Dietary fat, protein degradability, and calving season: effects on nutrient use and performance of early lactation cows.

Twelve multiparous Holstein cows calving in fall and 12 calving in summer were blocked into four groups and used in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial to determine the effects of season of calving, dietary fat, and protein degradability on milk production and efficiency of NEL utilization in a 16-wk study. Blocks were assigned randomly to one of four dietary treatment combinations: 1) control concentrate plus soybean meal (high degradability protein supplement); 2) control concentrate plus a mixture of heated soybean meal and corn gluten meal (low degradability protein supplement); 3) a blend of the control concentrate and a concentrate containing 12.1% fat to provide 1 kg d-1 fat, plus soybean meal; and 4) concentrate as in diet 3 plus heated soybean meal and corn gluten meal. Nutrient intake, milk yield and composition, BW changes, and daily ambient temperature were monitored. Intake of DM appeared to be related to NDF intake but was not affected by fat, protein degradability, or calving season. Intake of NEL was increased by feeding fat. Digestabilities of DM and CP were increased and fiber was decreased by feeding fat. Percentage and yields of milk fat, SNF, and protein and 4% FCM production were higher in cows calving in fall. Milk fat percentage was low in all cows in the study. Efficiency of energy utilization for milk production was decreased in cows fed fat and calving in the summer and by low protein degradability during wk 5 to 8 of lactation. At high concentrate intake, calving season had more effect on milk production than level of fat or protein degradability.