Supplemental Table S1. Number of outliers removed from the data sets per variable response in a study in which transition dairy cows were supplemented with increasing amounts of Ascophyllum nodosum meal or ethylenediamine dihydroiodide
Description
We hypothesized that supplementation with A. nodosum meal would reduce lipolysis during the transition period, as assessed through plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentration, potentially reflecting the contribution of bioactive compounds present in A. nodosum. A second hypothesis was that iodine supplied via A. nodosum meal or ethylenediamine dihydroiodide (EDDI) would similarly stimulate thyroid hormones (TH) synthesis, evaluated via concentrations of TH and biomarkers of energy utilization (i.e., NEFA, beta-hydroxybutyrate, insulin, and glucose) that may be affected by circulating TH. We aimed to evaluate the effects of increasing dietary levels of A. nodosum meal (0, 57, and 113 g/d) and iodine source (A. nodosum vs. EDDI) on the plasma concentrations of TH and energy utilization biomarkers, production performance, and milk iodine concentration in dairy cows during the transition period. Plasma NEFA linearly increased prepartum and did not respond linearly or quadratically to increased dietary levels of A. nodosum meal postpartum. Iodine intake and concentration and yield of milk iodine linearly increased, and milk iodine transfer efficiency linearly decreased with feeding incremental levels of A. nodosum meal. However, iodine source did not impact milk iodine concentration, yield, and transfer efficiency, indicating comparable bioavailability of iodine derived from A. nodosum meal or EDDI. Iodine source also had no impact on the plasma concentrations of most TH, milk yield, and biomarkers of energy metabolism postpartum.