Milk Yield and Composition and Pasture Ruminal Digestion in Grazing Dairy Cows Receiving Three Levels of Energy Concentrate Supplementation

The objective of the experiment was to determine the effect of feeding three levels (T3.5, T7.0 and T10.5) of energy concentrate (3.5, 7.0 and 10.5 kg cow day) on total dry matter (DM) and energy intakes, milk yield and composition, nutritional value of milk and rumen pasture neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestion in grazing dairy cows. Twenty-one multiparous Holstein cows in early lactation (70.2 ± 13 days postpartum) producing 37.1 (±4.7) kg of milk were assigned to a 3 treatments (7 cows/treatment) × 3 periods Latin square design. Parameters of ruminal environment and pasture NDF degradation were obtained using 3 additional cows of the same breed fitted with rumen cannulae. On a wet basis, concentrate was composed by corn grain (68%), soybean meal (22%), wheat bran (8%) and a vitamin-mineral nucleus with monensin. Pasture (Medicago sativa, sp) was used in a rotational grazing system with an herbage allowance of 30 kg DM cow d. Yield (kg cow d) of fat corrected milk (4% FCM) resulted higher (p < 0.05) in T7.0 (29.0) compared to T3.5 (26.8) but similar to T10.5 (30.2). Milk and protein yields were linearly increased (p < 0.01) by concentrate intake. Milk fat (3.13 g/100g) and total solid contents (11.79 g/100g) did not differ whereas milk protein (p < 0.03) and casein (p < 0.01) levels (g/100g) increased linearly from 3.05 to 3.10 (protein) and from 2.42 to 2.47 (casein). Pasture intake decreased but total DM and energy consumption were enhanced showing addition effects after concentrate feeding. Body weight (BW) loss and plasmatic levels of non esterified How to cite this paper: Salado, E.E., Bretschneider, G., Cuatrin, A., Descalzo, A.M. and Gagliostro, G.A. (2017) Milk Yield and Composition and Pasture Ruminal Digestion in Grazing Dairy Cows Receiving Three Levels of Energy Concentrate Supplementation. Agricultural Sciences, 8, 1135-1156. https://doi.org/10.4236/as.2017.810083 Received: September 18, 2017 Accepted: October 22, 2017 Published: October 25, 2017 Copyright © 2017 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Open Access


Introduction
Significant variability in commodity prices and perceived animal welfare concerns around permanent housing of livestock have led to increased global interest in grazing production systems for dairy cows [1].The last trends in sustainable production practices encourage the use of pasture based systems for milk production but the functionality of biologically complex processes like rumen digestion, supplementation and pasture production needs to provide new knowledge necessary to underpin practical development of those systems [2].High-quality pastures are the most economical feed for dairy cattle and contribute to lowering the cost of milk production [3] but their energy density is insufficient for high-yielding cows to achieve their maximum production potential [4].A lower DM and hence energy intake explains the suboptimal performance observed even under conditions of adequate quality and quantity of forage [5].Maximizing pasture intake implies offering high amounts (60 kg DM cow −1 day −1 ) of forage measured at ground level resulting in a low harvest efficiency and a progressive deterioration in pasture quality [6].According to [7], the maximum pasture intake would be equivalent to 3.2% of BW whereas the potential consumption of cows supplemented with concentrates is near to 4% of BW [8].When spring pasture is the sole feed supplied maximum yield of milk is expected to be near to 23.2 kg cow −1 day −1 [9] and for larger milk production body energy mobilization is needed increasing the risk of metabolic and reproductive disorders [10].In this context, supplementary energy may improve the productive response of cows [11] reducing body reserves losses [12].
Energy to protein imbalances in pasture-based diets may in turn be attenuated by increased consumption of starch-rich concentrates [13].However, feeding large amounts of cereal based concentrates in the milking parlor may affect ruminal pH and pasture NDF digestion [14], with concomitant decreases in forage intake and milk fat content.On the other hand, feeding diets with reduced pasture content may affect the nutrition (healthy) value of milk by lower levels of rumenic acid (9-cis 11-trans C 18:2 , RA), α-linolenic acid (C 18:3n−3 ) and antioxidant vitamins [15].The objective of the experiment was to determine the effect of three levels of energy concentrate intake on production, composition and nutritional value of milk, DM and energy intake and rumen digestion in grazing dairy cows.

