Protein Supplement For Ruminants Research Articles

Ruminal degradability of tropical leguminous plants from eastern Amazonia

The aim of this study was to evaluate ruminal degradation of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of Cratylia argentea, Flemingia macrophylla (Willd.) Merrill, and Stylosanthes guianensis ‘Campo Grande’ (EMBRAPA), aged 55 and 75 days, in sheep with rumen cannulas, using the in-situ technique. A factorial design of 3 leguminous plants × 2 ages × 6 incubation times was used, totaling 36 experimental units. The experimental period included 14 days for adaptation to diet and 5 days for data collection. Cratylia at both ages and Flemingia aged 55 days showed the highest “a” fraction values for DM degradability. Cratylia aged 55 days and Stylosanthes at both ages showed the highest “a” fraction values for CP. The highest “b” fraction value for DM was 51.27% for Stylosanthes aged 55 days. This rate was lower for the other leguminous plants, especially for Flemingia at both ages. The “b” fraction values for NDF are considered low for Flemingia, what may be the result of lower ruminal degradation. The highest “c” fraction degradation rate for DM was observed in all leguminous plants studied aged 75 days. The highest “c” fraction value for CP was 14.84% for Stylosanthes aged 75 days. The highest Kd fraction values for DM, NDF, and CP were found in Flemingia. Cratylia, and Stylosanthes aged 75 days presented higher effective degradability (ED) values for DM at 2 and 5%/hour compared to Flemingia at both ages. Cratylia and Stylosanthes had the highest ED values for NDF, regardless of their passage rates. Stylosanthes presented higher ED values for CP at both ages, regardless of its passage rate. The highest DM, NDF, and CP potential degradability (PD) was obtained for Cratylia and Stylosanthes, at both ages. The leguminous plants Cratylia and Stylosanthes can be recommended for use as a protein bank and supplementation for ruminants, whereas, Flemingia macrophylla should not be used as a protein supplement for ruminants, because it contains high levels of fibrous fractions.

Estimation of intestinal protein digestibility of protein supplements for ruminants using a three-step enzymatic in vitro procedure

This study included 33 samples with main focus on unprotected or rumen-protected rapeseed and soybean feedstuffs, which were analysed using an enzymatic in vitro procedure (EIVP) in order to determine intestinal crude protein (CP) digestibility (IPD) of ruminally undegraded CP. The EIVP involved the sequential digestion of samples with a protease from Streptomyces griseus, pepsin-HCl and pancreatin. Briefly, the EIVP started with determination of true protein. Feeds were incubated for 18 h in a buffer solution at a constant ratio (41 U/g) of S. griseus protease activity to feed true protein. The dried residues were incubated in pepsin-HCl solution for 1 h, and residues from this step were incubated in pancreatin solution for 24 h. Results appeared to have lower IPD dimensions than literature data of previous studies. In addition, a negative correlation became apparent between acid detergent fibre and IPD, as well as a positive correlation between CP, true protein and IPD. The EIVP in its current, strictly standardised form can be applied to develop a database that can be used for protein evaluation systems for establishing tabular values of IPD. Nevertheless, future studies may be hindered since sufficient reference values, i.e. in vivo data, are completely missing.

Sulfur sources in protein supplements for ruminants

The present study evaluates the efficiency of different sulfur sources for ruminant nutrition. The fiber digestibility and the amino acid profile were analyzed in the duodenal digesta of crossbred steers fed Brachiaria dictyoneura hay. The sources utilized were elemental sulfur (ES70S), elemental sulfur (ES98S); calcium sulfate in hydrated (HCS), CaSO4.2H2O, and anhydrous (ACS), CaSO4, forms; and ammonium sulfate (AS), (NH4)2SO4, keeping a nitrogen:sulfur ratio of 11:1. The iso-protein supplements had 50% of protein in the total dry matter (DM). Five Holstein × Zebu steers, which were fistulated in the rumen and abomasum, were distributed in a 5 × 5 Latin square. The different sulfur sources in the supplement did not affect any of the evaluated nutritional factors, such as intake of hay dry matter and protein supplement, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (NDFap), organic matter (OM), non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC), ether extract (EE), total digestible nutrients (TDN), NDFap and CP digestibility coefficients, ruminal pH, and ruminal ammonia concentration. The concentrations of amino acids available in the abomasal digesta did not differ significantly in the tested diets. The sulfur sources evaluated in the present study are suitable as supplement for cattle, and their employment may be important to avoid environmental contaminations.

