Twelve Holstein-Zebu lactating dairy cows were used to study the effects of different carbohydrate sources and soybean oil on dry matter intake, milk yield, and milk composition. The following carbohydrate sources were used: corn (CO), wheat bran (WB) or citric pulp (CP) with 0 or 2.25% of soybean oil. No significant interactions between soybean oil and carbohydrate sources were observed in this trial. Both dry matter intake (18.4 kg/day) and milk yield (23.5 kg/day) did not differ among carbohydrate sources but cows fed WB had higher NDF intake and lower apparent total tract digestibilities of OM, total carbohydrates, and milk lactose content. Neither carbohydrate sources nor soybean oil changed significantly the ruminal microbial protein synthesis that averaged 239.4 g N/day. Cows fed diets supplemented with soybean oil showed lower dry matter intake (19.0 vs. 17.8 kg/day) and contents of milk lactose (4.49 vs. 4.33%) and milk fat (3.34 vs. 3.13%) compared to those with no soybean oil in the diet. Oil diets showed no differences on milk production, milk protein content, digestibility of nutrients, and microbial protein synthesis. In addition, supplementation with soybean oil improved feed efficiency (1.35 vs. 1.23) and the milk protein:milk fat ratio (0.94 vs. 1.00). It can be concluded that for cows yielding up to 24 kg of milk per day WB and CP can economically replace CO in the concentrate. Inclusion of soybean oil in the diet changed milk composition and decreased dry matter intake but maintain milk yield, which improved feed efficiency.
byproducts; wheat bran; lipids; citrus pulp; microbial protein synthesis
