Production response of dairy cows fed different dietary inclusion of cold-pressed soybean meal

This study was conducted to evaluate the production response of Holstein cows fed cold-pressed soybean meal. Twenty-four cows were assigned to one of four treatments in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were: diet containing solvent extracted soybean meal (T1) and three diets containing 6, 12 and 18% cold-pressed soybean meal (CSBM), respectively T2, T3 and T4. DMI varied from 22.86 to 25.80 kg/d and was not affected by treatments, however it tended to be higher (P<0.1) for T4 when compared to T3. Milk protein, milk fat, energy corrected milk and feed efficiency (FE) did not differ between treatments (P>0.05). Mean milk lactose % was lower (P<0.05) for T3 compared to T1 and did not differ between T2 and T4 (P>0.05). Feed efficiency tended to be lower (P<0.1) in T4 compared to the rest of the group. Body weight gain was higher in T3 and lower in T4 compared to the reste of the treatments (P<0.05). Only cows in T4 lost BW and BCS (-12 kg; -0.15) during the experimental period. Included at 12%, CSBM was adequate to support milk and protein yields with the highest body weight gain.