Abomasal infusion of ground corn and ammonium chloride in early-lactating Holstein-Friesian dairy cows to induce hindgut and metabolic acidosis
Sanne van Gastelen, J. Dijkstra, K. Nichols, A. Bannink
Abstract
Cl level. The decrease in fecal pH was likely the result of increased hindgut fermentation, evidenced by increased fecal volatile fatty acid concentrations. Hindgut acidosis was associated with decreased digestibility of nutrients, except for starch, which increased, and crude fat, which was not affected. No systemic inflammatory response was observed, suggesting that the hindgut epithelium was not severely affected by the more acidic conditions or barrier damage. Abomasal infusion of ground corn increased milk yield, milk protein and lactose yield, fecal N excretion, N use efficiency, and total energy retained as well as energy retained in fat, and reduced milk fat content and urine N excretion.