Research progress of low starch diet for dairy cow

Feeding dairy cows on low-starch diets can satisfy their energy requirement during lactation, and protect the rumen health of dairy cows and avoid rumen acidosis, as well. In general, the cows were fed on low-starch diets, containing digestible forage fiber, neutral detergent-soluble fiber, and soluble sugar. Feeding on low-starch diets can effectively reduce volatile fatty acid production, inhibit decrease in ruminal pH, and promote feed intake and nutrient digestion in dairy cows. Additionally, it can improve milk quality. This study showed how to formulate the low-starch diet, influencing rumen fermentation parameters and production performance; it was necessary to feed dairy cows on the low-starch diet. In future, it would be important to investigate the optimal proportion and effect of mixing, using low-starch materials as substitutes of cereal grains, to complete the process of low-starch diet preparation for dairy cows.