Effect of ruminal protein degradation of blood meal and feather meal on the intestinal amino acid supply to lactating cows

Four lactating cows fitted with ruminal cannulae and T-type cannulae in the proximal duodenum and terminal ileum were utilized to measure protein degradation in the rumen and amino acid flow to and absorption from the small intestine. Soybean meal, blood meal, feather meal, and a 50-50 combination of blood meal and feather meal provided 50% of the protein in diets that contained 50% grain mix, 40% corn silage, and 10% alfalfa pellets on a DM basis. Ruminal degradation of dietary CP was 53, 43, 32, and 37% for diets containing soybean meal, blood meal, feather meal, and the combination of meals. Cows fed the latter two diets also had lower ruminal NH3 concentrations and efficiency of bacterial protein synthesis compared to those fed the soybean meal diet. Total tract N digestibility was lower for diets containing feather meal (63.4%) and a combination of meals (66.3%) than the soybean meal diet (78.5%). Total amino acid flow to the duodenum was 19.3 and 15.6% higher for cows fed the feather meal and combined meal diets, respectively, compared with the soybean meal diet. Total amino acid absorption from the small intestine was higher as well as absorption of individual amino acids for the combined meal diet compared with the soybean meal diet. Absorption of individual amino acids, expressed as a percentage entering the duodenum, was lowest for the feather meal diet. Results from this study show that feeding a combination of blood meal and feather meal instead of soybean meal can increase intestinal supply and absorption of amino acids in dairy cattle.     

Dehydrated Alfalfa in Dairy Cow Diets

The objective of Experiment 1 was to determine protein degradation in the rumen and amino acid supply to and absorption of amino acids from the intestine of lactating dairy cows receiving supplements of soybean meal or a combination of dehydrated alfalfa and corn gluten meal. Four lactating Holstein cows, fitted with ruminal, duodenal, and ileal cannulae, were used in a switchback experiment. Two diets consisting of 50% corn silage and 50% concentrate were fed. One diet contained soybean meal and the other contained a mixture of dehydrated alfalfa and corn gluten meal. It was estimated that 76% of the dietary protein was degraded in the rumen with the soybean meal diet compared with 62% with the dehydrated alfalfa:gluten meal diet. Flow of total amino acids to the duodenum was 13% higher for the dehydrated alfalfa:gluten meal than for the soybean meal diet.Experiment 2 consisted of two trials. The objective of Trial 1 was to measure rumen fermentation products in lactating dairy cows fed diets where dehydrated alfalfa, with or without urea, replaced 40% of the concentrate. The objective of Trial 2 was to measure milk production, milk composition, and plasma amino acids of dairy cows in early lactation fed the same diets as in Trial 1. Milk production was 34.7, 33.4, and 32.8 kg/d and milk fat was 3.48, 3.58, and 3.63% for the three diets, control, dehydrated alfalfa, and dehydrated alfalfa with urea.     

Effects of source and amount of protein on ruminal fermentation and passage of nutrients to the small intestine of lactating cows

Four Holstein cows fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square to investigate the effects of source (corn gluten meal or soybean meal) and amount (14.5 or 11.0%) of CP on ruminal fermentation, passage of nutrients to the small intestine, and animal performance. Cows wee fed for ad libitum intake a diet of 60% corn silage and 40% concentrate on a DM basis. The treatments, arranged in a 2 x 2 (source x amount of CP) factorial, were 1) 14.5% CP, soybean meal; 2) 11.0% CP, soybean meal; 3) 14.5% CP, corn gluten meal; and 4) 11.0% CP, corn gluten meal. Digestion in the rumen of OM, starch, ADF, and NDF was not affected by source or amount of CP in the diet. Total VFA and NH3 concentrations in ruminal fluid were increased by feeding diets that contained 14.5% CP or soybean meal. FLows of non-NH3 N and amino acids to the duodenum were greater in cows fed the 14.5% CP diets because of a greater flow of non-NH3 nonmicrobial N to the duodenum. Larger amounts of lysine passed to the duodenum when cows were fed soybean meal compared with corn gluten meal. Microbial N flow to the duodenum and efficiency of microbial growth were not affected by treatments, suggesting that ruminal NH3 concentration was not limiting for maximal microbial protein synthesis. Feeding 14.5% CP diets increased the production of milk (29.5 vs. 26.8 kg/d) and milk protein compared with 11.0% CP diets, possibly because of greater passage of amino acids to the small intestine. Feeding soybean meal to cows increased production of milk protein compared with feeding corn gluten meal, possibly because more lysine passed to the small intestine.     

