Ruminal escape and intestinal digestibility of ruminally protected lysine supplements differing in oleic acid and lysine concentrations

Abstract

This trial was conducted to determine the effect of the addition of 2 or 4% oleic acid to an hydrogenated fat coating applied to an experimental supplement with 55 or 58% lysine sulfate on ruminal escape and intestinal absorption of Lys. Two lactating Holstein cows (103 d in milk and 45.1 kg/d of milk) previously fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were individually housed and fed a corn silage-based ration. In situ and mobile bag techniques were utilized to evaluate the 4 test products. Twenty bags of each product were incubated for 16h in each cow to determine ruminal escape. After ruminal incubation, products were repackaged, soaked in pepsin/HCl solution for 2h, inserted into the duodenum, and subsequently collected in the feces. The percentage of dry matter and fat escaping the rumen decreased as oleic acid increased from 2 to 4% or as the proportion of supplemental Lys increased. An interaction was observed because of a greater reduction of N and Lys escaping ruminal fermentation and flowing to the small intestine for the product with 58% supplemental Lys and 4% oleic acid compared with the other products. No differences were observed in intestinal digestibility of dry matter, N, Lys, or fat or in the amount of Lys digested in the small intestine. Increasing the proportion of oleic acid in the coating applied to supplemental Lys increased ruminal degradation. The extent of the degradation increased as the proportion of Lys in the product increased.