Sucrose Supplementation and Feed Intake
of Dairy Cows in Early Lactation1
ABSTRACT
Based on results from previous
1 4 4 sequential elimination trials, which
indicated that cows in early lactation pre-
ferred a sucrose-sweetened diet, a
12-wk lactation trial was conducted to
evaluate further the effects of sucrose
supplementation. Twenty-four cows (16
multiparous Jerseys and 8 primiparous
Holsteins) were assigned at parturition to
a control or sucrose-sweetened (1.5% of
dietary DM) T M R in a randomized com-
plete block design. The diet included
10% corn silage, 30% alfalfa haylage,
and 60% concentrate based on corn and
soybean meal on a DM basis and was
fed to ensure 10% orts. An additional 2.3
kg of alfalfa hay were fed for the first 5
d postpartum. Covariant-adjusted (BW
on the day of parturition) mean DMI,
milk yields, 3.5% FCM yields, and per-
centages of milk fat, milk protein, and
SNF were unaffected by treatment and
averaged 19.0 and 19.1 kg/d, 28.4 and
29.3 kg/d. 28.4 and 28.4 kg/d, and 3.40
and 3.30%, 3.51 and 3.28%, and 8.4 and
8.3%, respectively, for cows on control
and sucrose-supplemented diets. In the
absence of a choice of diets, sucrose at
1.5% of dietary DM did not enhance
mean DMI over the first 12 wk postpar-
tum; however, a transient increase in
consumption of the sucrose-
supplemented diet may have occurred
Received March 22, 1994.
Accepted September 23, 1994.
'Supported by the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Sta- ance in evaluation of the potential effects of
tion (Hatch 35-397) and a gift from Growmark, Inc., sucrose supplementation. Literature data (9)
Bloomington, IL 61702.
*TOwhom reprint requests should be addressed: 262 suggested that nadirs or peaks would have
Animal Sciences Laboratory, 1207 West Gregory Drive. been reached by wk 12 postpartum for most of
Urbana, IL 61801.
1995 J Dairy Sci 78:88&885
S. W. NOMBEKELA and M. R. MURPHY2
Department of Animal Sciences
University of Illinois
Urbana 61801
over the a 2-wk period after parturition.
Variation in feed consumption during
early lactation suggests that additional
data are needed to examine this potential
effect.
(Key words: sucrose, feed intake, dairy
cows, early lactation)
INTRODUCTION
Two experiments were conducted to iden-
tify taste compounds or common feed flavors
that demonstrated the potential to enhance feed
consumption in early lactation (19). The results
suggested that sweet tastes, represented by su-
crose at 1.5% of dietary DM, had that poten-
tial.
Grovum (8) suggested that a positive in-
fluence on feed intake that is due mainly to
novelty, which subsequently wanes, should be
differentiated from that due to improved palat-
ability. Theoretically, the most preferred taste
additive in each of the two previous experi-
ments was eliminated after the first segment of
the sequential elimination trials, although some
of the response might conceivably have been
influenced by effects of novelty. Feed intakes
of heifers, pigs, and rats return to normal
amounts shortly after initial increases, even for
highly preferred flavor additives (2, 11, 14, 15,
17). The residual response of important varia-
bles (milk yield, milk composition, and BW
change) should be examined after any initial
change on exposure to a flavor additive.
Because the longest reported period in a
flavor-feeding experiment for lactating dairy
cows was 18 d (16),a desirable time frame was
chosen that likely would include the expected
peak milk yield, nearly maximum DMI, mini-
mum BW, and maximal negative energy bal-
these variables.
880
 SUCROSE AND EARLY LACTATION FEED INTAKE 88 1
The objective of this experiment was to mated visually using a five-point scale (1 =
evaluate the ability of sucrose to stimulate the thin to 5 = obese) (6) on the day of calving and
