Effect of Dry-Period Diet on the Performance and Metabolism of Dairy Cows in Early Lactation

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In dairy cows, the management of the dry period should optimize milk production and limit impact on metabolic health. In early lactation, there is little information on the effect of the dry-period diet composition on the production and composition of milk and the blood metabolites. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of different dry-period diets on the blood metabolites of dairy cows during the peripartum period and the milk yield and fatty acid profile at onset of lactation. This study showed that different dry-period diets can be used without impact on milk production and composition when these diets cover the needs of dairy cows. However, blood metabolites were more sensitive to the diet offered during the dry period. In early lactation, a dry-period diet based on corn and grass silages allowed a smooth transition with better rumen and liver function parameters. ABSTRACT: The objective of this work was to observe the effect of three different dry-period diets on blood metabolites (p = 9) and the production and fatty acid (FA) profile of milk (p = 19) in the peripartum period. In this study, 32 Holstein dairy cows, during their dry period, were divided in 3 different diet groups, as follows: the CONC diet (n = 11) was based on concentrate meal and straw, the CORN diet (n = 11) was based on corn silage, and the MIXED diet (n = 10) was based on corn and grass silages. According to our results, the variations of C18:2n-6, C18:3n-3, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), NEFA/cholesterol ratio, and albumin were significantly (p < 0.05) different, according to the dry diet. The dry-period diet also had a significant effect on the concentrations of urea and vitamin B(12) in the blood. In early lactation, this work showed that blood metabolites were more sensitive to changes in the dry diet than the production and FA profile of milk.