• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.555-562
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) with or without ruminally protected fat and niacin on the thermoregulatory ability, milk yield and milk composition of lactating dairy cows during summer in Korea. Thirty mid-lactating Holstein cows (134±12.4 DIM and 23.4±2.3kg/d of milk yield) were divided into three groups (10 animals/group). Cows were housed in a free-stall barn and were provided with forced- air ventilation (wind velocity = 4 m/s) using 41 cm diameter fans. Diet one was formulated to contain low DCAD (+15 DCAD) while the remaining two diets were higher in DCAD (+30 DCAD). One higher DCAD diet was formulated to contain by-pass fat and the second higher DCAD diet contained the niacin along with by-pass fat. The maximum ambient temperature during July was 28.5℃ which could be seen as a period of mild heat stress. As summer progressed, August was characterized as a severe heat stress condition with maximum ambient temperature (32.4℃) and THI (74.0). Dry matter, crude protein and total digestible nutrients intake was not affected by the DCAD level and supplementation of ruminally protected fat or niacin. Milk production was higher in cows fed diets supplemented with fat and niacin than those fed un-supplemented diet. No difference in milk yield was observed in cows fed diets supplemented with fat or niacin plus fat. Milk fat and rectal temperature were not affected by the DCAD level and supplementation of ruminally protected fat or niacin. However, respiration rate was decreased in cows fed diets supplemented with either fat or fat and niacin compared to those fed. The results of the present study indicated that higher DCAD (+30) and supplementation of fat along with niacin can somehow mitigate the negative effects of heat stress on milk yield and physiology of lactating Holsteins during July and August in Korea. In present study reduced respiration rate and increased milk yield in lactating cows may be attributed to the cooling effect of supplemented fat along with vasodilatory functions of niacin. (Key Words: DCAD, Heat stress, THI, milk yield, Milk fat, Holstein)