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Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

DOI

10.3906/vet-1702-9

Abstract

Sixty multiparous Holstein-Friesian dairy cows made up the study sample. Group M (n = 20) received 300 mg/day monensin (Kexxtone, Elanco) for 21 days prior to the expected calving date. Group PGC (n = 20) received propylene glycol, mixed with concentrate and fed separately from total mixed ration (TMR) twice a day in the last 21 days of gestation. The control group, Group C (n = 20) did not receive any treatment prior to parturition. Cows in all three groups received PG (300 mL/day) for 5 days after parturition. Blood samples were collected 21 and 7 days prior to the expected calving date, as well as 7 and 14 days after parturition. NEFA and BHBA levels did not differ between the treatment groups. However, milk yield of Group M was significantly higher than that of Group C during weeks 3, 4, and 5 of lactation. Although NEFA and BHBA levels were similar in both treatment groups, higher milk yield in monensin-treated cows could be related to an increase in glycogenic precursors resulting from favorable effects of monensin on ruminal bacterial flora.

Keywords

Propylene glycol, monensin, dry period, NEFA, BHBA, milk yield

First Page

667

Last Page

671

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