China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (1): 179-189.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2026.01.016

• Nutrition and Feed • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Glycerol Monolaurate on Growth Performance, Rumen Fermentation Parameters, Serum Biochemical Indices, and Gas Emissions in Dairy Cows

WANG Xiaohan1(), WU Huiguang2, REN Lijing1, ZHAO Jiangnan1, LIN Miao1, ZHAO Jingwen1()   

  1. 1.College of Animal Science and Technology,Yangzhou University,Yangzhou 225009,China
    2.College of Veterinary Medicine,Yangzhou University,Yangzhou 225009,China
  • Revised:2025-06-17 Online:2026-01-05 Published:2025-12-26
  • Contact: ZHAO Jingwen E-mail:18763657155@163.com;zhaojingwen79@163.com

Abstract:

Objective This study aimed to investigate the effects of glycerol monolaurate (GML) on the growth performance, rumen fermentation parameters, serum biochemical indices, and gas emissions in dairy cows. Method Forty-eight seven-month-old healthy Holstein cows with similar body weights were selected and randomly assigned to four groups with twelve cows per group. Based on the daily dry matter intake of the test animals, 0 (control group), 0.6%, 1.2% and 1.8% GML were added to the basic feed, respectively. The pretest period was 14 days, the main test period was 56 days. The body weight of dairy cows were weighed on the 0 and 50th days, and the average daily weight gain was calculated. Fecal samples of dairy cows were collected using rectal fecal sampling on the 50th to 54th days for the determination of nutrient apparent digestibility. Rumen fluid of dairy cows was collected on the 0 and 51st days for the determination of rumen fermentation parameters. Blood samples were collected on the 52nd days for the determination of serum biochemical indices, and the respiratory mask was used to determine the rate of gas emission from dairy cows on the 49th to 56th days. Result ①The final body weight and average daily gain of dairy cows in 0.6% GML group were significantly lower than those in other groups (P<0.05). The apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fiber of dairy cows in 0.6% and 1.8% GML groups were significantly lower than that in control and 1.2% GML groups (P<0.05), and the apparent digestibility of acid detergent fiber and crude protein were significantly higher than those in other groups (P<0.05). ②There were no significant differences of microbial protein content and pH in rumen fluid of dairy cows in each group (P>0.05). The contents of acetic acid (A) and propionic acid (P) and A/P value in rumen fluid of dairy cows on the 51st days showed significant linearly changes with the amount of GML additive (P<0.05). ③There were no significant differences of total protein, albumin, urea, glucose, triglyceride and lipase in serum of dairy cows in each group (P>0.05). The white globule ratio and total cholesterol content in 1.2% GML group were significantly lower than those in other groups (P<0.05). ④Methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission rates measured by respiratory mask showed a slight decreasing trend in 0.6% GML group compared with control group, whereas 1.2% and 1.8% GML groups showed marginally higher emission. However, no significant differences were detected in each group (P>0.05). Conclusion Supplementing the diet with 0.6% GML exerted a certain emissions-reducing effect by lowering CH4 and CO2 emission rates, while also affecting growth performance. However, higher doses of GML (1.2% and 1.8%) demonstrated potential advantages in improving the utilization rate of crude protein and acidic fiber in rumen, as well as promoting daily weight gain.

Key words: glycerol monolaurate; dairy cows; growth performance; rumen fermentation parameters; methane

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