Influence of nonprotein nitrogen and protein of low rumen degradability on nitrogen flow and utilization in lactating dairy cows

Four lactating cows, each fitted with a rumen cannula and duodenal and ileal t-cannulae, were used to measure flow and digestion of nitrogenous compounds in the digestive tract. Dietary dry matter contained 17% crude protein and 50:50 forage:concentrate. Treatments were: 1) corn silage-soybean meal; 2) corn silage-heated soybean meal; 3) ammonia-treated corn silage-soybean meal; and 4) ammonia-treated corn silage-heated soybean meal. Flow of organic matter to the duodenum was overestimated when lanthanum or chromium ethylene-diaminetetraacetate was used as an indigestible marker. This resulted in low estimates of ruminal digestion of organic matter and high estimates of nitrogen flow to the duodenum. However, calculations using lanthanum or lignin as markers yielded similar organic matter flow to ileum and feces. With acid-detergent lignin as a marker, estimates of dietary nitrogen degraded in the rumen were: corn silage-heated soybean meal, 55.0% ammonia-treated corn silage-heated soybean meal, 58.8%; ammonia-treated corn silage-soybean meal, 63.3%; and corn silage-soybean meal, 66.0%. Digestion in the small intestine of nonammonia nitrogen was equal for all treatments suggesting that availability of heated soybean meal in the intestine was not different, although ruminal degradability tended to be lower. Feeding diets containing nonprotein nitrogen did not decrease available nitrogen at the duodenum.     

Conjugated linoleic acid content of milk and cheese from cows fed extruded oilseeds

Extruded oilseeds were fed to 24 dairy cows to study the influence on the conjugated linoleic acid content of milk and cheese. Cows were fed one of three diets that contained forage and grain in a ratio of 47:53. A control diet containing 13.5% soybean meal was compared with diets containing 12% full fat extruded soybeans or 12% full fat extruded cottonseed. The control, extruded soybean, and extruded cottonseed diets contained 2.73, 4.89, and 4.56% fatty acids, respectively. Measurements were made during the last 5 wk of the 8-wk experiment. The DM intakes and 3.5% fat-corrected milk yields were higher for cows fed the extruded soybean and extruded cottonseed diets than for cows fed the control diet. A tendency for lower fat and protein contents in the milk of cows fed the extruded soybean and extruded cottonseed diets was detected. Most of the C18 fatty acids were increased in the milk and cheese when extruded soybeans and cottonseeds were fed. The conjugated linoleic acid content in milk and cheese increased a mean of 109% when full fat extruded soybeans were fed and increased 77% when cottonseeds were fed compared with the conjugated linoleic acid content when the control diet was fed. Processing the milk into cheese did not alter the conjugated linoleic acid content. The conjugated linoleic acid content of milk and cheese can be increased by the inclusion of full fat extruded soybeans and full fat extruded cottonseeds in the diets of dairy cows.     

