Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5877-1997

Date Available

6-10-2019

Year of Publication

2019

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

College

Agriculture, Food and Environment

Department/School/Program

Animal and Food Sciences

Advisor

Dr. Joao H. C. Costa

Abstract

The transition period for dairy cows is defined as the three weeks pre and postpartum. During the transition period, dairy cows experience a myriad of metabolic, managerial, and nutritional requirement changes. These changes lead to stress and increased susceptibility to diseases which can negatively affect lactational performance in the short and long term. However, dietary amino acid availability can have a dramatic impact on the health and performance of dairy cows around parturition. Thus, the objective of the thesis was to evaluate the effects of supplementing yeast-derived microbial protein, as an alternative protein source for dairy cows during the transition period. This was accomplished by using visual observations and precision dairy monitoring technologies to record disease, feeding behavior, and performance of dairy cows from 21 days prepartum to 150 days postpartum. Yeast-derived microbial protein was found to decrease dry matter intake but not negatively affect milk production or health of the animals. Yeast-derived microbial protein may be used as an alternative protein source for transition dairy cows as it did not negatively affect milk production or health of the animals.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2019.241

Funding Information

This project was supported by research funds provided by Alltech.

Included in

Dairy Science Commons

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