The Effects of Macaroni Wastes and Steam-Flaked Barley Feeding in Transition Period on Health and Lactation Performance of Holstein Cows

Thirty two multiparous Holstein cows were used in a randomized block design to investigate the effects of feeding diets included two different source of nonfiber carbohydrate during the transition period on dry matter intake (DMI), lactational performance, blood metabolites and parturitional characteristics. Cows received total mixed rations containing either macaroni wastes (MW) or steam-flaked barley (SFB) begin-ning 21 d prior to expected calving date. A common lactation total mixed ration was fed postpartum. Cows fed MW had greater pre and postpartum DMI than cows fed SFB (P < 0.001). No treatment effects on milk yield, milk composition, body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) were observed. There was no effect of prepartum diets on pre and postpartum plasma concentrations of glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), calcium, phosphor, protein, albumin, globulin and cholesterol. Prepartum concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were not affected by treatments. Fecal and urine PH were not affected by treatments. Fecal consistency score was reduced for cows that received the SFB diet compared to cows received the MW diet (P?0.05). Feeding MW prepartum decreased gestation period (P?0.05). Other parturi-tional characteristics and health problems did not influence by treatments. MW compared with SFB im-proved dry matter intake. Lactation performance and metabolic parameters were similar between treat-ments. From the present results, it could be concluded that the MW might be as a good alternative energy and NFC source for use in transition rations.