Effects of Feeding Propionibacteria to Dairy Cows on Milk Yield, Milk Components, and Reproduction1

• Published in: Journal of dairy science Vol. 89; no. 1; pp. 111 - 125
• Main Authors: Stein, D.R., Allen, D.T., Perry, E.B., Bruner, J.C., Gates, K.W., Rehberger, T.G., Mertz, K., Jones, D., Spicer, L.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Champaign Elsevier Inc 01.01.2006; American Dairy Science Association
• Subjects: direct-fed microorganism; estrous detection; milk production; propionibacteria; milk production; propionibacteria; estrous detection; direct-fed microorganism
• ISSN: 0022-0302; 1525-3198
• DOI: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(06)72074-4

Two weeks before parturition, 38 Holstein primiparous and multiparous cows were assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: control animals (n=13) received regular total mixed rations (TMR), the low-dose group (n=14) received the control TMR plus 6×1010 cfu/cow of Propionibacterium strain P169 (P169), and the high-dose group (n=11) received the control TMR plus 6×1011 cfu/cow of P169 from −2 to 30 wk postpartum. Weekly milk samples were analyzed for percentage of milk fat, protein, lactose, and SNF, milk urea nitrogen, and somatic cell counts. Daily milk production expressed as 4% fat-corrected milk was affected by treatment and week×parity. High-dose and low-dose P169-treated cows exhibited 7.1 and 8.5% increases above controls in daily 4% fat-corrected milk, respectively. Treatment×parity and week significantly influenced percentage of milk fat, lactose, and protein, whereas treatment×parity and treatment×week influenced SNF. Ruminal propionate levels were influenced by treatment such that high-dose P169 cows had greater molar percentage of propionate than did low-dose P169 and control cows. Change in body weight postpartum was influenced by week×parity and treatment×parity such that high-dose and low-dose P169 multiparous cows exhibited a more rapid recovery of wk-1 body weight than did control multiparous cows. There was no treatment, parity, or interaction on days to first postpartum ovulation or on estrous behavior at 45 and 90 d postpartum. We concluded that P169 might have potential as an effective direct-fed microorganism to increase milk production in dairy cows.