Effect of dietary soybean meal and fish meal on protein digesta flow in Holstein cows during early and midlactation

Six lactating cows were fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannula to measure protein digesta flow to the duodenum during early and midlactation. Diets were composed of corn grain, corn silage, and orchardgrass hay plus supplemental fish meal or soybean meal. Diets contained 15.5% CP and 20.7 ADF. Cobalt-EDTA and Yb were used as liquid and particulate digesta markers and cytosine was used as microbial marker. Corrected organic matter digestibilities in the stomachs were 48.4, 49.8, 44.9, and 53.2% for fish meal and soybean meal diets and early and midlactation, respectively. Preduodenal degradabilities were 47.2, 65.8, 56.7, and 56.2% for fish meal and soybean meal diets and early and midlactation, respectively. Nitrogen recoveries at the duodenum were 93.2 and 84.3% for fish meal and soybean meal diets. Intake of amino acids was greater when cows were fed the soybean meal diet, but total flows of amino acids to the duodenum were similar for both diets. Greater quantity of protein escaping ruminal degradation in cows fed fish meal compared with soybean meal was counterbalanced by less microbial synthesis in the rumen.     

Effects of source of protein and carbohydrate on ruminal fermentation and passage of nutrients to the small intestine of lactating cows

Four early lactation multiparous Holstein cows were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square to investigate the effects of source of protein (fish meal or soybean meal) and carbohydrate (corn or barley) on ruminal fermentation, flow of nutrients to the small intestine, and animal performance. The treatments, arranged in a 2 x 2 (protein x carbohydrate) factorial were: 1) corn plus soybean meal; 2) corn plus fish meal; 3) barley plus soybean meal; and 4) barley plus fish meal. Dry matter and starch intakes were greater when corn was fed than when barley was fed. Barley-based diets were more extensively degraded in the rumen than corn-based diets and therefore provided more energy for microbial growth. However, passage of amino acids and starch to the duodenum was greater for corn-based diets than barley-based diets, because of the greater intake and lower ruminal degradability of the corn-based diets. Microbial protein constituted a larger portion of the total N and had a greater influence on the pattern and quantity of amino acids that passed to the duodenum than did protein from fish meal or soybean meal, which escaped ruminal degradation. Feeding corn-based diets increased production of milk and milk protein compared with feeding barley-based diets.     

Effect of high-oleic-acid soybeans on production performance,milk fatty acid composition,and enteric methane emission in dairy cows

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of 3 soybean sources differing in fatty acid profile and processing method on productivity, milk composition, digestibility, rumen fermentation, and enteric methane emission in lactating dairy cows. The soybean sources were conventional, high-linoleic-acid variety extruded soybean meal (ESBM; 8.7% ether extract with 15% oleic and 54% linoleic acids); extruded Plenish (DuPont Pioneer, Johnston, IA), high-oleic-acid variety soybean meal (EPSBM; 8.4% ether extract with 73% oleic and 8% linoleic acids); and whole, heated Plenish soybeans (WPSB; 20.2% ether extract). The study involved 15 Holstein cows in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design experiment with three 28-d periods. The inclusion rate of the soybean sources in the diet was (dry matter basis) 17.1, 17.1, and 7.4% for ESBM, EPSBM, and WPSB, respectively, which resulted in ether extract concentration of the diets of 3.99, 3.94, and 4.18%, respectively. Compared with ESBM, the Plenish diets tended to increase dry matter intake and decreased feed efficiency (but had no effect on energy-corrected milk feed efficiency). The Plenish diets increased milk fat concentration on average by 5.6% and tended to increase milk fat yield, compared with ESBM. The WPSB diet tended to increased milk true protein compared with the extruded soybean meal diets. Treatments had no effect on rumen fermentation and enteric methane or carbon dioxide emissions, except pH was higher for WPSB versus EPSBM. The Plenish diets decreased the prevalence of Ruminococcus and increased that of Eubacterium and Treponema in whole ruminal contents. Total-tract apparent digestibility of organic matter and crude protein were decreased by WPSB compared with ESBM and EPSBM. Compared with the other treatments, urinary N excretion was increased by EPSBM and fecal N excretion was greater for WPSB. Treatments had marked effects on milk fatty acid profile. Generally, the Plenish diets increased mono-unsaturated (mostly cis-9 18:1) and decreased polyunsaturated, total trans-, and conjugated linoleic fatty acids concentrations in milk fat. In this study, compared with conventional, high-linoleic-acid variety extruded soybean meal, the Plenish soybean diets increased milk fat concentration and tended to increase fat yield, decreased feed efficiency, and modified milk fatty acid profile in a manner expected from the greater concentration of oleic acid in Plenish soybean oil.     

