doi: 10.15389/agrobiology.2018.6.1169eng

UDC 636.2:591.05

 

EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PROTECTED L-CARNITINE
ON MILK PRODUCTION, METABOLISM, AND REPRODUCTIVE
PARAMETERS OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE DAIRY COWS

M.G. Chabaev, R.V. Nekrasov, V.N. Romanov

Ernst Federal Science Center for Animal Husbandry,60, pos. Dubrovitsy, Podolsk District, Moscow Province, 142132 Russia, e-mail nek_roman@mail.ru (✉ corresponding author), chabaev.m.g-1@mail.ru, romanowiktor@mail.ru

ORCID:
Chabaev M.G. orcid.org/0000-0003-1889-6063
Nekrasov R.V. orcid.org/0000-0003-4242-2239
Romanov V.N. orcid.org/0000-0001-6626-6619
The authors declare no conflict of interests

Received March 23, 2018

 

Amino acid and vitamin provision is known to be crucially vital in the nutrition of highly productive dairy cattle. Currently, important role of carnitine in carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism has been established, including the transport of long-chain fatty acids through the mitochondrial membrane, excretion of potentially toxic metabolites from cells, regulation of gluconeogenesis, and synthesis of growth hormone. However, there are no recommendations on dietary L-carnitine dosage for newly calved cows with different milk yields. Moreover, data on the effect of dietary carnitine are often contradictory. In this paper, we for the first time compare effective postpartum doses of Carnipass™ and determine optimal amount of protected of L-carnitine (45 mg per 1 kg of produced milk). The aim of our research was to study the effect of different doses of dietary L-carnitine in a protected form on milk productivity, quality, intensity and peculiarities of physiological and biochemical processes in cows during early post calving period. Experiments, including physiological ones, were carried out on four groups of Holstein black-motley cows (8 cows per each, Dubrovitsy unit of Klenovo-Chegodaevo experimental farm, Moscow Province, 2014). Farm tests (Agrofirma Detchinskaya, Maloyaroslavetsky Redion, Kaluga Province) was conducted in 2015-2016. All animals ate a basic ration. The cows of experimental groups II, III and IV additionally received dietary Ñarnipass™ (Lohmann Animal Health GmbH & Co. KG, Germany), 5.5, 8.3 and 11.1 g equal to 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 g of L-carnitine, respectively, 21 days before calving and 30, 45 and 60 mg of L-carnitine per 1 kg of produced milk for 120 days after calving. The average daily milk yield in cows of groups II, III and IV was 29.5, 31.6 and 31.4 kg, or by 0.9, 3.0 (p < 0.05) and 2.8 kg (p < 0.05) higher compared to the control group. When recalculated for milk with 4 % fat content, this index was 3.7, 10.7 (p < 0.01) and 10.0 % higher (p < 0.01). The somatic cell counts in the milk of experimental cows were from 217.5×103 to 42.0×103 per 1 cm3, which is 50.0-74.5×103/cm3 lower than in the control group. The use of L-carnitine at different doses allows reduction of costs per 1 kg of 4 %-fat milk by 3.8-10.8 % feed energy units, 3.6-10.5 % digestible protein, and 3.8-10.7 % concentrated feed. Dietary L-carnitine (45 and 60 mg/kg of milk) increases digestibility of dry matter by 3.06-2.71 %, of proteins by 3.79 (p < 0.05) and 3.90 % (p < 0.05), respectively, of fat by 0.55-0.06 %, of cellulose by 2.13-1.49 %, and of nitrogen-free extractive substances by 3.41-2.66 %. In cows fed with L-carnitine, blood protein reserves increase due both to albumins and globulins, and protein index is 5.4, 17.0 (p < 0.05) and 15.1 % (p < 0.05) higher. Activity of transamination enzymes, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, also rises. The blood concentration of urea decreases by 30.1-35.5 %, which also indicates better nitrogen metabolism. Increase in glucose content by 4.7-9.8 %, and decrease in the amount of bilirubin and cholesterol by 1.4-4.9 and 3.9-8.8 %, respectively, may indicate better function of the liver. At a dosage of 45 mg/kg L-carnitine improves parameters of non-specific immunity. Phagocytic index, bactericidal and lysozyme activity increase by 0.85 units (p < 0.01), 6.91 % (p < 0.001) and 5.43 % (p < 0.001), respectively. In commercial farm tests (Detchinskaya Agro-Firm, Maloyaroslavetskii Region, Kaluga Province, 2015-2016) L-carnitine in a dose of 45 mg/kg has increased milk yield by 11.6 % (p < 0.05), as recalculated for 4 %-fat milk, with a decrease in costs per unit of milk production. This is in line with our experimental data. Insemination index is also 0.5 units less, and the service period is 24 days shorter. The profit due to use of protected dietary L-carnitine (45 mg/kg) was 3808 rubles per cow.

Keywords: high producing dairy cows, feed additives, L-carnitine, digestion, digestibility, metabolism, immunity, milk production, reproduction.

 

Full article (Rus)

Full article (Eng)

 

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