Systems and methods for feeding sugar alcohol to ruminants during periods of heat stress
Systems and methods provide sugar alcohol to heat stressed ruminants to improve performance. During periods of high temperature or humidity, heat stressed ruminants may exhibit decreased dry matter intake, and in response, an effective amount of sugar alcohol such as sorbitol may be provided in the ruminant diet to cause performance to increase, which may include increased milk yield, improved feed efficiency or both compared to heat stressed dairy cattle without sugar alcohol in the diet.
1. A method of feeding a lactating ruminant, the method comprising:
during a period of ambient temperature conditions of at least 70° F., determining the lactating ruminant is experiencing heat stress by observing one of an about 10 percent decrease in dry matter intake, reduced milk production, increased respirations, elevated internal body temperature, open mouth breathing, increased panting, sweating or failed reproduction; and
feeding the heat stressed lactating ruminant a diet comprising an amount of sugar alcohol effective to improve milk production,
wherein the sugar alcohol comprises at least one of sorbitol, xylitol, adonitol, allitol, altritol, arabitol, dulcitol, erythritol, galactitol, glucitol, iditol, inositol, isomalt, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, perseitol, ribitol, rhamnitol or threitol.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the improved milk production comprises improved production of energy corrected milk.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the improved milk production comprises improved fat corrected milk.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sugar alcohol is further effective to reduce beta hydroxyl butyrate levels in the lactating ruminant.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sugar alcohol is further effective to improve a milk-to-feed ratio.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sugar alcohol is sorbitol.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the sugar alcohol fed to the lactating ruminant is within a formula feed.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the sugar alcohol fed to the lactating ruminant is incorporated with one or more of corn silage, legume silages, alfalfa hay, mixed hays, grains, grain mixtures, grain meals or nutritional supplements.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sugar alcohol fed to the lactating ruminant is incorporated with one or more of corn silage, legume silages, alfalfa hay, mixed hays, grains, grain mixtures, grain meals or nutritional supplements.
10. A method of feeding a transition ruminant during a transition phase, the method comprising:
during a period where ambient temperature conditions are at least 70° F., determining the transition ruminant is experiencing heat stress while the transition ruminant is pregnant by observing two or more of an about 10 percent decrease in dry matter intake, increased respirations, open mouth breathing, increased panting or sweating; and
during pregnancy, feeding the heat stressed transition ruminant a diet comprising an amount of sugar alcohol effective to improve milk production after calving,
wherein the sugar alcohol comprises at least one of sorbitol, xylitol, adonitol, allitol, altritol, arabitol, dulcitol, erythritol, galactitol, glucitol, iditol, inositol, isomalt, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, perseitol, ribitol, rhamnitol or threitol, and
wherein the transition phase of the transition ruminant is defined by a period during which the ruminant is pregnant and extending through calving by the ruminant.
11. A method of feeding a lactating ruminant, the method comprising:
feeding the lactating ruminant a diet comprising sugar alcohol in view of a potential for the ruminant to experience heat stress; and
determining the lactating ruminant is experiencing heat stress by observing one or more of elevated internal body temperature, open mouth breathing, increased panting, sweating or failed reproduction,
wherein the sugar alcohol ingested in the diet is effective to improve milk production of the heat stressed lactating ruminant, and
wherein the sugar alcohol comprises at least one of sorbitol, xylitol, adonitol, allitol, altritol, arabitol, dulcitol, erythritol, galactitol, glucitol, iditol, inositol, isomalt, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, perseitol, ribitol, rhamnitol or threitol.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the potential for heat stress is based on one or more of historical weather patterns, short-term weather forecasts or observed temperature conditions of at least 70° F.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the improved milk production comprises improved production of energy corrected milk.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the improved milk production comprises improved fat corrected milk.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sugar alcohol ingested in the diet of the heat stressed lactating ruminant is further effective to reduce beta hydroxyl butyrate levels in the lactating ruminant.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sugar alcohol ingested in the diet of the heat stressed lactating ruminant is further effective to improve a milk-to-feed ratio.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sugar alcohol is sorbitol.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sugar alcohol fed to the lactating ruminant is within a formula feed.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the sugar alcohol fed to the lactating ruminant is incorporated with one or more of corn silage, legume silages, alfalfa hay, mixed hays, grains, grain mixtures, grain meals or nutritional supplements.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the lactating ruminant is in a transition phase of lactation.