Progut™ Info Letter 1/2007
The effects of Progut™ on the performance of dairy cows.
1. Objective
The objective of the trials was to study the effect of Progut™ on the milk
production of dairy cows.
2. Trials at Helsinki University
In the first trial a special energy supplement (Acetona™) with or without
Progut™ addition was fed to dairy cows two weeks pre- and 8 weeks postcalving. The cows were getting 1 kg of Acetona daily, giving 20 grams of
Progut™ per cow per day. There were 12 cows in the control group and 12
cows in the trial group (second or > calving). The addition of Progut™ in dairy
cow diet increased the energy corrected milk yield (ECM kg/d) by 5.3 % during
the first 8 weeks of lactation (table 1). It also increased the % fat and fat
production g/day. The percentage of protein was decreased slightly but higher
milk volume meant that the production of protein g/day did not change. The
addition of Progut™ improved energy utilisation by 6.5%.
Table 1. The effect of the diet on the milk production of dairy cows. Helsinki
University.
Weeks 1-8
Progut Progut +
%
Milk, kg/d
46.5
47.3
Fat %
4.23
4.53
Protein %
3.39
3.33
Urea g/dl
28
28
Fat g/d
1899
2087
Protein g/d
1537
1541
ECM, kg/d
46.8
49.3
5.3 %
ECM / DMI
2.15
2.29
6.5 %
ECM = energy corrected milk yield, DMI = dry matter intake
In the second trial a special energy supplement with or without Progut™
addition was fed to dairy cows two weeks pre- and 8 weeks post- calving. The
inclusion of Progut™ was 20 grams per cow per day two weeks pre-calving and
10 grams per cow per day 8 weeks post-calving. It should be noted however,
that in this trial also the raw material composition of the energy supplement
differed in the control and trial treatments. There were 12 cows in the control
group and 12 cows in the trial group
The energy corrected milk yield (ECM kg/d) of the trial group was 6.9 % higher
than the control (table 2). Fat and protein production was also higher but the %
fat and % protein was slightly decreased. Progut™ addition improved the
energy utilization in this trial, too.
Table 2. The effect of the diet on the milk production of dairy cows. Helsinki
University.
Weeks 1-8
Control
Trial
%
ECM, kg/d
43.7
46.7
6.9 %
% fat
4.32
4,23
% protein
3.34
3.25
Fat g/d
1810
1923
Protein g/d
1386
1464
Urea g/dl
29.2
28.0
ECM / DMI
1.92
2.02
5.2 %
ECM = energy corrected milk yield, DMI = dry matter in
Effects on immunity:
In the second trial the effect of Progut™ addition on the IgA content of the
colostrum and the serum of dairy cows was measured. The addition of Progut™
increased the IgA content of the colostrum by 35 - 60 % (figure 1). In the
successive calf trial it was seen that the IgA content of the colostrum had a
significant positive correlation with the growth of the calves (figure 2). The dams
seemed to recover faster from the calving stress, which can be seen in the
serum IgA “recovery” rate (figure 3). The rise started at week four and at week
eight the serum IgA was already 81% of the pre-trial level, whereas in the
control it was only 52% (p=0,099).
Figure 1. The effect of the diet on the colostrum IgA content of dairy cows
Effect of diet on colostrum IgA content
7000
6000
IgA (m g/g)
5000
4000
Pigaride
PG.
3000
Controls
2000
1000
0
0
6
Time after calving (hours)
24
Figure 2. The effect of the colostrum IgA content on the growth of the calves
between weeks 3 and 5
Calf growth during weeks 3-5 vs colostrum IgA (Viikki + Suitia)
r=0.316; p-value 0.032; n=46
1200
Calf growth (g/day)
1000
800
600
400
200
0
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
Colostrum IgA (mg/g)
Figure 3. The effect of the diet on the serum IgA content of dairy cows around
calving
Serum IgA (ug/ml) changes around calving
300,0
250,0
200,0
Control
150,0
Progut
100,0
50,0
0,0
-2
0
1
2
3
4
8
Week around calving
3. Field trial at Bishopston Farm, Scotland 2005-2006
The trial was carried out at Bishopston farm in Scotland from November 2005
until May 2006 and was supervised by Dr. William V. Hutcheon. The trial
continued till the cows were put out to grass on 3rd May 2006. A group of
Holstein-Friesian dairy cows in lactation 2-6 was fed a Total Mixed Ration
(TMR) with the addition of 200g Progut Farm (20g Progut™) per head per day
from two weeks pre-calving through early lactation. Twenty-nine cows receiving
Progut Farm formed the trial groups (T1-T3). These 29 cows had Progut Farm
in their diet for a variable period of time, depending on when they calved (table
3).
