Plasma essential amino acids concentrations of early lactating Holstein dairy cows fed diet containing raw or roasted Iranian soybean

Abstract

Whole soybean has 40-42 percent CP and used as high energy-protein supplement for early lactation dairy cows. However, the protein is highly degradable, so small amounts of amino acids can be reached to small intestine to meet high amino acid requirements of early lactating cows. Therefore, various chemical and physical treatments have been suggested to decrease ruminal protein degradability of soybeans. The practical use and application of any one method to lower ruminal feed degradability is dependent not only on its efficacy but also on its cost effectiveness, safety and ease of application. For these reasons, heat treatment is the most commonly used physical method (Plegge et al., 1985). The purpose of this study was to determine how roasting of soybeans affect plasma essential amino acid concentrations in early lactation cows.