Relative value of solvent and expeller soybean meal for lactating dairy cows

Nitrogen solubility and enzymatic and rumen in vitro degradabilities indicated protein from expeller soybean meal was more resistant to ruminal degradation than that from solvent soybean meal. This was confirmed in Trial 1 by reduced rumen ammonia and branched-chain volatile fatty acids, and by 64% more supplemental protein escaping the rumen when cows were fed expeller soybean meal. In Trial 2, rations supplemented with either solvent or expeller soybean meal, averaging 16.4% protein, were fed to 12 cows in a crossover study. Production averaged 35.3 kg/d but was not influenced by diet. A small but significant improvement in milk to feed ratio occurred with expeller soybean meal. In Trial 3, four sources of protein were fed to 20 cows in a 4 X 4 Latin square: 6.3% solvent, 4.1% expeller (plus .3% urea), 10.0% solvent, or 6.6% expeller soybean meal. Production of milk and milk components was similar on the diets containing 6.3 and 6.6% soybean meal, intermediate on 10.0% solvent, and least on the expeller-urea diet. Milk to feed was equal and greatest on diets containing 6.6% expeller and 10.0% solvent soybean meal, indicating comparable utilization of the expeller diet containing only 60% as much supplemental protein.     

Extruded Soybeans and Corn Gluten Meal as Supplemental Protein Sources for Lactating Dairy Cattle

Holstein cows in early lactation were used to compare three combinations of extruded whole soybeans and corn gluten meal to soybean meal. Treatments were (as a percentage of supplemental crude protein) 100% soybean meal; 75% whole soybeans extruded at 149°C, 25% corn gluten meal; 50% extruded soybeans, 50% corn gluten meal; and 25% extruded soybeans, 75% corn gluten meal. Diets were formulated to be 37.5% corn silage, 12.5% alfalfa cubes, and 50% concentrate (dry matter). Dietary crude protein was 15.7% of dry matter, and supplemental protein sources supplied 27% of total dietary protein. Diets were fed as total mixed rations and data were collected from 4 to 116 d postpartum.Milk and fat-corrected milk yields ranged from 31.0 to 34.3 and from 29.3 to 33.3 kg/d, respectively, and were greater for cows fed soybean meal than those cows fed 75 or 50% of their supplemental protein as extruded soybeans. Milk yield of cows consuming 75% of their supplemental protein from corn gluten meal was similar to all other treatments. Ruminal ammonia concentrations were lower in cows fed extruded soybeans and corn gluten meal compared with those fed soybean meal and ranged from 9.1 to 12.4mg/100 ml. Total volatile fatty acid concentration and pH did not differ among treatments. Combinations of extruded soybeans and corn gluten meal were not advantageous compared with soybean meal as a supplemental protein source for lactating cows in this experiment.     

Amino acids in plasma and duodenal digesta and plasma growth hormone in cows fed varying amounts of protein of differing degradability

Eighty-four Holstein cows in early lactation fed diets varying in protein percent (11, 14, and 17% crude protein) and degradability in the rumen (normal and heated soybean meal) were sampled for effects on amino acids and growth hormone in blood plasma, and amino acid profiles in the duodenal digesta. Essential and branched chain amino acids in plasma increased as protein and amount of protected protein in the diet increased. These changes were accompanied by decreased concentrations of nonessential amino acids. Plasma growth hormone was highest at low protein (11.3%) probably because of decreased intakes on this diet. Molar percentages of amino acids in duodenal contents were not affected by diet suggesting that our heat-treated soybean meal influenced quantity more than quality of amino acids available for absorption in the small intestines.     

Feeding heat-treated full fat soybeans to cows in early lactation.

