Processed barley grain mitigates the adverse effects of starch-rich diets in lactating Holstein cows

Document Type : Full paper (Original article)

Authors

1 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

2 Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

3 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

10.22099/ijvr.2026.52036.7755

Abstract

Background: High-starch diets, commonly formulated with barley grain (BG), can impair ruminal function and trigger systemic inflammation in lactating dairy cows. Aims: The present study investigated the effects of different forms of BG on rumen fermentation, immune-related gene expression, and systemic inflammation in Holstein cows fed starch-rich diets. Methods: Twenty-seven lactating Holstein cows (three fistulated and six non-fistulated per treatment) were randomly assigned to three dietary groups: untreated BG (BGCTRL), BG processed with 5% lactic acid (BGLA), or BG processed with sugar beet pulp extract (BGSBPE). Cows received a basal total mixed ration for two weeks, followed by one week of high-starch experimental diets. Results: Cows fed BGLA (5.97) and BGSBPE (5.85) had significantly higher ruminal pH compared to BGCTRL (5.55; P<0.05), along with shorter durations of pH<5.8 (61.35, 182.93, and 362.98 min/day for BGLA, BGSBPE, and BGCTRL, respectively; P<0.05). The acidosis index was reduced from 18.10 in BGCTRL to 8.13 in BGSBPE and 3.05 in BGLA. Also, BGLA reduced ruminal E. coli abundance (P<0.001), while Megasphaera elsdenii was lower in BGSBPE than in BGCTRL (P<0.001). Both processed BG diets significantly decreased serum haptoglobin and serum amyloid A, and reduced mRNA expression of CD14, TLR4, and MD2. Conclusion: Processing BG with lactic acid or sugar beet pulp extract mitigates the adverse effects of high-starch diets on rumen health and systemic inflammation in lactating dairy cows.

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References

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