Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Rumen Protected Calcium Salts of Rapeseed Oil and Encapsulated Rapeseed Oil to Lactating Dairy Cows

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of encapsulated and calcium salts of rapeseed oil (CaRSO) on performance of crossbred lactating cows. Eighteen lactating crossbred cows were randomly divided into three experimental groups viz. GI, GII and GIII of six animal each. The rumen protected rapeseed oil was prepared as CaRSO and encapsulated RSO. The control group (GI) animals received ration comprising of forages and concentrate mixture without any rapeseed oil. The animals of experimental group received same ration supplemented with either CaRSO (GII) or encapsulated RSO (GIII) at 20 g per kg of milk per day for a period of 90 days. Dietary supplementation of CaRSO and encapsulated RSO tended to increase (P<0.05) milk yield. It was observed that supplementation of encapsulated RSO increased (P<0.01) milk fat, 4% fat corrected milk (FCM) and total solids compared to GII, however, responses were comparable to GI. Feed efficiency in terms of MY/DMI (kg/kg) was similar among GI and GII. The solid not fat (SNF) and protein content of milk was not altered by dietary supplementation of rumen protected rapeseed oil. In conclusion, rumen protected encapsulated rapeseed oil seems to have positive effect on milk production and milk fat content in lactating cows.