Effects of Temperature during Moist Heat Treatment on Ruminal Degradability and Intestinal Digestibility of Protein and Amino Acids in Hempseed Cake.

The objective of this study was to evaluate ruminal degradability and intestinal digestibility of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) in hempseed cake (HC) that were moist heat treated at different temperatures. Samples of cold-pressed HC were autoclaved for 30 min at 110, 120 or 130°C, and a sample of untreated HC was used as the control. Ruminal degradability of CP was estimated, using the in situ Dacron bag technique; intestinal CP digestibility was estimated for the 16 h in situ residue using a three-step in vitro procedure. AA content was determined for the HC samples (heat treated and untreated) of the intact feed, the 16 h in situ residue and the residue after the three-step procedure. There was a linear increase in RUP (p = 0.001) and intestinal digestibility of RUP (p = 0.003) with increasing temperature during heat treatment. The 130°C treatment increased RUP from 259 to 629 g/kg CP, while intestinal digestibility increased from 176 to 730 g/kg RUP, compared to the control. Hence, the intestinal available dietary CP increased more than eight times. Increasing temperatures during heat treatment resulted in linear decreases in ruminal degradability of total AA (p = 0.006) and individual AA (p<0.05) and an increase in intestinal digestibility that could be explained both by a linear and a quadratic model for total AA and most individual AA (p<0.05). The 130°C treatment decreased ruminal degradability of total AA from 837 to 471 g/kg, while intestinal digestibility increased from 267 to 813 g/kg of rumen undegradable AA, compared with the control. There were differences between ruminal AA degradability and between intestinal AA digestibility within all individual HC treatments (p<0.001). It is concluded that moist heat treatment at 130°C did not overprotect the CP of HC and could be used to shift the site of CP and AA digestion from the rumen to the small intestine. This may increase the value of HC as a protein supplement for ruminants.

Nitrogen Utilization of Cell Mass from Lysine Production in Goats

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate nutritive value of cell mass from lysine production (CMLP) as a protein supplement for ruminants. In each experiment, animals were fed a diet containing 40% of forages and 60% of concentrates, mainly composed of rice straw and ground corn, respectively, to meet the maintenance requirements, and the diets were formulated to supply equal amounts of energy and nitrogen among treatments. In order to investigate the effect of CMLP on ruminal fermentation (Experiment 1), three Korean native goats weighing 26.1±1.4 kg were allotted into individual cages with a 3x3 Latin square design. Each animal was fed one of three protein sources (CMLP, soybean meal (SBM), and urea). Rumen pH, bacterial and fungal counts, volatile fatty acid concentrations and acetate to propionate ratio were not significantly different among treatments. Concentration of propionate, however, was higher in SBM treatment (14.1 mM) than in CMLP (8.7 mM) or urea (9.3 mM) treatments. There was significantly more branch-chain volatile fatty acid production in CMLP (1.9 mM) and SBM (1.8 mM) treatments than in urea (1.3 mM) treatment. The number of protozoa was the highest in urea treatment, followed by CMLP and SBM treatment with significant differences. A metabolic trial (Experiment 2) was conducted to measure in vivo nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention in Korean native goats fed CMLP and SBM. Two heavy (35.0±1.2 kg) and two light (25.0±0.9 kg) Korean native goats, caged individually, were used in this experiment. A heavy and a light animal were paired and supplemented with either CMLP or SBM. The animals fed CMLP showed a trend of lower total tract digestibility in all the nutrients measured; however, there was no statistical significance except for digestibility of ether extract. Nitrogen digestibility of CMLP was estimated to be about 7% units lower than that of SBM. There was a tendency for lower nitrogen retention in CMLP treatment (35.9%) compared to SBM treatment (42.3%). In summary, CMLP can be a good protein source for ruminant animals from nutritional and economic perspectives and may replace some, if not all, of SBM in a diet without losing nitrogen utilization efficiency. Further research is warranted for investigating the effect of CMLP fed with easily fermentable forage and the effective level of CMLP for replacing SBM.

