A polyol mixture and molasses-treated beed pulp in the silage based diet of dairy cows: III The effect on the utilization of minerals

Authors

• Mikko Tuori Institute of Animal Husbandry, University of Helsinki, 00710 Helsinki 71

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.72015

Abstract

The effect of sugar alcohol (polyol) mixture feeding on the utilization of Ca, Mg, Na, K and P was studied in a balance trial with 12 dairy cows. The cows were divided into 3 groups: Group I received a grain concentrate mixed with 26 % of polyoltreated beet pulp, Group II the concentrate mixed with 29 % of molasses beet pulp, and Group III only the grain concentrate. Cows were given 7—8 kg/d of concentrate, 2 kg/d of hay, and silage at almost ad lib. level. The intake of sugar alcohols was 484 g/d in Group I and total intake of sugars was 461, 736 and 435 g in Groups I, II and IIII, respectively. No polyols were secreted in the faeces, and in the urine only 0.7 % of the intake, most of which was xylitol, rhamnitol and arabinitol. Small amounts of polyols were also secreted in the urine of the molasses beet pulp group. There were no clear effects of polyol feeding on the apparent digestibility or utilization of minerals. However, the readily fermentable carbohydrates in the diet tends to increase the apparent absorption and utilization of magnesium. Secretion of potassium was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the polyol beet pulp group than in the molasses beet pulp group.