The Effects of Lysophospholipid on Performance, Ruminal Bacteria and Some Blood Parameters in Lactating Holstein Dairy Cows

In order to examine the effects of feeding different levels of lysophospholipid (LPL) on early lactating Hol-stein cows, 15 cows were assigned in a completely randomized design with three experimental treatments including: 1) control ration; 2 and 3) control ration plus 0.1% and 0.15% of dry matter (DM) LPL, respec-tively. The experiment was conducted for 35 days (14 days for adaptation and 21 days for sample collec-tion). Cows fed twice a day at 7:00 and 16:00 and received total mix ration (TMR). Daily feed intake and milk yield were measured. At the end of the experiment (day 35), the blood samples and rumen liquor were collected from each cow. The supplementation of LPL had no effect on DM intake and digestibility but increased digestibility of fat (P=0.0346). Addition of LPL to the diet slightly improved milk production (P=0.0673). The level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzyme decreased with increasing LPL (P=0.0324) but activity of carboxymethyl cellulase enzyme activity increased (P=0.0421). Increasing LPL in the ration increased the amount of acetate (P=0.0452) and valerate (P=0.0033) produced in the rumen. The LPL significantly increased the population of cellulolytic bacteria (P=0.0386). In general, supplement-ing the ration of lactating cows with LPL, especially in the early lactation, increased feed efficiency in a dose-response manner, milk production and improved serum parameters, maintains liver health, improved ruminal bacterial population and fermentation parameters, and increased ruminal and hepatic enzymes ac-tivity.