Cows and Treatments
The experiment was carried out in the experimental farm of INTA Rafaela (31˚12'S, 61˚30'W) during the spring of 2009.Measurements of milk production and composition, BW, body condition score (BCS), DM intake (DMI) and plasma metabolite and hormone concentration were carried out using 21 multiparous (3.3 ± 1.7 lactations) Holstein cows in early lactation (70.2 ± 13 days postpartum).At the start of the trial, cows produced 37.1 (±4.7) kg milk, averaging 593 (±59.9)BW and 2.52 (±0.24)BCS.Cows were grouped by milk production, number of lactations and days postpartum and randomly assigned to 3 treatments (7 cows/treatment) according to a Latin square design with 3 experimental periods of 19 days long (14 days for adaptation and 5 for data collection).Parameters of ruminal environment and digestion were obtained using 3 cows of the same breed fitted with rumen cannulae in a Latin square design with experimental periods of 19 days (17 days for adaptation and 2 of measurements).All cows were fitted with transponders (ALPRO version 6.60/DeLaval, Tumba, Sweden) to individually record daily milk production and concentrate allocation in the milking parlor.Treatments were three levels (T3.5, T7.0 and T10.5) of concentrate intake (3.5, 7.0 and 10.5 kg cow −1 day −1 ) composed (wet basis) of corn grain (68%), soybean meal (22%), wheat bran (8%) and a vitamin-mineral nucleus with monensin.It was supplied by halves in individual feeders during each milking time (4:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.).An alfalfa (Medicago sativa, sp) pasture was used in a rotational grazing system with an herbage allowance of 30 kg DM cow −1 d −1 adjusted using portable electric wiring.During the 3 weeks prior to the start of the trial all cows received 7.0 kg of the experimental concentrate and pasture.
Milk production was individually recorded over the last 5 days of each experimental period by a DeLaval ALPRO milk metering system (DeLaval International AB, Tumba, Sweden).Individual milk samples were collected at days 15 th and 18 th of each period, composited according to the corresponding volume measured at each milking time and analyzed for content of fat, total protein, lactose, total solids (TS), non-fat solids (NFS) and urea by infrared spectrophotometry (MilkoScan TM Minor; FOSS Electric, Hillerod, Denmark) according ISO/IDF standard method [24].Milk casein content was calculated as 6.38 * (total N − non caseinic N) after semi Micro-Kjeldhal digestion.Fat-corrected milk (4% FCM) was adjusted according to [25] and energy-corrected milk (ECM) as proposed by [26].In each experimental period an additional sample of milk (pool per treatment) was stored at −24˚C for determination of milk FA composition and antioxidant compounds.The lipids were extracted [27] and after basic methylation with solution of sodium methoxide (1%) on anhydrous methanol injected into a gas chromatograph (Perkin-Elmer, model Autosystem XL-R 3.5) fitted with a PSS injector (Programmed Temperature Vaporizer), flow divider and flame ionization detector (FID).The methyl esters of FA were separated on a WCOT fused silica capillary column, 200 m × 0.25 mm i.d.(Varian), using H 2 as the carrier gas.The individual FA were identified by comparing the relative retention times with pure standards (Mix of 37 components (AccuStandard), PUFA-2 Animal Source (Supelco, Bellefonte, PA, USA) and a mixture of isomers of methyl esters linoleic acid (Supelco)).Analytical results were expressed as percentages of total FA.Antioxidant vitamins (α-γ-tocopherol, β-carotene and retinol) were analyzed by extraction with saponification in hexane and subsequent separation and quantification using reverse phase HPLC methodology with detection at 445 nm for carotenes and fluorescence at 296-330 nm for tocopherols as described in [28].The quantification was based on calibration curves performed with commercial standards of each compound (Sigma-Aldrich, Argentina).Agricultural Sciences Concentrate intake was determined throughout the trial by the difference between offered and refused material.Pasture intake was estimated in each experimental period from the individual production of faeces and the in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) of the pasture.The total faecal production of each cow was determined using an indigestible marker (LIPE ® ) according to [29].The cows were dosed once a day (11:30 h) with a gelatin capsule containing 500 mg of LIPE ® for 7 consecutive days, starting on Day 1 and finishing on Day 7. Animals were restrained in a head bail and capsules were inserted into the esophagus utilising a balling gun.Concentrations of LIPE ® reach equilibrium in faeces approximately 48 hours after initial dosage.Therefore, faecal samples were taken from the rectum of each cow once a day (11:30 h) for five consecutive days, from Day 4 of LIPE ® dosage until Day 8.All faecal samples were processed and analyzed individually.Faecal samples were weighed and dried immediately after sampling at 60˚C in a forced air oven until constant weight to determine DM content.Samples were ground through a 1-mm screen (Wiley mill, Philadelphia, PA) and stored for analysis.DM was also determined using an oven at 105˚C until constant weight.Two mg of faecal sample and 300 mg of powdered Potassium bromide (KBr) were ground in an agate mortar and homogenised for 20 minutes.Pressed pellets were then obtained after 1 minute at constant pressure.
Concentration of LIPE ® in faeces was analysed by infrared spectroscopy using an infrared spectrometer VARIAN 800 FT-IR (Varian BV, Middelburg, and The Netherlands).Standard calibration curves for LIPE ® were prepared by measuring the absorbance of five different concentrations of LIPE ® in faeces to produce a regression equation relating concentration to absorbance, which had an R2 higher than 0.95.This equation allowed calculations of LIPE ® concentration by measuring absorbance in faecal samples.Total faecal DM output was estimated based on the ratio of the amount of marker administered to marker concentration in faeces (Total faecal output (g DM day −1 ) = Dosed intake marker (g day −1 )/Marker concentration in faeces (g g DM at 105˚C −1 )).The recovery rate for LIPE ® was assumed to be 100% [29].Faecal DM output due to concentrate was estimated as concentrate intake × (1 − concentrate IVDMD).This quantity was subtracted from the total faecal DM output and the remaining faecal DM material was attributed to pasture.Pasture DMI was calculated as the ratio between faecal DM output due to pasture and pasture indigestibility (1 − IVDMD).
Total energy intake was calculated from DMI of forage and concentrates and their NE L content estimated according to [22].Glucogenic energy intake was calculated as proposed in [30] assuming that intestinal digestibility for starch was 78% [31].
Cows were weighed after the morning milking at the beginning and end of each experimental period avoiding previous access to water.Concurrently, BCS was determined as the average records of two independent observers using a 5-point scale (1 = excessively thin to 5 = excessively fat) with increments of 0.25 units [32].On the last day of each experimental period and after the morning milking, blood samples were taken by coccygeal vein puncture.Blood was collected in tubes containing sodium heparin (5 U/ml) and plasma was obtained by centrifugation (2000 × g at 4˚C for 15 min) and stored frozen (−24˚C) until glucose, urea, NEFA, insulin, GH and IGF-I analysis as described in [33].

