Increasing the amount of protein in a cow’s diet is an important aspect of animal nutrition. However, if you don’t know how much protein your cow needs, it’s easy to overfeed. If you’re looking for a high-protein feed for your cow, here are some tips. Increasing the amount of protein in a cow’s diet can help the cow achieve a healthy weight. Increasing protein in a cow’s diet can help reduce the risk of degenerative disease and increase the cow’s overall performance.
Alternatives to high-protein cow feed
When considering alternative feeds, keep in mind that these may be high in fibre and protein, but they may also be low in energy and dry matter. Considering these factors, feed testing can help producers decide which alternative feed is best for their cattle. For example, you should consult a livestock nutritionist to determine the exact levels of minerals and vitamins in alternative feed. For a balanced ration, alternative feeds can be incorporated into the feed.
The following table summarizes the nutrient content of some alternative feeds. Keep in mind that these values are representative of average samples and are not necessarily indicative of nutrient content in individual samples. Consequently, producers should consider conducting feed tests on the feeds they are considering to ensure that they are providing safe and nutritious nutrition. If possible, consult your county Extension agent or local feed store for details. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your cattle are receiving a high-quality diet that is also good for the environment.
Other alternative feeds may be cheaper and are better suited for certain situations. High-RUP soy meal and fish meal are both economical alternatives. But these two ingredients may contain a lower RUP and lower quality protein. Also, they contain low levels of methionine and tryptophan. For those who are concerned about the environment, you should avoid rumen-protected amino acids. These alternative feeds are recommended for cattle that have low-quality roughage.
Quality of ruminally degraded protein
There have been numerous reports on the degradability of CP in high-protein cow feed. They evaluated the characteristics of crude protein and DM degradability in the rumen and lower digestive tract. CP degradation rates are influenced by several factors, including the feed ingredient, temperature and rumen fluid quality. CP degradation rates may vary significantly for different ingredients, and the degradability of the feed component should be considered when preparing the formulation.
The degradation rate of protein feed ingredients was different from that of energy feed ingredients. The degradation rate of RSM and SBM was highest after 12 hours of incubation. The degradation rate and potential degradation rate of SBM and DDGs were similar among the three feed ingredients. However, the degradability of RSM and SBM was lower than those of RSM and DDG.
DM and CP disappearance rates were higher in urea-treated rice straw than in untreated straw. Higher rumen NH3-N levels were correlated with higher DM and CP degradability. This indicated that rice straw and urea-treated rice straw could be used for rumen fermentation. The results of the study also indicated that the rumen environment could affect the degradability of DM and CP in cattle.
Cost of supplemental protein
Supplemental protein in high-protein cow feed can increase a cattle’s TDN by 2 pounds per day. Supplemental protein in high-protein feed is an effective method to boost the animal’s production. However, it requires additional effort and time. The cost per unit value is based on prices that are common in the region. The price per unit value does not account for bypass proteins. Besides, bypass protein can be absorbed in the rumen later.
In Western U.S., forages can fulfill a significant portion of the protein requirements of the animals. However, forages may be insufficient when low-quality feedstuffs are used. In order to increase protein content in the diets at low prices, distillers grains are used. The price of distillers grains is similar to those of corn. In fact, soybean meal prices averaged nearly 50 percent lower than those of corn.
The price of supplemental protein in high-protein cow feed depends on how much of it is added in the diet. Protein liquids contain about 30-40 percent of the CP. However, they are not ideal for high-protein cow feeds because their physical structure limits the amount of protein consumed per animal. These supplements are typically intended to supplement low-protein medium-energy forages. While they are effective in increasing cow growth, they generally do not support the higher performance levels of cattle.
