Effect of supplementing rations with thiamin and / or sodium bicarbonate on milk yield and composition of lactating cows [electronic resource].

Includes references.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin B₁ (thiamin) and/or buffer (NaHCO₃) supplementation to the rations of lactating cows on some production performance and milk composition. Four lactating Baladi cows were used in 4x4 Latin Square design experiment. Each experimental period lasted 30 days. Cows received daily ration supplemented with 0, 340 mg thiamin, 340 mg thiamin + 160g NaHCO₃), and 160g NaHCO₃ for the control and treatment groups I, II and m, respectively. The control diet was Darawa and concentrate feed mixture (as 1: 1 on DM basis). The results indicated that feeding lactating cows with daily ration supplemented with 340mg thiamin; 340 mg thiamin + 160 g NaHCO₃ or 160 g NaHCO₃ resulted an increase of milk yield up to 12.28% (P>0.05), 16.49% (P<0.05) and 17.34% (P<0.05), respectively, compared to the control diet. Milk fat and protein yields were significantly (P<0.05) increased by addition of 340 mg thiamin and 160 g NaHCO₃ (II) or 160 g NaHCO₃) (III) compared to the control. However, the milk composition was not significantly (P>0.05) affected by thiamin or NaHC03 or combination, except fat content. The serum nitrogen metabolites of lactating cows were not significantly different by feeding cows with the ration supplemented with thiamin, NaHCO₃ or combination. Moreover, differences in serum glucose and cholesterol, and activities of AST and ALT were not significantly (P>0.05) different among the groups. Furthermore, thiamin content of milk did not differ significantly among the experimental groups. However, serum thiamin concentration increased significantly as effect of the supplementations comparing to the unsupplemented diet (control). It could be concluded that NaHCO₃ with or without thiamin increased the milk production .of Baladi cows.

Summary in Arabic.

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