Rumen Environment and in Situ Pasture NDF Degradability
The rate and extent of pasture NDF degradation was estimated using the in situ technique [34].At the beginning of the incubation period, two bags containing 5 g DM of pasture per sampling hour were introduced into the ventral sac of the rumen of the cannulated cows.The bags were extracted by duplicate for the different hours of incubation (0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 36 and 48 hours) and frozen (−24˚C) until the end of each period.Afterwards, they were thawed and externally washed under a cold water stream to remove contaminating and soluble material.Then all the bags were washed in a washing machine, dried in a forcedair oven (60˚C for 48 hours) and weighed to determine the residual DM and NDF contents.
Kinetics parameters of NDF degradation were estimated with the equation proposed by [35] using the Excel solver routine [36]: where R = NDF residue (at time after incubation = t), D = digestible fraction, k = digestion rate constant, L = lag time, and U = indigestible fraction.The effective degradation of NDF was calculated as: ( For VFA determination, the samples were purified with orthophosphoric acid (25%) on sulfuric acid 0.5 M at 0.5 mL for each 2 mL of sample and then centrifuged per 10 min with 5000 g [38].Samples were injected by auto-sampler Robokrom ® GC on a Konik GC 5000 B equipped with a flame ionization detector.
VFA (injected using a 10:1 split ratio and splitless time 9) were separated on a Nukol capillary column (30 m × 0.32 mm i.d.× 0.25 μm film thickness; Perkin Elmer -Elite FFAP; Part.N9316354).The FID injector temperature was held at 250˚C, and the detector temperature at 250˚C.The initial oven temperature was 80˚C (held for 1 min), which was then increased to 156˚C at a rate of 9˚C/min (held for 0 min).Hydrogen (H 2 ) was used as a carrier gas and column flow was held at 2.4 mL/min.It was used for the calibration curves the standard volatile acid mix Supelco (Cat.No. 46975-U).

