Decreasing dietary NFC concentration during mid-lactation of dairy ewes: Does it result in higher milk production?

"\"The effect of the level of dietary non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) on intake, in vivo. digestibility, milk production and endocrine-metabolic status was studied in 20 Sarda ewes(mean + SE, BW 42.5  3.9 kg) at mid-lactation stage (89  1 DIM). Ewes were divided into. 2 groups and fed chopped alfalfa hay at 400 g\\\/d and pelleted concentrates ad libitum in. metabolic cages during 3 weeks. The concentrates differed in NFC concentration (NFC =. 36% of DM: group NFC36; NFC = 23% of DM: group NFC23), due to the substitution of. cereal grains with soybean hulls in the low NFC diet. Dry matter intake was higher for NFC23 than for NFC36 (2900 vs. 2555 g\\\/d; P < 0.01). Dry matter digestibility was higher in. NFC36 than in NFC23 (68.4 vs. 62.9%, P < 0.001), while the contrary occurred for NDF. digestibility (52.9 vs. 56.1%, P < 0.015). Energy intake did not differ between groups (P >. *Manuscript. Click here to view linked References. 2. 0.2). Dietary NFC concentration negatively affected milk yield (1813 vs. 2110 ml\\\/d, for. NFC36 and NFC23 groups, respectively, P < 0.001) and positively affected milk protein. concentration (4.68 vs. 4.51%, P < 0.05, respectively), whereas milk fat concentration was. similar between groups (5.06% vs. 5.19%, P > 0.2). Body fat increased (P < 0.05) without. treatment-associated differences. Higher glucose (P < 0.05) and lower urea concentrations (P. < 0.001) were found in blood plasma of NFC36 ewes compared to NFC23 ewes. Insulin. concentration in blood plasma was higher in NFC23 than in NFC36 (P < 0.01), whereas GH. levels were similar between groups. In conclusion, the low dietary NFC concentrate based on. soybean hulls exerted positive effects on intake and milk yield in mid-lactating ewes,. probably due to a higher proportion of the ingested energy being devoted to milk secretion.\""