Forty-six multiparous Holstein cows were fed one of three total mixed diets from 15 to 119 d postpartum with alfalfa silage as the only forage. Each diet contained 50% forage and 50% concentrate on a DM basis. Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous by replacing corn and solvent soybean meal with raw soybeans or heat-treated soybeans. The proportion of protein supplement in the diet on a DM basis was 10% soybean meal, 13% raw soybeans, or 13% heat-treated soybeans. The soybeans were heat-treated to maximize the amount of available lysine passing to the small intestine. The soybean meal diet was fed to all cows during wk 1 and 2 postpartum for covariate adjustment of DMI and milk production. Intake of DM was similar across treatments. Feeding heat-treated soybeans supported more milk (4.5 kg/d), 3.5% FCM (4.0 kg/d), and milk protein (.09 kg/d) than soybean meal or raw soybeans. Milk fat percentage was not altered by treatments. However, milk protein percentage was depressed in cows fed heat-treated soybeans compared with soybean meal (2.85 vs. 2.99%, respectively). Milk production response of cows fed properly heat-treated soybeans compared with soybean meal with alfalfa silage as the sole forage is thought to be related primarily to improved supply of undegraded intake protein.     

Influence of synchronizing protein and starch degradation in the rumen on nutrient utilization and microbial protein synthesis

A 4 x 4 Latin square design with four multiparous cows in midlactation fitted with duodenal cannulae was used to determine the effect of synchronization of protein and starch degradation in the rumen on nutrient availability in lactating cows. As major starch and protein sources, diets contained: barley plus cottonseed meal; barley plus brewers dried grains; milo plus cottonseed meal; and milo plus brewers dried grains. Experimental periods were 12 d and consisted of 8 d adjustment and 4 d collection. Chromium oxide was used as the marker to determine digestibility and nutrient flow from the rumen. Microbial protein synthesis was estimated from nucleic acid content in duodenal samples. Apparent and corrected rumen digestibilities of DM, organic matter, CP, and starch were higher for diets containing barley than milo but were not affected by protein source. For diets containing barley and milo, starch digested postruminally averaged 820 and 2190 g/d and percentage digestibility was 70 and 77%. No difference among diets was found in DM, organic matter, and CP flow to the small intestine; however, microbial N synthesis was higher in diets containing barley than in diets containing milo.     

Influence of Jet-Sploding and extrusion on ruminal and intestinal disappearance of canola and soybeans

In situ rumen degradation and intestinal digestibility of DM and CP of Jet-Sploded and extruded protein sources were estimated, using two ruminally and duodenally cannulated lactating Holstein cows, in two experiments. One-gram samples of ground (1 mm) whole canola seed, canola meal, extruded canola meal, Jet-Sploded whole canola seed, Protec, soybean meal and extruded soybean meal (Experiment 1), and whole canola seed Jet-Sploded at temperatures ranging from 116 to 177 degrees C (Experiment 2) were heat sealed into small nylon bags for incubation in the rumen and insertion into the duodenum. Extrusion had no effect on DM or CP disappearance in the rumen nor on effective degradability. Jet-Sploding of whole canola seed dramatically reduced effective degradability (%) of DM (80.5 vs 35.9 at .08 h-1 rumen outflow rate) and CP (83.5 vs. 43.2 at .08 h-1). Total tract disappearance of DM and CP exceeded 90% for all protein sources, except Protec and Jet-Sploded material. Jet-Sploding appears to have potential for decreasing ruminal degradation of canola protein or DM without markedly decreasing intestinal digestibility.     

Effects of calcium salts of fatty acids and protein source on ruminal fermentation and nutrient flow to duodenum of cows.

