Potential protein degradation balance and total metabolizable protein supply to dairy cows from heat‐treated faba beans

The effects of pressure toasting (100, 118 and 136 °C for 3, 7, 15 and 30 min) on potential protein nutritional value of faba beans were evaluated with the NRC 2001 dairy model, by determining undegraded (RUP) and degraded rumen protein (RDP), undegraded (RUST) and degraded rumen starch (RDST), truly absorbed undegraded protein (ARUP), microbial protein (MCP_RDP) synthesized in the rumen from rumen‐available protein, truly absorbed rumen synthesized microbial protein (AMCP), truly absorbed rumen endogenous protein (AECP), total metabolizable protein (MP) in the small intestine, and the protein degradation balance (PDB). The treatments increased RUP, RUST, ARUP and MP (p < 0.001), and decreased RDP, RDST, MCP_RDP and PDB (p < 0.001), the effects increasing with increasing temperature and time. The treatments increased (p < 0.001) ARUP without affecting AECP and AMCP, so that the net absorbable total MP in the small intestine was increased. The PDB was reduced (p < 0.001) but never became negative. These results indicated that potential microbial protein synthesis would not be impaired due to sufficient nitrogen in the rumen, but the high positive PDB values with most treatments, except 136 °C for 15 min (PDB 2.0 g kg^?1 DM) indicated that there were large potential losses of nitrogen in the rumen, particularly for the control with a value of 88.9 g kg^?1 dry matter. It is concluded that predicted potential protein degradation balance and total metabolizable protein supply from faba beans were improved by the treatments. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry