Effect of dietary cation-anion difference and dietary crude protein on performance of lactating dairy cows during hot weather

Thirty-two lactating Holstein cows (225 +/- 63 d in milk) were used in a 6-wk trial to determine the effect of dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) and dietary crude protein (CP) concentration on milk and component yield, acid-base status, and serum AA concentrations during hot weather. Treatments were arranged as a 2 x 2 factorial within a randomized complete block design to provide 15 or 17% CP and a DCAD of 25 or 50 mEq (Na + K - Cl)/100 g of dry matter (DM). A DCAD x CP interaction was detected for milk yield; milk yield was less for high DCAD than for low DCAD for the high-CP diets. No differences were noted at low dietary CP. Milk fat percentage was greater for high DCAD than for low DCAD, and high-CP diets supported greater milk fat percentage than low-CP diets. No differences were observed among treatments for dry matter intake or milk protein percentage. Serum total AA and essential AA concentrations and ratio of essential AA:total AA were greater for high DCAD. These results suggest that increasing DCAD improves AA availability for protein synthesis by taking the place of AA that would otherwise be used for maintenance of acid-base balance. A better understanding of the mechanisms behind this AA-sparing effect will improve management of protein nutrition in the lactating dairy cow.