Association of residual feed intake with abundance of ruminal bacteria and biopolymer hydrolyzing enzyme activities during the peripartal period and early lactation in Holstein dairy cows

• DOI: 10.1186/s40104-018-0258-9
• Publication Date: 2018-05-16T12:20:00Z
• Authors: Ahmed A. Elolimy; José M. Arroyo; Fernanda Batistel; Michael A. Iakiviak; Juan J. Loor
• Keywords: Total mixed ration; Fibrobacter succinogenes

Residual feed intake (RFI) in dairy cattle typically calculated at peak lactation is a measure of efficiency independent milk production level. The objective this study was to evaluate differences ruminal bacteria, biopolymer hydrolyzing enzyme activities, and overall performance between the most- least-efficient cows during peripartal period. Twenty multiparous Holstein with daily ad libitum access total mixed ration from d − 10 60 relative calving date were used. Cows classified into most-efficient (i.e. low RFI, n = 10) high based on linear regression model involving dry matter (DMI), fat-corrected (FCM), changes body weight (BW), metabolic BW. had ~ 2.6 kg/d lower DMI wk 4, 6, 7, 8 compared cows. In addition, greater abundance bacterial community Compared cows, 4-fold Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens around parturition tended have Fibrobacter succinogenes Megaspheara elsdenii. contrast, Butyrivibrio proteoclasticus Streptococcus bovis Succinimonas amylolytica Prevotella bryantii be calving. During period, enzymatic activities cellulase, amylase, protease results suggest that shifts bacteria digestive period could, least part, part mechanism associated better