascophyllum nodosum meal (ANOD) on milk production, milk composition including fatty acids and I, blood metabolites, and nutrient intake and digestibility in early lactation dairy cows fed high-forage diets. Twelve multiparous Jersey cows averaging (mean±standard deviation) 40±21 d in milk and 464±35 kg of body weight and 4 primiparous Jersey cows averaging 75±37 d in milk and 384±17kg of body weight were randomly assigned to treatment sequences in a replicated 4×4 Latin square design. Each period lasted 21 d with 14 d for diet adaptation and 7 d for data and sample collection. Cows were fed a total mixed ration (64:36 forage-to-concentrate ratio) supplemented (as fed) with 0, 57, 113, or 170 g/d of ANOD. Milk yield as well as concentrations and yields of milk components (fat, protein, lactose, milk urea N) were not affected by increasing dietary amounts of ANOD. Concentration (from 178 to 1,370 µg/L) and yield (from 2.8 to 20.6 mg/d) of milk I increased linearly in cows fed incremental amounts of ANOD as a result of the high concentration of I (820 mg/kg of dry matter) in ANOD. Overall, only minor changes were observed in the proportion of milk fatty acids with ANOD supplementation. Quadratic trends were observed for dry matter intake and total-tract digestibilities of organic matter and neutral detergent fiber, whereas negative linear trends were observed for serum concentration of cortisol and crude protein digestibility with ANOD supplementation. Serum concentrations of triiodothyronine and thyroxine were not affected by ANOD supplementation and averaged 1.1 and 48.4 ng/mL, respectively. However, feeding increasing amounts of ANOD linearly reduced the plasma concentration of nonesterified fatty acids (from 164 to 132 mEq/L). Quadratic effects were found for the total-tract digestibility of ADF and urinary output of purine derivatives, suggesting that ANOD supplementation may stimulate growth of ruminal cellulolytic bacteria in a dose-dependent fashion. In general, feeding incremental amounts of ANOD to early lactation dairy cows dramatically increased milk I concentration and output with no effect on animal performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham 03824.
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Antaya
authors.affiliation: Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, University Park, PA 16802.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Soder
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Vermont, Burlington 05405.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham 03824.
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Whitehouse
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham 03824.
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Guindon
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham 03824.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Erickson
authors.affiliation: Thompson School of Applied Science, University of New Hampshire, Durham 03824.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Conroy
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham 03824. Electronic address: andre.brito@unh.edu.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Brito
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D044646:Ascophyllum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D004063:Digestion / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007455:Iodine / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D007455:Iodine
keywords: Ascophyllum nodosum meal; dairy cow; iodine; milk yield