Effect of Source and Level of Supplemental Fat on Total and Ruminal Organic Matter and Nitrogen Digestion in Dairy Cows

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Abstract
Effects of fat supplementation for dairy rations on digestibility and ruminal digestion were studied in four cows receiving a control diet (hay-concentrate) or this diet supplemented with 5 or 10% rapeseed oil or 10% tallow, according to a Latin square design. Neither total digestibility of DM, OM, and crude fiber nor ruminal OM digestibility was modified by lipid supply. Microbial N flow to the duodenum was calculated for solid-adherent bacteria and liquid-associated bacteria, using the turnover rate of liquid phase, the ruminal pools of bacteria and their concentrations in RNA, and diaminopimelic acid. Flows of total and bacterial duodenal OM and N did not depend on the fat content of the diet. In sacco ruminal degradation of DM was lower for a diet supplemented with 10% rapessed oil than for the control diet. The addition of rapeseed oil resulted in decreased acetate and increased propionate proportions in ruminal VFA and decreased ruminal ammonia after feeding. This trial showed that modifications in ruminal digestion did not have any negative consequence on OM degradation and did not modify ruminal N digestion.

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