Four Holstein cows fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square to investigate the effects of calcium salts of long-chain fatty acids (fat) and source of protein (fish meal or soybean meal) on ruminal fermentation, flow of nutrients to the small intestine, and animal performance. Cows were fed for ad libitum intake a diet of 30% alfalfa haylage, 20% corn silage, and 50% concentrate on a DM basis. Treatments, arranged in a 2 x 2 (fat x protein) factorial, were 1) soybean meal, no fat; 2) soybean meal, fat; 3) fish meal, no fat; and 4) fish meal, fat. Intake of DM was not affected by fat or protein source, but feeding fat decreased the amount of OM truly digested in the rumen. Starch intake was decreased, but flow of starch to the duodenum was not altered by feeding fat. Nonammonia N and microbial N flows to the duodenum were not affected by treatment comparisons. However, efficiency of microbial growth was increased by feeding fat, but not by source of protein. Passage of amino acids to the duodenum was not affected by source of protein, probably because fish meal contributed only 17% of the total dietary CP, and microbial N constituted about 50% of the NAN passing to the duodenum; this had an equalizing effect on the pattern and quantity of amino acids that passed to the duodenum. Feeding fat or different sources of protein did not alter milk production. Milk fat percentage was increased, and protein percentage was decreased when fat was fed, but yields of milk fat and protein were not different.     

Feeding Lactating Dairy Cows Proteins Resistant to Ruminal Degradation

Sixty multiprious Holstein cows were fed treatment diets from 11 to 40 d postpartum with corn silage as the forage. Treatment diets each contained a different supplemental protein: 1) solvent soybean meal; 2) extruded soy product; 3) combination of corn gluten meal and distillers dried grains with solubles; and 4) a combination of protein sources from diets 2 and 3. Covariate adjusted means for milk (kg/d) and milk fat (%) for treatments 1 through 4 were 37.5, 3.14; 38.5, 3.19; 31.8, 3.45; and 35.2, 3.08. Milk protein content and DM intake were greatest for cows fed diet 1.In a second trial, 105 multiparous Holstein cows 13 d postpartum were placed on 7 treatment diets for 60 d. Treatments 1 to 5 contained equal amounts of corn silage and alfalfa silage as forage sources and contained either: 1) solvent soybean meal; 2) roasted soybean meal; 3) roasted soybeans; 4) roasted soybeans and urea; or 5) a mixture of corn distillers dried grains and corn gluten meal. Treatments 6 and 7 had alfalfa silage as the forage source and either 6) solvent soybean meal or 7) roasted soybeans as the supplemental protein. Feeding roasted soybeans with the alfalfa silage-based diets increased milk 2.0 kg/d, 4% FCM 4.6 kg/d, and fat .23 kg/d when compared with solvent soybean meal. Milk protein production was depressed by feeding a combination of distillers dried grains and corn gluten meal when compared with feeding diets containing soybean sources with the corn silage-alfalfa silage diets. Resistant protein sources may have greater value with diets containing alfalfa silage than with diets containing corn silage.     

Influence of dietary protein sources on the amino acid profiles available for digestion and metabolism in lactating cows

Six lactating Holstein cows, fitted with T-type cannulas in the proximal duodenum, were used in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square design to determine influence of supplemental protein on amino acid profiles of duodenal chyme and plasma. Protein sources were blood meal, corn gluten meal, and cottonseed meal, which furnished approximately 46% of the total protein in corn-grain corn silage diets. Markers were 15N to estimate rumen bacteria and chromic oxide to estimate nutrient flow. Dry matter intake was lowest on blood meal. Duodenal flow of N exceeded N intake 23% on blood meal and corn gluten meal. Percentages of organic matter and protein digested in the rumen were 56.5, 41.8; 61.2, 53.4; and 50.6, 56.2 for the respective diets. Variation in patterns of amino acids flowing to the duodenum, but not in coccygeal blood, closely reflected dietary differences with six of eight essential amino acids highest for the same treatment in both diet and duodenal chyme. Essential amino acids in least abundance for milk production, measured by mammary extraction coefficients, differed among diets. We conclude that supplemental protein source influences greatly the quantity and pattern of amino acids available for digestion in lactating dairy cows.     

