<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The present experiment aimed to evaluate the partial replacement of corn with chocolate byproducts or protected fats in the diet of lactating cows on feed utilization, blood profile, and lactation performance. Fifty multiparous Holstein cows (560±22 kg BW, 3±1 parity, 7±1 days in milk, and previous milk production of 34±3 kg/d), were randomly assigned to 5 treatments in a completely randomized design for 90 days. The control diet contained a concentrate feed mixture containing (per kg DM) 412 g concentrate feed mixture, 412 g corn silage, and 176 g berseem hay. The control diet contained 17.6% crushed corn (DM basis). In another treatment, the control diet was supplemented with 1 g chromium daily (Chromium diet). In the other diets, each kg of crushed corn grain was replaced with 600 g chocolate byproducts (CH diet), 400 g protected fats (PF diet), or 500 g of chocolate byproducts and protected fats mixture (1:1 DM basis) (CHPF diet), DM basis, and each of the diets was also supplemented with 1 g chromium daily. Both amounts of protected fats and chocolate byproducts had the same energy concentration as 1 kg of corn. Without affecting feed intake, the replacement increased (P&lt;0.01) milk production, milk fat concentration, and feed efficiency. The replacement (P&lt;0.05) increased the concentrations of plasma total proteins, albumin, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, and chromium in comparison with the control diet. Higher (P&lt;0.001) nutrient digestibility was observed with CH, PF, and CHPF treatments. It is concluded that chromium supplementation did not affect feed utilization or cows’ performance; however, partial replacement of corn with chromium supplemented protected fat, chocolate byproducts or their mixture improved milk production and feed efficiency.</p>
</abstract>

The present experiment aimed to evaluate the partial replacement of corn with chocolate byproducts or protected fats in the diet of lactating cows on feed utilization, blood profile, and lactation performance. Fifty multiparous Holstein cows (560±22 kg BW, 3±1 parity, 7±1 days in milk, and previous milk production of 34±3 kg/d), were randomly assigned to 5 treatments in a completely randomized design for 90 days. The control diet contained a concentrate feed mixture containing (per kg DM) 412 g concentrate feed mixture, 412 g corn silage, and 176 g berseem hay. The control diet contained 17.6% crushed corn (DM basis). In another treatment, the control diet was supplemented with 1 g chromium daily (Chromium diet). In the other diets, each kg of crushed corn grain was replaced with 600 g chocolate byproducts (CH diet), 400 g protected fats (PF diet), or 500 g of chocolate byproducts and protected fats mixture (1:1 DM basis) (CHPF diet), DM basis, and each of the diets was also supplemented with 1 g chromium daily. Both amounts of protected fats and chocolate byproducts had the same energy concentration as 1 kg of corn. Without affecting feed intake, the replacement increased (P<0.01) milk production, milk fat concentration, and feed efficiency. The replacement (P<0.05) increased the concentrations of plasma total proteins, albumin, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, and chromium in comparison with the control diet. Higher (P<0.001) nutrient digestibility was observed with CH, PF, and CHPF treatments. It is concluded that chromium supplementation did not affect feed utilization or cows’ performance; however, partial replacement of corn with chromium supplemented protected fat, chocolate byproducts or their mixture improved milk production and feed efficiency.

Chocolate Byproducts and Protected Fats Enriched with Chromium to Replace Corn in Diets of Early Lactation Holstein Cows: Feed Utilization, Blood Profile, and Lactational Performance

Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The present experiment aimed to evaluate the partial replacement of corn with chocolate byproducts or protected fats in the diet of lactating cows on feed...

Chocolate Byproducts and Protected Fats Enriched with Chromium to Replace Corn in Diets of Early Lactation Holstein Cows: Feed Utilization, Blood Profile, and Lactational Performance

Published Online: Nov 13, 2023

Page range: 1119 - 1129

Received: Dec 26, 2022

Accepted: Feb 14, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2023-0025

Keywords
chocolate byproducts, chromium, corn, energy feeds, lactation, protected fats

© 2023 Mohammed H. Bakr et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Chocolate Byproducts and Protected Fats Enriched with Chromium to Replace Corn in Diets of Early Lactation Holstein Cows: Feed Utilization, Blood Profile, and Lactational Performance

Published Online: Nov 13, 2023

Page range: 1119 - 1129

Received: Dec 26, 2022

Accepted: Feb 14, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2023-0025

Keywordschocolate byproducts, chromium, corn, energy feeds, lactation, protected fats

© 2023 Mohammed H. Bakr et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
chocolate byproducts, chromium, corn, energy feeds, lactation, protected fats