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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Cell Wall Biology and Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #228244

Title: MEJORANDO LA UTILIZACION DE LA PROTEINA EN LA VACA LECHERA EN LACTANCIA

Author
item Broderick, Glen

Submitted to: Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/2/2006
Publication Date: 10/19/2006
Citation: Broderick, G.A. 2006. Mejorando la utilizacion de la proteina en la vaca lechera en lactancia. In: Proceedings of Memorias de la XVI Reunion Internacional Sobre Produccion de Carne y Leche en Climas Calidos, October 19-20, 2006, Mexicali, B.C. Mexico. p. 84-101.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Dairy cows utilize feed CP with greater efficiency than other ruminants, but still excrete about 2 to 3 times more N in manure than they secrete in milk. This increases milk production costs plus environmental N pollution. Maximizing microbial protein formation in the rumen is the most effective way to improve the protein status of the lactating cow. Only a portion of the dietary protein can be replaced by NPN because of the limited ability of ruminal microbes to utilize ammonia as their sole RDP source. Ammonia is used best on diets that are high in NFC and highly digestible fiber; thus, supplementing with NPN in diets based on low-quality forages is problematic. Reducing grain particle size and heat processing increases ruminal starch digestion and increases microbial protein formation, so long as ruminal pH is not depressed. Feeding soluble carbohydrates may improve microbial protein formation in the rumen. Ration formulation models are useful for predicting how diet changes affect milk yield. Dietary CP not utilized for production is lost in the urine, the most polluting form of excretory N. Reversal trials testing typical diets showed no increase in yield of milk, FCM, or protein with more than about 16.5% dietary CP. One trial found that feeding 15.6% CP with added RUP from SBM did not give production equal to 16.6% CP. However, a second study showed that cows fed 15.8% CP plus rumen-protected methionine yielded as much as cows fed 17.1% CP without rumen-protected methionine. There are substantial differences in the effectiveness of different sources of RUP for lactating cows. Future research findings may allow feeding of even lower dietary CP levels so as to reduce N excretion without losing production.