11.11.2010

LodeStar™ CLAME–P10. Precise regulation of the energy balance in dairy cows

Ketosis, mastitis, impaired fertility: if the supply of energy to high-performance dairy cows is inadequate, the consequences are disastrous. Adding conjugated linoleic acids to the feed is an effective way of preventing an energy deficiency. In LodeStar™ CLAME-P10, Berg+Schmidt supplies a rumen-stable, highly digestible product that meets the sophisticated demands of feeding for high yields.

High-performance dairy cows, especially, are unable to meet their energy needs after calving with the regular feed ration alone. A freshly lactating cow with a daily milk yield of 50 kg, for example, needs about 200 MJ NEL of energy. If this requirement cannot be met through the feed, the cow compensates for it by drawing on its body fat reserves (see Fig. 1). Weight loss and more or less massive metabolic disorders such as parturient paresis (milk fever) and ketosis may severely reduce the cows’ performance in their most important milking period. But mastitis, foot disorders, impaired fertility and a weakened immune system are also direct effects of an energy deficiency in the first third of lactation.

Fig. 1: Influence of feeding on the energy situation of a dairy cow

Feeding CLAs is a wise measure

The risk of an energy deficiency makes enormous demands on feed. Since cows always have a lower feed intake after calving, every effort must be made to increase the energy concentration in the feed to about 7 MJ NEL per kg of the dry weight. Besides giving a high-quality basic diet and feed concentrate it is a wise measure to add conjugated linoleic acids to the ration.

Conjugated linoleic acids – usually CLAs for short – are modified forms of linoleic acid (C 18:2). Linoleic acid is a fatty acid with 18 carbon atoms and two double bonds, which may have a cis or trans configuration. So the CLAs are compounds with the same chemical composition but differences in their geometric structure. They differ from linoleic acid in that only one single bond separates the double bonds from each other.

The starting substances used in the production of CLAs are vegetable oils. These preparations contain the cis9, trans11 CLA, the trans10, cis12 isomers and about 1 percent other isomers.

Reconciling health and performance

Numerous trials have demonstrated that administering conjugated linoleic acids stabilizes the health of high-performance cows. CLAs act as antioxidants and have a positive effect on fat and glucose metabolism.
The use of CLAs influences milk fat synthesis and the corresponding energy requirement. It relieves the burden on the energy balance and thus has a positive effect on the animal’s health. CLAs help to compensate for energy deficiency; they regulate the energy balance two to three weeks earlier and stabilize the cow’s overall metabolism. The use of CLAs also significantly increases the milk yield, with very little change in its protein and lactose content (see Table 1). Table 2 shows the concrete effects of feeding 10g of CLAs daily to high-performance cows.

Tab. 1: Biological data in the first 100 days of lactation

	Control group, n=8		CLA group, n=9
Milk, kg/d	37.5	± 3.4	41.6*	± 4.5
Fat, %	4.03	± 0.42	3.41*	± 0.46
Fat, kg	1.51	± 0.13	1.40	± 0.12
Protein, %	3.28	± 0.06	3.17	± 0.01
Protein, kg	1.22	± 0.06	1.30*	± 0.1
Lactose, %	4.77	± 0.1	4.71*	± 0.03
Lactose, kg	1.72	± 0.33	1.90*	± 0.32
ECM, kg	37.3	± 2.5	37.90	± 2.8
Live weight, kg	650	± 21	661	± 20

* Differences significant, p < 0.05
(M. Pries et. al., Landwirtschaftskammer Nordrhein-Westfalen, Münster)

Tab. 2: Effects of the use of CLAs on various health parameters in dairy cows (Fürll, 2009)

Clinical Findings		Control Group		CLA Group (10 g per animal/day)
		Number	%	Number	%
Calving	Easy	15	55.6	17	65.4
	Moderate	12	44,4	8	30,8
	Difficult	–	–	–	–
	Caesarean	–	–	1	3.8
Placental retention		6	22.2	2	7.4
Displaced abomasum		6	22.2	2	7.4
Endometritis		11	40.7	11	10.7
Mastitis		10	37	8	29.6
Foot disorders		9	33.3	3	11
Pregnant (EBH)		12	44,4	16	59.3
Deaths		7	25.9	5	18.5

Technical know-how for maximum efficacy

With the aid of a special spraying technique and suitable carrier substances, Berg+Schmidt produces LodeStar™ CLAME-P10 as a free-flowing powder, the most efficient way to feed CLAs to dairy cows.