Feed Prices Soar, As a Great Nutritional Tool is Born

Growing demand for cereals as an energy feedstock has led to a dramatic surge in feed prices over the past year. The amount of grains used for ethanol production, together with a growing global population with higher income levels, translates into a desire for an increased standard of living and a higher demand for milk and meat.

How long will high grain prices last? We don’t know, but in the meantime, we need to feed our animals and stay in business. Remember the old Wall Street adage - “Markets can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent?”

For years, ruminants have been valued for their ability to transform fibrous plant materials and byproducts into high quality milk and meat. Unfortunately, there is an inherent inefficiency in the rumen’s utilization of dietary protein. In a recent review of major advances in dairy nutrition and their relevance to the sustainability of the dairy industry, Normand St.-Pierre and Mike Van de Haar describe the system as being only about 30 percent efficient. That means that only 30 percent of the nitrogen we feed to cows ends up as tissue or in milk protein. The remainder is excreted in feces or urine.

How can we solve this dilemma?

Protein is one of the most expensive nutrients to supplement in the diet. While nutritionists are usually concerned about the effect of protein sources on ration cost, there is a growing appreciation of the cost that occurs with inefficient usage. When we supply more protein than the cow needs, the excess is transformed into urea for excretion. That excretion of urea is energy dependent, thereby reducing the amount of energy available for productive purposes. A more efficient usage of protein results in less nitrogen excreted in manure for every liter of milk produced.

By feeding cows less total protein along with a controlled release, non-protein nitrogen (NPN) product we can increase the efficiency of the rumen function. The cow can capture more nitrogen as microbial protein, better provide for the amino acid requirements and digest more fibrous plant materials, which is the cheapest ingredient on your farm.

Urea is an inexpensive source of NPN commonly used in ruminant diets, but it is often released too rapidly in the rumen, which can cause ammonia toxicity. Urea feeding rates for lactating cows exceeding 100 g/hd/day are generally considered risky. In theory, high amounts of urea could be used for microbial protein production if the nitrogen release rates were matched to usage by the rumen. This controlled-release source of nitrogen, enables better fiber fermentation and increases microbial growth. More ruminal bacteria means there is more microbial protein available to build tissue and produce milk.

While there are a variety of options available to producers, it is important to match the feeding requirements of your animals with their production potential. In order for the rumen to function at its maximum, it needs a constant, steady supply of NPN.

For more information, contact Stacy Andersen at 717-393-9545 or sandersen@alltech.com

--------------- Stacy Andersen, Alltech, NE Marketing Coordinator