Chocolate byproducts and protected fats enriched with chromium to replace corn in diets of early lactation Holstein cows: feed utilization, blood profile, and lactational performance

Abstract The present experiment aimed to evaluate the partial replacement of corn with chocolate byproducts or protected fats in diet lactating cows on feed utilization, blood profile and lactation performance. Fifty multiparous Holstein (560±22 kg BW, 3±1 parity, 7±1 days milk, previous milk production 34±3 kg/d), were randomly assigned 5 treatments a completely randomized design for 90 days. control contained concentrate mixture containing (per DM 412 g mixture, silage, 176 berseem hay). 17.6% crushed (DM basis). In another treatment, was supplemented 1 chromium daily (Chromium diet). other diets, each grain replaced 600 (CH diet), 400 (PF 500 (1:1 basis) (CHPF basis, diets also daily. Both amounts had same energy concentration as corn. Without affecting intake, increased (P<0.01) production, fat concentration, efficiency. (P<0.05) concentrations serum total proteins, albumin, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, comparison diet. Higher (P<0.001) nutrient digestibility observed CH, PF, CHPF treatments. It is concluded that supplementation did not affect utilization performance; however, fat, their improved