feed consumption of dairy cows in early lacta- weekly thereafter during the experimental
tion. period. Half-point values were recorded. Es-
trous behavior was monitored twice daily. By
MATERIALS AND METHODS the end of the experiment, 10 and 9 cows had
exhibited estrus for the control and sucrose
Cows and Diets groups, respectively. Records did not suggest a
difference in incidence of health problems be-
Twenty-four cows (8 primiparous Holsteins tween the groups.
and 16 multiparous Jerseys), balanced for
breed and parity, and managed uniformly for Statistical Analyses
14 d prior to expected parturition, were as-
signed at parturition to a control or sucrose- Data on daily DMI and milk yield were
sweetened (1.5% of dietary DM) diet at parturi- reduced to weekly means for ANOVA. Also,
tion (Table 1). The diets included corn silage, all data were covariant-adjusted using initial
alfalfa haylage, and a concentrate based on BW. Residuals were analyzed in a split-plot
ground corn and soybean meal (10, 30, and design using the general linear models proce-
60% of DM, respectively) and were fed as a dure of SAS (21). The model included the
TMR. Separate concentrate mixes were pre- main effects of breed, cow, and treatment; cow
pared for the control and sucrose-sweetened within treatment; and the subplot effects of
diets [sucrose (Growmark, Inc., Bloomington, week and the interaction of treatment by week.
IL) substituted for an equal amount of ground Between d 1 and 28 postpartum, daily DMI
corn]. During wk 1 postpartum, all cows also data were examined for linear and quadratic
received 2.3 kg/d of alfalfa hay. All cows were effects of DIM. Pearson's correlation coeffi-
fed twice daily to ensure 10% orts through d
84 postpartum (12 wk). Feeds were sampled
weekly for DM determination by drying at
55°C. Samples were pooled over the entire TABLE 1. Ingredient composition of the diets on a DM
experimental period for analysis of CP, NDF, basis.
ADF, and minerals, and NEL was estimated by
the Northeast DHIA Forage Testing Labora- Diet
tory (Ithaca, NY). As-fed weights of forage and Ingredient Control Sucrose
concentrate mixes were adjusted weekly based
on the DM contents of the feeds.
Corn silage 10.00 10.00
Alfalfa haylage 30.00 30.00
Milk Yield, BW, and Body Condition Ground corn 39.87 38.37
Soybean meal (48% CP) 12.59 12.59
Daily milk yield was monitored throughout Distillers dned grains 1.94 1.94
the experiment. Milk was sampled weekly dur- Soybean hulls 2.40 2.40
ing Monday p.m. and Tuesday a.m., com- Blood meal .46 .46
posited in proportion to yield, preserved with sucrose ... 1.50
Sodium bicarbonate .64 .64
potassium dichromate, and stored at 4'C. Milk Limestone 31 .81
fat and milk protein were determined by infra- Dicalcium phosphate .81 .81
red analyses (Dairy Lab Services, Inc., Du- Magnesium oxide .19 .19
buque, IA), and SNF was measured according salt (plain) .17 .17
to the method of Golding (7). Milk yield was Mineral and vitamin mix' .12 .12
converted to 3.5% FCM using the method of 1University of Illinois Dairy Number 50826 (Goodlife
Tyrrell and Reid (25). Inc., Effingham, IL)guaranteed analysis: ,2596 I, 2.0% Fe,
Cows were weighed each Wednesday after 3.0% Mn, .5% Cu, .W%CO, .015% Se, 10% S, 7.5% K,
the a.m. milking. The BW change was deter- 2200 IU/kg of vitamin A, 660 IUkg of vitamin D, and
mined by subtracting the latter BW from the 7709 IUkg of vitamin E from calcium iodate, iron sulfate,
zinc oxide, manganous oxide, magnesium sulfate, copper
former BW and adding the difference to the oxide, cobalt carbonate, sodium selenite, sulfur, potassium
cumulative sum of the differences from previ- sulfate, retinyl acetate, cholecalciferol, and all-rac-a-
ous weeks. Body condition scores were esti- tocopherol.

Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 78, No. 4, 1995

882 NOMBEKELA AND MURPHY

cients between variables were also calculated. TABLE 2. Nutrient composition of the diets.
Statistical significance was declared at P < .10 Diet
unless otherwise indicated.
Nutrient Control Sucrose
RESULTS DM, 96 73.5 75.5
CP. % of DM 17.5 18.1
Nutrient composition of the experimental NEL, McaVkg of DM 1.61 1.61
diets is given in Table 2. Both diets had simi- ADF, 96 of DM 19.2 18.9
lar contents of CP. NEL, ADF, NDF, ether NDF, 96 of DM 29.3 27.7
Ether extract, % of DM 3.1 2.8
extract, Ca. P, Mg, K, and trace elements and Ca. % of DM I .02 .96
met most NRC (18) requirements for dairy P, % of DM .49 .48
cows with their BW and milk yields. The Mg, % of DM .33 .32
estimated NEL content of the diets was 6.4% K. % of DM 1.74 1.66
below the recommended 1.67 McaVkg of DM. Na, % of DM .42 .40
Fe, ppm in DM 380 331
Covariant-adjusted means for DMI, milk Zn,ppm in DM 94 86
yield and composition, and BW measures are Cu, ppm in DM 18 17
given in Table 3. The DMI over the 12-wk Mn, ppm in DM 94 76
experiment was not significantly affected by MO,pprn in DM 1.5 1.3
supplementation with sucrose. Differences in
DMI between treatments at each week of lacta-
tion never exceeded 10% of the overall mean tion between weeks was greater for cows fed
(Figure 1). Given the variation in DMI in early the control diet (Figure 2).
lactation (residual MS = 8.87), it was estimated Sucrose supplementation reduced milk pro-
(22) that 40 cows per treatment would be re- tein by .23 percentage units and increased milk
quired to have an 80% chance of detecting a fat yield slightly. The BW of cows fed the
difference of this magnitude at 95% probabil- sucrose-supplemented diet was less than the
ity. Unfortunately, common methods of in- BW of cows fed the control diet; however,
creasing the sensitivity of feeding trials (4) differences in BW change, body condition
were inappropriate for the present experiment. score, energy balance, 3.5% FCM:DMI ratio,
Yield of 3.5% FCM reached apparent peaks and days to first estrus were not significant.
during wk 7 and 8 for cows fed the sucrose Mean linear and quadratic changes in DMI
and control diets, respectively, although varia- between d 1 and 14 (7.5 DIM), d 1 and 21

1 32 1

30:P
22
24

28

i ZR

P4 24

2 0 4 . , , , . , . , . , . , . 1
0 2 4 6 8 IO 12 14 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Week of L.ct.tion

Figure 1 . Least squares mean DMI by week of lacta-

tion (SE = .9; n = 12) for cows fed the control @) and Figure 2. Least squares mean 3.5% FCM by week (SE
sucrose-supplemented(+) diets. A *-point median filter = .9; n = 12) for cows fed the control (0) and sucrose-
(24) was applied to the data to suppress noise. supplemented (+) diets.

Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 78. No. 4, 1995

 SUCROSE AND EARLY LACTATION FEED INTAKE 883
TABLE 3. Covariant-adjusted means for DMI, milk yield. milk composition, and measures related to BW.
Treatment
Item Control Sucrose P <
-X SEM
-
X SEM
DMI
kdd 19.0 .72 19.1 .67 NS'
9% of BW 4.19 .I3 4.22 .I2 NS
g/kg of BW.7s .I9 .01 .19 .01 NS
Milk yield, kg/d 28.4 1.3 29.3 1.2 NS
3.5% FCM, kg/d 28.4 .01 28.4 .01 NS
Milk protein
96 3.51 .06 3.28 .06 ,002
dd 960 42 950 39 NS
Fat
9% 3.40 .OS 3.30 .OS NS
g/d 960 47 970 44 .07
SNF
% 8.39 .08 8.32 .08 NS
kg/d 2.38 .11 2.44 .IO NS
BW. kg 41 7 5.5 466 5.2 .07
BW Change, kg -30 57 -27 43 NS
BCS2 3.34 .09 2.40 .09 NS
Energy balance? McaVd -3.89 .46 -4.67 .42 NS
3% FCM:DMI. kgkg 1.48 .05 1.53 .05 NS
Days to first estrus 57.0 7.6 42.9 8.5 NS
'P > . l o .
2BCS = Body condition score.
~ N E LIntake - net energy of maintenance - net energy of milk (18).

(10.5 DIM),and d 15 to 28 (21.5 DIM) are steers was unaffected by hay and silage fed
given in Table 4. Estimated rates of DMI alternately at 12- or 24-h intervals, although
change at the midpoints of these intervals were intake was increased when the steers were
numerically higher for the cows fed sucrose. presented with an alternative feed after being
The biggest differences were 280 and 433 g/d restricted to a single item for 3 wk. Intake may
of DM at 10.5 and 21.5 DIM, respectively (P> be increased when animals are offered a choice
.lo).
Correlations between various measures are
given in Table 5 . As expected, DMI was
closely correlated with yields of 3.5% FCM, TABLE 4. Calculated rates of DMI change during the first
milk protein, milk fat, and SNF. The DMI per 4 wk postpartum based on quadratic polynomial regres-
unit of BW was correlated with BW change sion.
and milk protein percentage. Initial BW was
Period' Control Sucrose SEM P
correlated significantly with most variables,
which justified its use as a covariant. -(g/d of DM) -
7.5 420 460 101 NS2
DISCUSSION 10.5 1426 1707 279 NS
21.5 -161 272 740 NS
In contrast to previous sequential elimina- 'Period refers to the midpoint of the interval studied;
tion experiments (19), cows in this trial were i.e., 7.5 is the midpoint of 1 to 14 DIM, 10.5 the midpoint
not given a choice of diets; the absence of of 1 to 21 DIM, and 21.5 the midpoint of 14 to 28 DIM,
variety may have affected the results. A recent respectively.
study (20) suggested that the DMI of Hereford ZP > .IO.

Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 78, No. 4, 1995

884 NOMBEKELA AND MURPHY

TABLE 5 . Pearson correlation coefficients of various animal, dietary, and production measures.l
Variable2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
1 1.00 .99 -.69 .62 .54 .I8 .60 -.82 -.72 .16 .ll .59 -.21 -.S8 -.38 .31 .83 .47
2 1.00 -.74 .62 .52 .I5 .64 -.92 -.78 .11 .I1 -.67
-.27 -.58 .34 .38 .42 .46
3 1.00 -.34 -.I8 .09 -.45 .71 .71 -.01 -.lo .61
.33 .64 -.lo .07 -.07 -.16
4 1.00 .93 .67 .58 -.33 -56 -.27 -.07 -.60
-.33 -.56 .02 .81 .81 .95
5 1.00 .73 .58 -.25 -36 -.16 -.I1 -.42
-.01 -.39 .02 .81 .92 .92
6 1.00 -.lo .I8 .13 -.18 .05
-.OB -.02 -.05 .I% .79 .70 .69
7 1.00 -.65 -.87 -.I3 -.I4
-.67 -.15 -.59 -.09 .44 .63 .42
8 1.00 .78 -.26 -.I3.54 .14 .71 -.36 .I2 .06 -.I9
9 1.00 .10 .06 ,BO .29 .67 . l l -.I2 -.35 -.40
10 1.00 .35 .28 .32 .08 .32 -.IO -.I8 -.21
11 1.00 -.a .01 .04 .18 -.11 -.I9 -.lo
12 1.00 .57 .83 .I6 -.05 -.26 -.34
13 1.00 .58 .OS .00 .26 -.34
14 1.00 -.06 -.I1 -.24 -.19
15 1.00 . I O .06 -.04
16 1.00 .86 .91
17 1.00 .82
18 1.00
‘Ranges of significance: 1) r 2 .60. P I ,001; 2) r = S O to S9. P 5 .01; and 3) r = .42 to .49. P 5 .05.
Wariables: 1 = BW, 2 = initial BW. 3 = BW change, 4 = milk yield, 5 = 3.5% FCM,6 = DMI. 7 = 3.5% FCM/DMI,
8 = DMVBW, 9 = energy balance, 10 = body condition score. 11 = initial body condition score, 12 = milk protein
percentage, 13 = milk fat percentage, 14 = Sh’F percentage, 15 = SCC percentage, 16 = milk protein yield, 17 = milk fat
yield, and 18 = milk S N F yield.

