Acceptability of Fat Supplements in Four Dairy Herds

Intake of three granular fat supplements, sodium-alginate encapsulated dry tallow, calcium salt of palm oil fatty acids, prilled long-chain fatty acids, and tallow were compared using 209 dairy cattle from four dairy herds. Cows were presented with 454g of fat for 15min either alone, top-dressed, mixed with grain, or alone following a 1-wk adaptation to the fat. Intake was qualitatively scored at the end of the 15-min period as 0 = no, 1 = partial, or 2 = total consumption of the 454g of fat, and when possible, intake was determined quantitatively. When feeding fat alone without prior adaptation, tallow had a greater qualitative intake score than other fats, but the difference between tallow and prilled long chain fatty acids was not significant. Following adaptation, intake of calcium salt of palm oil fatty acids was lower than for other fats, which reflected an inability of cows to adapt to this fat relative to the others. Qualitative intake scores of the three granular fats were similar when they were top-dressed, and intake of encapsulated dry tallow was significantly greater than for tallow. No significant differences in intake among fats were observed when they were presented as part of a grain mix. Relative acceptability of fats varied among herds. To minimize the likelihood of reductions in feed intake when fat is introduced into dairy rations, cows should be adapted to the fat, and if possible, the fat should be diluted with other feed ingredients.