Effect of the tropical tannin-rich shrub legumes Calliandra calothyrsus and Flemingia macrophylla on methane emission and nitrogen and energy balance in growing lambs

The objective of this study was to test whether the use of tannin-rich shrub legume forage is advantageous for methane mitigation and metabolic protein supply at unchanged energy supply when supplemented in combination with tannin-free legumes to sheep. In a 6 × 6 Latin-square design, foliage of two tannin-rich shrub legume species (Calliandra calothyrsus and Flemingia macrophylla) were used to replace either 1/3 or 2/3, respectively, of a herbaceous high-quality legume (Vigna unguiculata) in a diet composed of the tropical grass Brachiaria brizantha and Vigna in a ratio of 0.55 : 0.45. A Brachiaria-only diet served as the negative control. Each experimental period lasted for 28 days, with week 3 serving for balance measurement and data collection inclusive of a 2-day stay of the sheep in open-circuit respiration chambers for measurement of gaseous exchange. While Vigna supplementation improved protein and energy utilisation, the response to the partial replacement with tannin-rich legumes was less clear. The apparent total tract digestibilities of organic matter, NDF and ADF were reduced when the tannin-rich plants partially replaced Vigna, and the dose–response relationships were mainly linear. The tannin-rich plants caused the expected redistribution of more faecal N in relation to urinary N. While Flemingia addition still led to a net body N retention, even when fed at the higher proportion, adding higher amounts of Calliandra resulted in body protein mobilisation in the growing lambs. With respect to energy, supplementation of Vigna alone improved utilisation, while this effect was absent when a tannin-rich plant was added. The inclusion of the tannin-rich plants reduced methane emission per day and per unit of feed and energy intake by up to 24% relative to the Vigna-only-supplemented diet, but this seems to have been mostly the result of a reduced organic matter and fibre digestion. In conclusion, Calliandra seems less apt as protein supplement for ruminants while Flemingia could partially replace a high-quality legume in tropical livestock systems. However, methane mitigation would be small due to associated reductions in N and energy retention.

Stem‐nodulating Sesbania as a potential feed supplement for ruminants

AbstractSesbania rostrata can fix atmospheric nitrogen through both root and stem nodules. Its use as fodder was assessed on 4‐month‐old stem‐inoculated plants grown in the field. The shoots had high crude protein and degradable nitrogen, but low neutral‐detergent and acid‐detergent fibre, lignin, total extractable phenolics and tannins, and extractable condensed tannins. Dry matter and protein degradabilities were high. S. rostrata is a potential protein supplement for ruminants. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd

Composition and degradability of different fractions of Calliandra leaves, pods and seeds

Calliandra leaves, green pods, and seeds were harvested from the central highlands of Kenya. The leaves were collected from coppice shoots and plants of various ages (4 months, 1.5 and 2.5 years). Samples from the 2.5 year-old plants were further separated into top 30 cm, lower 30 cm and mixed leaves. Dry matter (DM), ash, nitrogen, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), minerals, amino acids, flavanols and proanthocyanidins (PAs) were determined. Rumen degradability was measured in situ in sheep and in vitro degradability was measured with mixed rumen microbes in a consecutive batch culture (CBC) system. Calliandra leaves and seeds were rich in crude protein (CP) and had a balanced amino acid profile. The pods had higher NDF and ADF contents than the leaves or seeds, and the older leaves had higher calcium content than young leaves. The leaves contained high concentrations of flavanols and PAs whereas the seeds appeared not to have any detectable flavanols. The in situ rumen DM degradability of leaves was surprisingly high. The mean DM degradation asymptote ( A+ B) for all of the leaves was 781 g/kg. The pods were however less degradable in the rumen than the leaves. Except for the mixed leaves with a rather low average CP degradation of 358 g/kg CP after 48 h of incubation, the CP degradation after 48 h of incubation of the other leaves was relatively high. The average CP degradation for the other leaf fractions was 525 g/kg CP. In contrast to the DM and CP degradation in the rumen, NDF in the leaves increased as a proportion of the DM. However, the NDF gain was lower as the period of incubation increased. The DM degradation of the seeds in vitro was higher ( P < 0.05) than those of the other plant parts. The 4 month-old leaves appeared to be the least degradable among the leaves in vitro. The results showed that Calliandra leaves and seeds harvested from Kenya may have potential as dry season feed and protein supplement for ruminants.