Statistical Analysis
Milk production and composition, changes in BW and BCS, DM intake, plasma metabolite and hormone concentration and kinetics parameters of NDF degradation were analyzed in a 3 × 3 Latin-square design with the MIXED procedure of SAS [39] using the following model: , where Y ijkl = dependent variable; µ = overall mean; T i = treatment effects; P j = effects of the experimental period; S k = effects of the sequence; A (k)l = random effects of animal within sequence and E ijkl = residual error.The rumen parameters (pH, NH 3 -N and VFA) were analyzed in a 3 × 3 Latin-square design using the following model: , where Y ijklm = dependent variable; µ = overall mean; T i = treatment effects; P j = effects of the experimental period; S k = effects of the sequence; A (k)l = random effects of animal within sequence, H m = effects of hour of sampling; ( effects of treatment and hour and E ijklm = residual error.Mean comparisons were carried out using the Tukey-Kramer test, and differences were considered significant with p < 0.05.Linear and/or quadratic effects of concentrate levels were also tested by orthogonal contrasts.

Chemical Composition of Feedstuffs
The average value of herbage mass in the pregrazing strips was 1996 (±260) kg DM ha −1 and the average herbage allowance obtained was 31.4 (±1.9) kg DM cow −1 per day during the trial.Values for the chemical composition of the feedstuffs used in this trial are shown in Table 1.
Pasture DM content was above the critical range (15% -18%) that would affect voluntary DM intake [40].The average pasture NDF content was close to the range of 34% to 36%, which would not affect voluntary DMI due to rumen fill [41].Pasture CP content was in the range of 15% to 25% proposed by [42] to obtain high values of forage DM digestibility.The maximum DM intake would be achieved when pasture allowance is about 31 kg DM cow −1 day −1 measured at more than 3 cm above the ground level [43] a value that resulted very close to that used in this study.This value is within the range proposed by [44] who reported that the maximum DM intake would be obtained when pasture supply ranges between 45 and 55 g DM kg BW −1 day −1 .For an average cow used in the present study this amount would be equivalent to about 26 to 32 kg DM day −1 .In alfalfa pastures under rotational grazing, maximum DM intake (19.5 kg DM cow −1 day −1 ) of non-supplemented dairy cows was obtained when herbage allowance was 30 kg DM cow −1 day −1 [45].Furthermore, when pasture biomass averaged 2000 kg DM ha −1 and grazing time was not restricted maximum forage consumption was obtained [42].In this trial, it seems that herbage allowance and forage quality were highly enough to achieve high DM and energy intakes.
Milk fat and TS contents were similar between treatments, whereas protein content tended (p < 0.08) to be higher in T10.5.As concentrate intake increased, a lower milk urea level together with higher lactose and casein contents were observed (Table 2).These results may reflect a greater mammary availability of glucose and a better energy-protein balance in the rumen at T10.5.The non-fat solids content was significantly lower in T3.5 without differences between T7.0 and T10.5.The orthogonal contrasts showed linear increases for most of the analyzed parameters except for fat and TS concentrations that resulted similar between treatments.

Dry Matter and Energy Intake
Concentrate was thoroughly consumed by cows without refusals for any treatment.Pasture DM intake decreased (−20.7%), while total DM and net energy for lactation (NE l ) increased (+12.6% and +20.7%, respectively) with concentrate intake.On the other hand, conversion efficiency remained constant (Table 3).
These results suggest that the increase in milk production obtained with increasing levels of concentrate intake would be linked to a higher DM and energy intake.Substitution rate (kg DM pasture kg DM concentrate −1 ) was similar between treatments with an average value of 0.58.

Changes in Body Weight and Body Condition Score
BW loss (Table 4) and plasma NEFA concentration (Table 5) decreased with concentrate intake without changes in other variables associated with the variation of body reserves.Only cows in T10.5 gained BW (+157.6%respect to T3.5).

