Duodenal infusion of rapeseed oil in midlactation cows. 6. Interaction with niacin on dairy performance and nutritional balance.

Rapeseed oil and niacin, alone or in combination, were infused continuously into the proximal duodenum of ruminally and duodenally fistulated midlactation cows in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Although niacin in plasma was higher for cows infused with niacin no significant effect occurred on milk production and composition. When cows were infused with oil, milk production and fat content were unchanged, milk protein content was decreased, and lactose content was increased. The magnitude of decrease in the percentage of medium-chain fatty acids in milk of cows infused with oil was similar to the magnitude of the increase in the long-chain fatty acids of milk. Except for the decrease in milk C4:0 and the increase in C14:0 and C14:1 percentages, niacin did not exert a significant influence on the fatty acid profile of milk. Oil-free DMI tended to decrease in the cows that were infused with oil, but nutrient digestibility was unchanged with all infusates. Energy and protein intake and energy balance were similar, but protein balance tended to be higher with oil infusion. However, body condition score was decreased by oil infusion. For midlactation cows that received oil infusion, the limitation in DMI or the direct effect of absorbed fatty acids limited milk protein synthesis and body condition score. Effectiveness of postruminal niacin (alone or with oil) at midlactation is questioned.