The Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Rumen Protected Glucose on Metabolic Parameters and Milk Quality in Dairy Cows

Blood glucose concentrations in high productive dairy cows is a master regulator of hormones and metabolites which are in relation with milk production, reproductive performances and health. Low blood glucose postpartum is caused by inadequate glucose entry rate relative to whole-body demand as opposed to the alternative possibility that postpartum cows have a lower regulatory set point for blood glucose. The aim of this research was to evaluate the addition of rumen protected glucose on metabolic and milk parameters in dairy cows at the peak of lactation. Twenty-four dairy cows average 52.83 (SD = 28.94) days (control) and 54.58 (SD = 27.78) days in milk (experimental) were used for the dietary trial with rumen protected glucose addition in concentration of 200 g/day/cow. Biochemical parameters glucose, total protein, albumin, urea, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate, (BHB) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured at the beginning of the trial and 21st day after dietary treatment. Parameters for milking control were daily milk yield (DMY), milk fat content (MFC), milk protein content (MPC), urea in milk, lactose in milk, fat/protein index and somatic cell count (SCC). No significant differences of biochemical parameters and milk performances between control group and the experimental group were found. Feeding bypass glucose showed 57% reduction in the number of milk somatic cells in the milk of multiparty cows at the end of the experiment. Dietary addition of rumen protected glucose in dosage of 200 g/day/cow in the period of lactation peak showed no effect on milk production and metabolic profile.