Effect of fat supplementation on productive traits, pregnancy rates and some lipid metabolites in beef cows on range

Abstract

In order to evaluate the effect of a supplementation with two sources of fat in beef cows on range, 120 adult females in two herds were used. One herd of 60 Charolais cows (A) and another herd of 60 Chinampo cows (B, local Creole) were fed (2 kg/cow/day) isoproteic concentrates (PC = 16.6%) with a similar content of ME (aprox. 3.0 Mcal/kg) during a 90 days period (initiating 30 days precalving), respectively. In each herd, cows were randomly assigned into three groups. The control groups (TE; n = 20) were fed a supplement containing 3.2% of fat. Another group of 20 cows per herd was fed a supplement containing additional fat (13.2%) as calcium soaps of fatty acids (JCAG). The third group (SB) within each herd (n = 20) was fed a supplement containing 13.4% of fat (bovine tallow). Orthogonal contrasts (TE vs SB + JCAG and SB vs JCAG) were used to compare the means of non categorical variables. In herd A, milk yield was greater at 35 (P < 0.05) and 90 (P < 0.01) days of lactation in cows fed supplemental fat (SB + JCAG) than TE treatment. In both herds, weight of calves at 35 and 90 days of age, body weight and body condition score of cows at 90 days postcalving were higher in SB + JCAG than TE (P < 0.01). Serum cholesterol, high density lipoproteins, low density lipoproteins and triglycerides were greater in cows supplemented with fat (SB + JCAG) than TE treatment (P < 0.01). Pregnancy rates in both herds were higher in fat supplemented cows (P < 0.05). We concluded that additional fat incorporated in a range supplement during pre- and postpartum periods increased milk yield, growth of calves, body weight and condition score of cows, lipid metabolites and pregnancy rates.