title: Effects of different strategies of mineral supplementation (marine algae alone or combined with rumen boluses) in organic dairy systems.
abstract: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of marine algae supplementation alone or in combination with a regular mineral supplement (rumen boluses) to improve the mineral status in organic dairy cattle and their effect on the milk mineral composition, milk production, composition (% of fat and protein) and quality (SCC). Thirty-two Holstein Friesian lactating cows were randomly selected and assigned to the algae (A), boluses (B), algae+boluses (AB) and control group (C). For the algae groups (A, AB), a supplement composed of Sea Lettuce (80%), Japanese Wireweed (17.5%) and Furbelows (2.5%) was formulated to be given to the cows at the rate of 100 g/animal per day (A1) for the length of 4 weeks. In the second half of the experiment (weeks 5-8), the algae mixture was reformulated and the proportion of Furbelows was increased from 2.5% to 5.0% with a subsequent decrease of Lettuce to 77.5% (A2). In the boluses group (B), each cow received 2 boluses after calving. Blood (serum) and milk samples were collected at 2 and 4 week intervals, respectively, and analysed for trace element concentrations by ICP-MS. Information related to the milk composition and SCC during a 305-day lactation for each animal were obtained from the Dairy Records Management System. The supplementation with algae, boluses or the combination of both treatments showed a statistically significant effect on the iodine (algae), selenium (boluses) and cobalt (algae+boluses) status of the animals. In milk, treatments had a statistical significant increase on iodine, and a tendency to increase selenium concentrations. The assayed algae mixture combined with another source of selenium could be an effective tool to improve the mineral status in serum and milk.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López-Alonso
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain.|Centro Tecnológico Agroalimentario de Lugo (CETAL), Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rey-Crespo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain. inmaculada.orjales@usc.es.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Orjales
authors.affiliation: Centro Tecnológico Agroalimentario de Lugo (CETAL), Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Bermúdez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain. marta.miranda@usc.es.
authors.forename: M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9869-3874
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miranda
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D003612:Dairying / Q000379:methods*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012417:Rumen / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals
keywords: algae; dairy cattle; milk; minerals; organic systems; rumen boluses