Because of the practicalities of feeding and housing in a commercial situation it
was not possible to have a formal control (untreated) group of cows running
concurrently with the treated groups. The best control group (C) which could
be created was a group of cows calving before Progut Farm was fed. The
control group of 37 cows did not receive Progut Farm during the dry period or
the earliest part of lactation but progressively had Progut Farm during the last
few weeks of the period of the lactation studied (table 3). This was because
they were part of the high yielding group fed Progut Farm. The cows in groups
C1 and C2 had, on average, no Progut Farm till day 91 or day 57 of lactation
forming a more relevant control. Groups C3 and C4 were intermediate groups,
the cows having had Progut Farm from day 30 and day 15 of lactation
respectively.
Table 3. Trial groups
Group
T1
T2
T3
C1
C2
C3
C4
No
cows
10
10
9
9
9
9
10
of Calving dates
12/05-1/06
1/06-2/06
2/06-3/06
8/05-9/05
9/05-10/05
10/05-11/05
11/05
Progut Farm in the diet (PRE = 2
weeks pre calving)
PRE + first 115 days of lactation
PRE + first 100 days of lactation
PRE + first 70 days of lactation
Not before first 90 days in lactation
Not before first 60 days in lactation
Not before first 30 days in lactation
Not before first 15 days in lactation
The main measures of cow performance were the production of average daily
milk and Fat+Protein over first 115 days (approx) of the present lactation. The
actual recording day (days in milk) varies for individual cows over a 28 day
span and the range used was therefore 99-130 days. Since the lactation curve
for most cows is relatively flat for this part of the lactation the results should not
be much affected by differences in the actual days in milk within this range.
Test comparisons for a sample of the early calving groups confirmed this - i.e.
the average daily yields at 100 days and 130 days were quite close. The
performance measures of the present lactation were compared to respective
daily averages over first 155 days (range 140-170 days) of the previous
lactation. For the previous lactation, it was decided to use a more extended
period as these records were readily available. Because of the need to
compare previous year's milk records all heifers were excluded from the trial.
Official milk records taken every 28 days by The Cattle Information Service
were used to assess cow performance. These records (mainly the Statement
of Milk Records) provide very detailed independent production data and other
information based on 28-day recording and milk sampling by nationally trained
recorders. Records up to and including the one on 11 June 2006 were used so
that all cows had records covering at least the first 100 days of lactation.
Cows in the T3 group received Progut Farm for rather less than 100 days. For
this reason it was decided to use only the groups T1 + T2 as the trial group.
Groups C1 + C2 formed the control group and groups C3 + C4 formed the
intermediate group.
Results
The main results are presented in table 4. The ratios are considered to be the
most meaningful figures though the actual figures for % fat, % protein and milk
yield are also shown.
Table 4. Milk yields (kg/d), % fat and % protein for present and past lactation
and the ratio present:past
Milk yield (kg/day)
% Fat
% Protein
Last
Present
Ratio
Last
Present
Ratio
Last
Present
Ratio
27.1
29.0
1.07
4.39
4.25
0.97
3.44
3.45
1.00
29.0
33.0
1.14
4.20
3,94
0.94
3.22
3.21
1.00
28.7
34.0
1.19
4.18
4.24
1.01
3.29
3.18
0.97
Mean C
28.1
31.0
1.10
4.30
4.10
0.95
3.33
3.33
1.00
Mean T
28.7
34.0
1.19
4.18
4.24
1.01
3.29
3.18
0.97
Mean
C1+C2
Mean
C3+C4
Mean
T1+T2
The average daily milk yield of the control group (C1+C2) increased by 7 % in
the trial period compared to previous year (table 4). The respective
improvement in the trial group (T1+T2) was 19 % and 14 % in the intermediate
group (C3+C4). Comparing the results of the present lactation, trial group cows
produced 17 % more milk than the control group cows and 3 % more than the
intermediate group cows. The longer the period Progut™ Farm was used, the
higher the improvement in milk yield seemed to be. The same results are
presented in Figure 4. in graphical form. The ratio of % fat (present to previous
lactation) decreased in the control and intermediate groups but remained the
same in the trial group (table 2). The ratio of % protein (present to previous
lactation) remained the same in the control and intermediate groups but
decreased slightly in the trial group.