Digestibility of rumen undegradable protein from 40 browse species measured by mobile nylon bag and in vitro techniques

Crude protein concentration and energy value of cereal crop residues and poor quality grasses are below animal requirements during much of the year and browses have been incorporated in the feeding systems to improve the nutritional status of ruminants. Leaves and fruits of leguminous browses can be used as protein supplements for ruminants and are commonly used as foods in many agricultural systems. The new systems of protein evaluation (Agricultural and Food Research Council, 1992; Tamminga et al., 1994) partition food nitrogen into the amount degraded in the rumen and that which escapes ruminal degradation. Protein available for absorption post-ruminally is influenced by the amount of food nitrogen that is resistant to ruminal degradation plus microbial protein (Brown and Pitman, 1991). Several studies have been carried out to assess the digestibility of ruminal escape protein (Hvelplund, 1985; Frydrych, 1992), and the digestibility varies considerably across foods (Krishnamoorthy et al., 1982). Values between 0·80 and 0·85 are adopted for the true digestibility of protein from temperate foods and from microbial amino acids (van Bruchem et ah, 1989). However, no data are available on intestinal digestibility of browses although they have been recognized as good protein supplements. The mobile nylon bag (MNB) method is useful for assessing the digestibility of rumen undegradable food protein in the intestine (de Boer et ah, 1987). Since the MNB is labourious, it was desirable to assess the accuracy with which an in vitro (pepsin/pancreatin) procedure could predict results from the former. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine apparent digestibility of browse rumen undegradable protein using MNB method and pepsin/pancreatin in vitro technique.

Effect of borage meal on nutrient digestibility and performance of ruminants and pigs

Borage meal (BM) is derived from the processing of borage ( Borago officinalis) seeds. A series of experiments was conducted to determine the nutritive value of BM as a protein supplement for ruminants and pigs. In situ ruminal effective crude protein degradability (ECPD) was determined for BM relative to four other protein supplements using two ruminally fistulated cows in a randomized complete block design. The protein supplements used for comparsion purposes included two that are high in rumen degradable protein (soybean (SBM) and canola (CM) meals) and two high in rumen undegradable (corn gluten (CGM) and heated canola (HCM) meals) protein. ECPD of borage meal was intermediate to that of the other four protein supplements studied with the following order observed: SBM > CM > BM > HCM > CGM. Voluntary intake (VI) and apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients and digestible energy (DE) content of barley grain and dehydrated alfalfa based diets containing graded levels of BM (0, 6, 12 and 18%) were determined in a completely randomized design using 16 growing lambs. No effect ( P > 0.05) of BM inclusion rate was observed on VI, nutrient digestibility coefficients and DE values. In two experiments with swine, BM was included at 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40% in grower diets and 0, 6.75, 13.5, 20.25 and 27% in finisher diets. Both rate and efficiency of gain were depressed in a linear fashion ( P < 0.05) as the level of BM in the diet increased. Digestibility coefficients for dry matter, crude protein and gross energy also declined linearly ( P < 0.05) as dietary BM increased. It was concluded that BM has potential as a protein supplement for ruminants. However, results of the pig experiments showed poor performance when BM was included in grower and finisher diets.

Variation in ruminal degradation and intestinal digestion of animal byproduct proteins

In situ and in vitro procedures were used to determine ruminal degradation and intestinal digestion of crude protein (CP) from animal byproducts. Seven samples of meat and bone meal (MBM), hydrolyzed feather meal (HFM), ring dried blood meal (RBM), and batch dried blood meal (BBM) were obtained from various rendering and meat packing plants. Ruminal undegradable CP determined using in situ procedures ranged from 51.3 to 60.8% ( x ̄ = 55.4 ± 1.3% ), 53.6–87.9% ( x ̄ = 73.6 ± 3.8% ), 76.4–86.4% ( x ̄ = 81.0 ± 1.2% ), and 77.6–94.4% ( x ̄ = 84.3 ± 2.1% ), for MBM, HFM, RBM and BBM, respectively. Estimates of intestinal digestion of ruminal undegradable CP, determined using a three-step in vitro procedure, ranged from 40.9 to 70.1% ( x ̄ = 56.0 ± 4.0% ), 59.2–75.2% ( x ̄ = 65.3 ± 2.1% ), 72.0–90.3% ( x ̄ = 79.6 ± 2.5% ) and 28.8–79.2% ( x ̄ = 61.4 ± 6.8% ), for MBM, HFM, RBM, and BBM, respectively. Total intestinally absorbable dietary protein (IADP) was calculated as ruminal undegradable protein multiplied by intestinal digestion of the ruminal undegradable protein fraction. Intestinally absorbable dietary protein ranged from 21.6 to 39.3% ( x ̄ = 31.2 ± 2.7% ), 35.8–59.4% ( x ̄ = 47.6 ± 3.1% ), 57.5–75.2% ( x ̄ = 64.6 ± 2.6% ), and 24.8–62.7% ( x ̄ = 51.3 ± 5.3% ), for MBM, HFM, RBM, and BBM, respectively. Results demonstrate that large variations in ruminal degradation, intestinal digestion and IADP can occur among and within different rendering byproducts. These variations should be considered when determining the quality of animal byproducts as protein supplements for ruminants. Measurements of ruminal degradation and intestinal digestion of CP should be used by manufacturers to guarantee the quality of various batches of byproduct that are produced.

