Effect of Protein Source on Ruminal Fermentation and Passage of Amino Acids to the Small Intestine of Lactating Cows

Abstract

Four lactating Holstein cows, fitted with T-type cannulas in the proximal duodenum, were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to determine the effect of protein supplement on production, ruminal digestion, and profile and the quantity of AA available for absorption. Supplemental protein sources were blood meal, corn gluten meal, blood meal plus corn gluten meal, and sunflower meal, which constituted 8, 10.5, 9.3, and 13% of dietary DM, respectively. The DMI and milk production were not influenced by treatment. Ruminal NH3 concentration increased with the sunflower meal diet, and molar percentage of propionate decreased with the blood meal diet. Duodenal flow of NAN was unaffected by protein source, but dietary N flow decreased, and bacterial N flow increased, when cows were fed the sunflower meal diet. Bacterial N flows were 46.0, 45.3, 46.4, and 65.8% of NAN for the respective diets. The AA profiles of isolated ruminal bacteria differed among dietary treatments but were not correlated with the respective supplementary protein sources. The essential AA profiles of duodenal digesta and duodenal flow of individual AA closely reflected AA differences in protein sources, suggesting that the composition of RUP profoundly affected the composition of protein entering the intestine when supplemental protein provided 35% of total CP intake.