Plasma Concentration of Metabolites and Hormones
Increased concentrate intake significantly enhanced plasma IGF-I concentration, a result consistent with the observed higher milk production (Table 2) and energy intake (Table 3).Circulating plasma levels of glucose, urea, insulin and GH were not affected (Table 5).Table 5. Plasma metabolites and hormones in grazing dairy cows supplemented with 3.5 (T3.5), 7.0 (T7.0) and 10.5 (T10.5)kg d −1 of concentrate.

Ruminal Environment and Pasture NDF Digestion
The treatment × hour interaction was not significant for any variable of ruminal environment (Table 6).Acetate concentration and pH in T10.5 were lower than values from T3.5 and similar to T7.0 with no differences between T3.5 and T7.0.
Molar proportion of propionate increased while proportion of acetate and the acetate:propionate ratio decreased as concentrate intake increased.Ruminal concentration of NH 3 -N tended (p < 0.07) to decrease as concentrate intake increased.
Kinetics parameters of NDF degradation were not affected except for the lag time that resulted lower (p < 0.05) in T7.0 and T10.5 with respect to T3.5 (Table 7).
In spite of the lower pH records observed as concentrate intake increased, effective pasture NDF degradability was unaffected.
FA (g 100 g −1 ) Treatment the acetate/propionate ratio decreased as concentrate intake increased (Table 6) but milk fat content remained unaffected (Table 2).Dietary NDF content in T10.5 averaged 28% with 20.8% of NDF arising from forage.This NDF level was apparently sufficient to prevent a drop in milk fat content (Table 2).When NDF content is about 25% of total DM in the ration with 16% NDF arising from forage, milk fat content is not affected [22].Milk fat yield instead resulted higher in T10.5 (+110 g d −1 ) compared to T3.5 (Table 2) as reported in [11].
Milk lactose content linearly increased with concentrate intake (Table 2), which would contribute to explain the linear increase in milk production observed.According to this result, previous studies under controlled feed conditions using pasture silage as forage showed that increasing availability of glucogenic precursors (mainly glucose) was a key factor to maximize lactose synthesis [30] [49] [50].
The lack of changes in 4% FCM and ECM production when concentrate intake exceeded 28% of total DM intake (Table 2) was not apparently explained by substitution of pasture by concentrate because substitution rate was similar (P > 0.05) between treatments (0.59 and 0.58 for T7.0 and T10.5, respectively) or by a less effective pasture NDF degradability (Table 7) as suggested by [51], or by a decrease in milk fat content (Table 2).
The increase of casein content and the trend to the lower milk urea nitrogen with gradual increases in concentrate intake (Table 2) was consistent with results obtained in previous studies [13] [52] suggesting that the intake of starchy concentrates improves nitrogen utilization.In the present study, the concentration of NH 3 -N in rumen tended to decrease (P < 0.07) with increasing levels of concentrate consumption (Table 6) which would contribute to explain the observed reduction in milk urea levels.

Dry Matter and Energy Intake
It was reported [11] that increasing concentrate consumption from 1.8 to 10.4 kg MS day −1 reduced pasture DM intake by −1.9 kg day −1 (range: −0.1 to −4.4 kg day −1 ) and increased total DM intake in 3.6 kg day −1 (range: +1.0 to +7.5 kg day −1 ) compared with non supplemented pasture diets.According to these results pasture DM intake decreased (−1.9 and −3.7 kg day −1 ) and total DM intake increased (+1.3 and +2.7 kg day −1 ) in T7.0 vs. T3.5 and T10.5 vs. T3.5 respectively (Table 3).It was postulated that substitution rate often increases with increasing concentrate intake [48] but this general relationship is inconsistent for high yielding grazing cows [11] in agreement with results obtained in the present study (0.59 and 0.58 kg DM pasture kg DM concentrate −1 for T7.0 and T10.5, respectively).A higher substitution rate could be explained by negative associative effects at the ruminal level [53] coupled to reductions in ruminal pH, activity or number of cellulolytic bacteria leading to a low rate of fiber digestion and pasture intake reduction [53].In the present study, the increase in concentrate intake affected neither the degradability nor the rate of digestion of pasture NDF  7) contributing to explain the lack of effect on substitution rate.
The estimated increase in NE L intake arising from concentrate (6.2 and 12.4 Mcal d −1 for T7.0 and T10.5, respectively) resulted higher than the decrease in NE L intake from pasture (−2.8 and −5.5 Mcal d −1 for T7.0 and T10.5, respectively) resulting in a higher total NE L intake (Table 3).This result suggest and additive effect after concentrate supplementation.The conversion efficiency of DM and NE L was similar between treatments (Table 3) in agreement with Wales (2005, cited by [54]), who suggested that the lack of response in conversion efficiency would be explained by the substitution rate.In the present study, the substitution rate resulted similar between treatments but it is worthy to note that in T3.5 cows apparently mobilized body reserves to sustain milk production which could have masked real differences in conversion efficiency.