Feather and Hair Meals for Ruminants. II. Comparative Evaluation of Feather and Hair Meals as Protein Supplements

In vitro and in vivo digestion trials and a feedlot performance trial were conducted to compare cottonseed meal (CSM) with feather meal (FM) and hair meal (HM) as protein supplements for ruminants. In vitro rumen studies compared diets with roughage to concentrate ratios (R:C) ranging from 0:100 to 100:0 with similar diets unsupplemented or supplemented with commercial FM, special FM, commercial FM plus urea or commercial HM. Dry matter digestion was in the order of commercial HM > special FM = commercial FM plus urea > commercial FM > control. All protein supplements were utilized to a greater extent at the lower R:C ratios. Ammonia-N concentration suggested FM and HM proteins might not be readily soluble in the rumen. The in vivo digestion trial and performance trial (30 wether and 30 ewe lambs) compared a negative control diet with no added protein with similar diets in which CSM, commercial FM, commercial HM and three differently hydrolyzed turkey feather meals (HTF-A, -B and -C) supplied 50% of the total N in respective diets. Only the wether lambs were slaughtered at the end of the performance trial for evaluation of carcass traits. Protein utilization (digestibility and N retention) ranged in the order: commercial FM > CSM = HM > basal. Data from the performance trial showed that the final weights, live and carcass average daily gains and dressing percentages were higher and feed conversion (kg feed/kg gain) was lower for animals fed HM and HTF-C (hydrolyzed at 3.16 kg/cm2 for 90 min; pepsin digestibility, 78%) diets than for those fed other diets. Feed consumption also favored the HM diet. Costs of gains were lower for the FM and HM diets than for the CSM diet. The study demonstrated that FM and HM (when properly processed) were superior to CSM (per unit of N basis) when fed as the only protein supplement in diets for ruminants.

Sewage-grown algae as a source of supplementary nitrogen for ruminants

SUMMARYA sheep-feeding experiment was carried out to assess the nutritional value of algae meal as a protein supplement in ruminant diets. The algae, mainlyChlorella, were grown in sewage ponds, harvested by flocculation with alumina (Al2(SO4)3.18H2O), and then drum-dried. Eight young rams, divided into two equal groups, were offered a basal concentrated diet, to which algae meal or soya-bean meal (SBM) was added to contribute 50% of the dietary nitrogen (N).The digestibility values of dry matter (D.M.) were 69·3 and 79·3%, and those of organic matter (OM) were 75·3 and 82·2% for the algae diet and the SBM diet, respectively.Nitrogen digestibility of the algae diet was 16% lower than that of the SBM diet and the calculated value of N digestibility in algae meal was 61·7%. However, there was no difference between treatments in the daily amount of retained-N or in the proportion of digested N which was retained in the body.The algae meal contained 5·7% aluminium. This was probably the reason for the much lower P absorption in the algae diet (6·67%) as compared with the SBM diet (29·5%).Ammonia-N concentration was lower and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration was higher in the rumen of the algae diet-fed sheep. However, the VFA profile was similar for both diets.Sewage-grown algae could perhaps be used as a protein supplement for ruminants, provided that the harvesting technology is directed to produce a low-mineral, low-aluminium, young biomass, which would be highly digestible and would not interfere with P absorption.