Ruminal degradation of dried brewers grains, wet brewers grains, and soybean meal

A series of trials was conducted to determine the ruminal degradation of nitrogenous compounds and dry matter of soybean meal, wet brewers grains, and dried brewers grains. In situ and in vitro estimates of degradation were positively correlated but yielded different absolute values for measures of ruminal degradation. Ruminal digestion of protein, predicted from in situ data, was 42, 73, and 83% for brewers dried grains, brewers wet grains, and soybean meal. Drying of wet grains at either 50 or 150 degrees C increased resistance to ruminal digestion equally. Measurements of flow of dry matter and nitrogen of feed origin to the duodenum were made in vivo for diets containing either brewers dried grains or soybean meal. Negative apparent digestibility of nitrogen in the rumen for a 13% crude protein, brewers dried grains ration indicates the potential for using a non-protein nitrogen supplement with this ration. Resistance to digestion of nitrogen from brewers dried grains occurred only in the rumen. Amino acid patterns delivered to the small intestine and digestion of duodenal contents were similar for diets containing brewers dried grains or soybean meal.     

Quantitative and qualitative changes in endogenous nitrogen components along the small intestine of the calf

The aim of this study was to investigate the quantitative and qualitative changes in endogenous protein components along the calf's small intestine. A protein‐free diet and three milk substitutes based on skim milk powder and differing in their protein level (100, 200 and 280 g kg⁻¹ respectively) were prepared. Duodenal, jejunal and ileal digesta were collected through simple cannulae. The flow of non‐specific endogenous amino acids (AAs) determined with the protein‐free diet was 8, 13 and 12 g kg⁻¹ of dry matter intake in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum respectively. The flow of endogenous amino acids in digesta from calves fed diets containing protein was determined using multiple linear regression analysis. It was higher than the non‐specific flow at the duodenum and jejunum owing to additional specific endogenous components. At the ileum, milk proteins were completely digested and the flow of total AAs assayed was equal to the non‐specific flow. Seventy per cent of protein flowing at the jejunum was apparently reabsorbed before the terminal ileum. Endogenous protein at the duodenum resembled a theoretical mixture of proteins from saliva, gastric and pancreatic juices (140, 270 and 590 g kg⁻¹ respectively). Ileal protein losses corresponded to a mixture of proteins from the host and gut bacteria in a 50:50 ratio. By contrast, no theoretical mixture of reference proteins fitted the AA composition of jejunal endogenous protein. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Feeding fish meal and extruded soybeans enhances the conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content of milk

Twelve multiparous Holstein cows averaging 65 (33 to 122) DIM were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square for 4-wk periods to determine whether feeding fish oil as fish meal would stimulate increased amounts of milk conjugated linoleic acid (cis-9, trans-11 C18:2; CLA) and transvaccenic acid (trans-11 C18:1; TVA) when the cows were fed extruded soybeans to supply additional linoleic acid. Treatment diets were 1) control; 2) 0.5% fish oil from fish meal; 3) 2.5% soybean oil from extruded soybeans; and 4) 0.5% fish oil from fish meal and 2% soybean oil from extruded soybeans. Diets were formulated to contain 18% crude protein and were composed (dry basis) of 50% concentrate mix, 25% corn silage, and 25% alfalfa hay. Intake of DM was not affected by diet. Milk production was increased by diets 2, 3, and 4 compared with diet 1 (control). Milk fat and milk protein percentages decreased with diets 3 and 4. Milk fat yield was not affected by treatments, but yield of milk protein was increased with supplemental fish meal and extruded soybeans or their blend. When diets 2, 3, or 4 were fed, concentrations of cis-9, trans-11 CLA in milk fat increased by 0.4-, 1.4-, and 3.2-fold, and TVA concentrations in milk fat increased by 0.4-, 1.8-, and 3.5-fold compared with the control milk fat. Increases in TVA and cis-9, trans-11 CLA were 91 to 109% greater when a blend of fish meal and extruded soybeans was fed than the additive effect of fish meal and extruded soybeans. This suggested that fish oil increased the production of CLA and TVA from other dietary sources of linoleic acid such as extruded soybeans.