Body Parameters and Plasma Concentration of Metabolites and Hormones
According with previous findings [12] [55], gains of BW and BCS increased with concentrate intake (Table 4).Although the Latin-square design may have disguised differences among treatments, short-term indicators of energy balance such as plasma NEFA concentration are useful to make inferences on changes in body reserves [52].In the present study, circulating plasma NEFA levels decreased with concentrate intake suggesting a lower body fat mobilization.This results keeps well with the higher BW gain observed suggesting that part of the additional energy absorbed was used to restore body reserves.
Regardless the higher glucogenic energy theoretically absorbed when concentrate intake increased (Table 3) plasma glucose and insulin levels remained unchanged (Table 5) and circulating glucose levels remained within the reference ranges (2.5 to 4.16 mmol l −1 ).The result keeps well with the observation that glycaemia is well regulated in ruminants [56].Hepatic production of IGF-I is positively correlated with both, energy intake and plasma GH levels [57] and may contribute to enhance milk production [58].In our experiment, cows consuming higher concentrate levels showed higher plasma IGF-I (but no GH) concentrations (Table 5) a result consistent with the higher energy intake and milk production.Concentrate intake tended (P < 0.07) to reduce ruminal NH 3 -N (Table 6) and decreased milk urea content (Table 2) without changes in plasma urea levels (Table 5) that remained in the lower portion of the normal range of 37 to 169 mg dl −1 proposed by [59].

Ruminal Environment and Pasture NDF Digestion
A lower ruminal pH is expected with increasing intake of starchy concentrates in grazing dairy cows [11] owing to a reduced ruminal buffer capacity, mastication and rumination activities, ruminal motility and modification of VFA production and composition [60].Coincidently, in this study ruminal pH decreased with concentrate intake (Table 6).
In line with the previously reported studies [13] [14] [52], supplementation with increasing levels of concentrate tended to decrease ruminal NH 3 -N (Table 6) a result that was consistent with the reduction in the content of milk urea (Table 2).The reduction in ruminal NH 3 -N could be explained by a better utilization of nitrogen by ruminal bacterias since the total CP intake (5.20 kg day −1 )   resulted similar between treatments.
The lack of significant changes in total VFA concentration (Table 6) was consistent with that reported by [11].As observed here (Table 6), supplementation with cereal grain based concentrates often increase the molar proportion of propionate and reduce the molar proportion of acetate altering the acetate:propionate ratio [11] [14] [61].These changes were expected, since propionate is the main end product of starch fermentation.
It was reported that feeding corn-based concentrates does not affect the in situ pasture NDF digestion [11], but when the level of supplementation is greater than 8 kg DM cow −1 day −1 pasture DM and NDF degradability may be affected indicating the existence of negative associative effects at ruminal level.In the present study, pasture NDF degradation was not affected (Table 7) even though maximum concentrate intake was 9.6 kg DM cow −1 day −1 a result that was consistent with the lack of negative effects on milk fat content (Table 2).The mean ruminal pH observed (6.05,Table 6) is compatible with adequate levels of forage digestion [62] and would contribute to explain the absence of treatment effect on the FDN pasture degradability.