of diets because of the differential presence of
a preferred feed (3). Treit et al. (23) suggested
that the presence of different flavors in rat
diets was more important than the presence of
a favorite flavor per se. In our experiment, a
single diet was offered because it represented
current production practice. Blundell and
Rogers (3) cautioned against utilizing the effect
of palatability to increase feed consumption
because the relationship between palatability
and actual feed consumption has not been de-
termined some researchers (16) have focused
instead on the relationships between palatabil-
ity and meal characteristics and on the dynam-
ics of palatability during a meal.
Aumaitre (l), Louis-Sylvestre et al. (14),
Naim et al. (17), and Treit et al. (23) fed
sucrose-supplemented diets to a variety of spe-
cies. Supplemented diets were always pre-
ferred in multiple-choice arrangements, but in-
take was not different from that of the control
group in single-choice situations. Animals may
suffer “flavor fatigue” in single-choice designs,
leading to lower (or baseline) intake following
a transitory increase (5). Kare (11) demon-
strated a transitory increase in the voluntary
feed intake, which soon returned to baseline
Journal of Dairy Science Vol. 78, No. 4, 1995
amounts, for heifers fed a sucrose-flavored
diet.
Khalili and Huhtanen (12, 13) and Huhtanen
and Khalili (IO) recently investigated the ef-
fects of sucrose supplementation on ruminal
fermentation. Sucrose significantly decreased
ruminal pH, fiber digestion, concentrations of
ammonia N, and the molar proportions of ace-
tate and isovalerate. Molar proportions of
butyrate and valerate were increased by su-
crose. Those studies (10, 12, 13) differed
greatly from the present experiment in fun-
damentals that preclude the direct comparison
of results. For instance, the DMI of four
344-kg Friesian bulls in those studies was only
5.3 kg/d, and sucrose comprised 16% of the
dietary DM (848 g/d of sucrose). The DMI in
our experiment averaged 19 kg/d, which
resulted in consumption of 286 g/d of sucrose.
In addition to a more detailed study of
potential transitory effects, several other possi-
ble reactions to sucrose supplementation re-
quire further investigation, including the effect
of preferred flavors on meal characteristics, the
degree of palatability of a preferred flavor
during a meal, and the measure of preference
with successive bites during a single meal. The
 SUCROSE AND EARLY LACTATION FEED INTAKE
possibility should also be examined that su-
crose supplementation could cause cows to eat
more initially and also to yield more milk and
to lose less BW in early lactation.
CONCLUSIONS
The feed consumption of dairy cows in
early lactation was not enhanced by sucrose
supplementation; however, some results from
this experiment suggested that sucrose might
have transiently increased DMI in the first 2
wk postpartum. The basal diet, amount of su-
crose supplementation, and diet presentation
may determine the extent to which feed intake
is affected. More detailed studies are needed of
flavor-mediated effects on voluntary feed in-
take by dairy cows in early lactation.
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