Effect of graded duodenal infusions of glucose on yield and composition of milk from dairy cows. 2. Diets based on grass silage.

We conducted two trials to study the effect of graded amounts of glucose infused into the duodenum on milk yield and composition as well as on plasma metabolites, using diets based on grass silage. In trial 1, four fistulated Holstein cows were arranged in a 4 x 4 Latin square design and received 0, 750, 1500, and 2250 g of glucose/d in the duodenum. In trial 2, five fistulated Holstein cows were arranged in a 5 x 5 Latin square design and received 0, 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 g/d of glucose. In both trials, cows were fed a basal diet of 38% grass silage, 10% dehydrated alfalfa, 49% energy concentrate, and 3% oil meal. The treatments (feed plus infusion) were isoenergetic and isonitrogenous. Increased amounts of glucose increased milk yield up to 2.4 and 1.6 kg/d in trials 1 and 2, respectively. Lactose content was not affected, while fat yield and content decreased linearly. The decrease in milk fat resulted from a reduced yield of C18, probably caused by a lower mobilization of fat. The glucose treatments significantly affected the profiles of medium-chain fatty acids, by enhancing the elongation process (up to C14). Glucose infusions induced an asymptotic response of protein yield (linear increase up to 1000 g of glucose, after ceiling). It appears that with poor postruminal starch diets, such as grass silage-based diets containing 35 to 40% of concentrate, the glucose supply to the mammary gland may be limiting for milk synthesis.