Nutritional Healthy Value of Milk
The most remarkable feature in the present trial was that the consumption of concentrate up to 40% of total DM, did not affect either the total vaccenic acid (VA) or conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content in milk.The average CLA concentrations (1.16 g/100g FA) obtained were similar to 1.2 g percent, as previously reported for dairy cows grazing alfalfa pastures [63].This feature is remarkable because CLA (especially the C18:2 cis-9 trans-11 isomer) plays an important role in regulating plasma lipids and cardiovascular functions, reducing cancer incidence, as well as blocking tumor growth and metastasis from cancer breasts [64].Indeed, VA (trans-11 18:1) is the main natural trans FA in milk and precursor of CLA in the mammary gland and other tissues by the activity of the delta-9 desaturase enzyme.VA may also have anticarcinogenic properties and can be metabolized by humans to bioactive CLA [65].It has been previously reported that the supplementation with energy concentrates to grazing dairy cows reduced the VA and CLA contents in milk compared to the non-supplemented cows [66] [67] [68].The effect could be explained by a decreased consumption of C 18:3 (mainly alpha linoleic acid) precursors of VA.When pasture intake decreased from 100% to 33% of total DMI of cows, milk CLA content decreased from 2.21 to 0.89 g/100g FA [69].A positive association between the proportion of alfalfa pasture in the diet and the content of CLA and VA in milk also was reported by [63].Apparently, even the lower contribution of pasture to total DMI in T10.5 (59.8%) compared to T3.5 (84.9%) was enough to retain milk bioactive FA concentration.As expected, increased levels of concentrate reduced milk content of C 18:3n−3 and increased that of C 18:2n−6 and the n−6:/n−3 ratio.
Nevertheless, the ratio remained below the 4:1 recommended for a healthy diet [70] even in T10.5 (2.77).Similar results were previously reported [67] [68].It is important to point out that the content of saturated FA like lauric (C 12:0 ), myristic ( 14:0 ) and palmitic (C 16:0 ) remained unaltered within the present trial especially because of their association with increased risk of heart disease [65] [71].
Antioxidant vitamins content was also not affected by concentrate feeding.
Moreover the average concentrations of all-trans β-carotene and retinol in the present work were similar to those found by [72] in a system with extruded linseed supplementation (5.35 ± 0.34 vs. 6.38 ± 0.50 and 5.95 ± 1.20 vs. 7.31 ± 0.44 μg g −1 , respectively) but higher for α-tocopherol (38.47 ± 3.01 vs. 8.27 ± 4.78 μg g −1 ), probably due to the pasture feeding as demonstrated previously [28].Therefore, its natural oxidative stability has shown to be not compromised for its further processing.

Conclusion
Increased levels of concentrate intake was an effective tool to improve milk yield in grazing dairy cows fed good quality alfalfa pastures without affecting pasture fiber digestion.Additive effects for DM and energy intakes were observed even when forage quality and quantity were non-limiting.Increased consumption of glucogenic energy failed to improve milk protein content but casein concentration and protein yield were enhanced.The increase in BW gain with increasing concentrate intake was compatible with the reduction of the circulating levels of NEFA and the reduction in the rumen acetate:propionate ratio but not with the absence of increases in plasma insulin concentration or decreases in the GH/insulin ratio, parameters that were not altered by supplementation levels.
We have demonstrated for the first time that the increase on concentrate intake, up to 40% of total DM, did not affect the concentration of bioactive micronutrients in milk maintaining the healthy value of the milk produced.

E
. E. Salado et al.DOI: 10.4236/as.2017.8100831137 Agricultural Sciences value of 5% hour −1[37].During the first six sampling hours, 200 mL of ruminal liquor (ventral sac) were drawn from each cannulated cow for measurements of pH, ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 -N) and volatile fatty acid (VFA).Immediately after extraction and previous filtration of the ruminal liquor with cheese-like cloth, pH was measured with a portable digital pH-meter (ORION model 250 A).A sample (100 mL) was acidified with 1 mL of 1 N H 2 SO 4 and stored at −20˚C until the NH 3 -N and VFA determinations.The NH 3 -N concentration was determined by titration with steam entrainment, prior to alkalization of the samples with sodium hydroxide.

Table 4 .
Changes in body weight and body condition score in grazing dairy cows sup- 1Values are expressed as least square means (LSMeans) and standard error of LSMeans (SEM).2Effects of treatment (Treat) and period.a,b Within rows LSMeans with different superscripts differ (Tukey-Kramer test, P < 0.05).
1Values are expressed as least square means (LSMeans) and standard error of LSMeans (SEM).2Effects of treatment (Treat), hour and treat*hour interaction.a,b,c Within rows LSMeans with different superscripts differ (Tukey-Kramer test, P < 0.05).VFA = volatile fatty acids.