During early lactation, high- producing cows cannot consume enough feed to meet their energy needs. Fats are fed to cows: • to prevent them from losing too much weight, • to shorten the time frame during which they are losing weight, and • to help them regain weight lost in early lactation.
What does fat do for livestock?
With most animal feed, fats are released into the rumen and can cause an oil 'slick' that coats the fibre in the rumen and prevents rumen bacteria from breaking it down. Your dairy cows may require over 6% fat in dry matter to maintain their body condition and productivity.
What is the role of fats in animal nutrition?
In animals the most evident function of fats is that of a food reserve to supply energy (through subsequent enzymatic oxidation—that is, combination with oxygen catalyzed by enzymes). The storage of fat in vegetable seeds can be explained similarly on the basis that it is a food reserve for the embryo.
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