The utilization of a commercial rapeseed meal product (RaPass) as a protein supplement for lactating dairy cows

Abstract

Rapeseed meal is a common protein supplement in ruminant diets that is characterized by high rumen protein degradability (Bertilssonet al., 1994; Vanhataloet al., 1995). Appropriate treatment can however reduce ruminal protein degradability and increase the efficiency of protein utilization. RaPass (UM Feeds Marketing, Burton on Trent, Staffs, UK) is a commercial rapeseed meal product that made using the Maillard reaction. This is the non-enzymatic browning reaction between proteins and reducing sugars that protects protein from rumen degradation. Release of the protein at abomasal pH allows the peptide chains to be digested at an efficiency similar to that of untreated rapeseed meal (Mosset al2000). Cows fed rapeseed meal that was treated to increase the rumen undegradable protein (RUP) content have been reported to perform better than those fed untreated rapeseed meal (Bertilssonet al., 1994). This study evaluated the potential of using RaPass as a protein supplement in dairy cow rations.