Figure 4. Average daily milk yields (kg/d) with different Progut™ feeding
strategies
Milk Yield with different Progut strategies, compared to previous year
36,0
34,0
32,0
30,0
Milk Y1
28,0
Milk Y2
26,0
24,0
22,0
20,0
C1+C2
C3+C4
T1+T2
The price of milk and pricing of fat and protein varies in different countries.
Using Finnish milk pricing system, 2.5 cent per % fat and 6.5 cent per %
protein, the following values of milk in the present lactation were calculated for
C1+C2, C3+C4 and T1+T2 respectively є9.58, є10.14 and є10.63. Compared
with the previous lactation the value of milk increased most in the trial group
(figure 5).
Figure 5. Value of milk with different Progut™ feeding strategies
Milk euro per cow/day
11,00
10,50
10,00
Previous
9,50
Present
9,00
8,50
8,00
C1 + C2
C3+C4
T1+T2
4. Farm trials in Finland 2006
The effect of a half-concentrate feed containing Progut™ on the milk production
of dairy cows was studied in 10 different farms in Finland during spring 2006.
Half-concentrate is fed 50:50 with cereals. In all of the farms the existing halfconcentrate feed was changed for the whole herd to the feed containing
Progut™ and the effect on the amount of daily tank milk per cow was followed
until the cows were put on pasture. For all of the cows the follow-up period was
more than 100 days. The inclusion rate of Progut™ in the half concentrate was
0.2 %. The maximum recommended daily allowance of the feed was 8 kg per
cow, which would mean maximum 16 g daily intake of Progut™ per cow. The
average milk yield of the cows in the trial farms was around 30 kg/day. For this
reason the average daily intakes of the half-concentrate and Progut™ were
approximately 4 kg and 8 grams respectively.
The effect of Progut was also studied with compound feed and silage diet. This
trial was one at a farm having an average yearly milk production of 10600 kg
per cow. The average number of cows was 30. In this farm test the previous
compound feed was changed to a feed containing Progut™ and the effect on
milk production was followed through the subsequent milk recordings. The
average daily compound feed intake per cow during the test period was 12 kg,
which was equal to 10 grams of Progut™ per cow and day.
Results:
The average amount of tank milk per cow per day increased in 7 out of 10
farms. In three farms the milk production remained at the same level as before
the feeding of Progut™ containing trial feed was started. The average
improvement in the milk yield of all the 10 farms was 1.6 kg per cow per
day. The composition of the milk as measured in % fat and % protein remained
stable during the test period.
In the farm test in which the compound feed diet was used the addition of
Progut™ in the feed increased the average daily milk yield by 1.4 kg per cow
(table 5). The % fat was slightly increased, too.
Table 5. The effect of the diet on milk production of cows, farm trial in Finland
2006
Milk, kg/cow/day
% fat
% protein
Urea g/dl
Control period
32.9
4.00
3.47
30
Test period
34.3
4.24
3.50
25
5. Major conclusions
-
-
-
-
The tested amounts of Progut™, 8 to 20 grams per cow per day, increased
the average daily milk yield of cows by 1.4 to 3.4 kg depending on the
amount, lactation stage and time during which Progut™ was used
The effects on milk production have been most pronounced with high
yielding dairy cows in early lactation
In most of the trials the % of fat has slightly increased and the % protein
being stable or slightly decreased
In the trials conducted at Helsinki University Progut™ addition improved the
energy utilization (ECM/DMI) by 5-6.5%
In these trials it was also shown that Progut™ increased the IgA content of
the colostrum and seemed to fasten the dam's recovery from the calving
stress
Trials with calves showed that the IgA content of the colostrum had a
significant positive correlation with the growth of the calves
Based on the results from the performance trials and from a trial with
fistulated cow (will be published in the forthcoming Info Letters), an average
Progut™ dose of 10 grams (range 7 to 15 grams) can be recommended
In the rumen simulation trials (will be published in the forthcoming Info
Letters) Progut™ was shown to enhance significantly the rumen
fermentation rate measured as microbial gas production, to increase the
production of protein and energy by increasing significantly the number of
rumen microbes and the production of short chain fatty acids, which could
explain the improvements in milk production seen in the performance trials