Impact of microbial efficiency to predict MP supply when estimating protein requirements of growing beef cattle from performance.

Data from 16 trials were compiled to calculate microbial CP (MCP) production and MP requirements of growing cattle on high-forage diets. All cattle were individually fed diets with 28% to 72% corn cobs in addition to either alfalfa, corn silage, or sorghum silage at 18% to 60% of the diet (DM basis). The remainder of the diet consisted of protein supplement. Source of protein within the supplement varied and included urea, blood meal, corn gluten meal, dry distillers grains, feather meal, meat and bone meal, poultry by-product meal, soybean meal, and wet distillers grains. All trials included a urea-only treatment. Intake of all cattle within an experiment was held constant, as a percentage of BW, established by the urea-supplemented group. In each trial the base diet (forage and urea supplement) was MP deficient. Treatments consisted of increasing amounts of test protein replacing the urea supplement. As protein in the diet increased, ADG plateaued. Among experiments, ADG ranged from 0.11 to 0.73 kg. Three methods of calculating microbial efficiency were used to determine MP supply. Gain was then regressed against calculated MP supply to determine MP requirement for maintenance and gain. Method 1 (based on a constant 13% microbial efficiency as used by the beef NRC model) predicted an MP maintenance requirement of 3.8 g/kg BW and 385 g MP/kg gain. Method 2 calculated microbial efficiency using low-quality forage diets and predicted MP requirements of 3.2 g/kg BW for maintenance and 448 g/kg for gain. Method 3 (based on an equation predicting MCP yield from TDN intake, proposed by the Beef Cattle Nutrient Requirements Model [BCNRM]) predicted MP requirements of 3.1 g/kg BW for maintenance and 342 g/kg for gain. The factorial method of calculating MP maintenance requirements accounts for scurf, endogenous urinary, and metabolic fecal protein losses and averaged 4.2 g/kg BW. Cattle performance data demonstrate formulating diets to meet the beef NRC model recommended MP maintenance requirement (3.8 g/kg S) works well when using 13% microbial efficiency. Therefore, a change in how microbial efficiency is calculated necessitates a change in the proposed MP maintenance requirement to not oversupply or undersupply RUP. Using the 2016 BCNRM to predict MCP production and formulate diets to meet MP requirements also requires changing the MP maintenance requirement to 3.1 g/kg BW.

Manure nutrient excretion by Jersey and Holstein cows.

The objective of this study was to evaluate feces, urine, and N excretion by Jersey and Holstein cows. Sixteen multiparous cows (n=8 per breed) were fed 2 experimental rations at calving in a switchback experimental design. Diets were 50% forage and based on corn meal (control) or whole cottonseed. Half the cows in each breed started on the control diet and half started on the whole cottonseed diet. Cows were switched to the other diet at 60 d in milk and switched back to their original diet at 165 d in milk. Pairs of cows were moved into open-circuit respiration chambers on d 49, 154, and 271 of lactation for 7-d measurement periods. While in the chambers, total collection of feed refusals, milk, recovered hair, feces, and urine was conducted. No effect of the interaction of diet and breed was observed for measures of nutrient digestibility and manure excretion. Total daily manure excretion was lower in Jersey cows than in Holstein cows, with reductions generally proportional to changes in feed intake. Jersey cows consumed 29% less feed and excreted 33% less wet feces and 28% less urine than Holstein cows. Intake, fecal, and urinary N were reduced by 29, 33, and 24%, respectively, in Jersey cows compared with Holstein cows. Equations from American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers underpredicted observed values for all manure measures evaluated (urine, manure solids, N, wet manure), and breed bias was observed in equations predicting excretion of urine, N, and wet manure. Although these equations include animal and dietary factors, intercepts of regression of observed values on predicted values differed between Holsteins and Jerseys for those 3 measures. No breed bias was observed in the prediction of manure solids excretion, however, making that equation equally appropriate for Jerseys and Holsteins. The effect of breed on manure and nutrient excretion has significant nutrient management implications.

Energy and nitrogen balance in lactating cows fed diets containing dry or high moisture corn in either rolled or ground form.

The effects of harvesting and processing methods on the value of net energy for lactation of corn grain were investigated. Lactating Holstein cows were used in a replicated Latin square design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Treatments were different methods for the storage (dry or high moisture) and processing (rolled or ground) of corn grains. Alfalfa silage was the forage source in the diets. Indirect calorimetry was conducted using a 6-d nutrient balance protocol; respiration measurements were made at 24-h intervals. Dry matter intake did not differ among treatments and averaged 24.2 kg/d. Milk yield was 2.0 kg/d greater for cows fed diets containing high moisture corn than for cows fed diets containing dry corn and was 2.2 kg/d greater for cows fed diets containing ground corn than for cows fed diets containing rolled corn. Apparent digestibilities of nonfiber carbohydrates, crude protein, and dry matter were greater for cows fed diets containing high moisture corn than for cows fed diets containing dry corn. Metabolizable energy and heat production were greater for diets containing high moisture corn than for diets containing dry corn and were greater for diets containing ground corn than for diets containing rolled corn. Net energy for lactation was greater for diets containing high moisture corn than for diets containing dry corn (1.78 vs. 1.64 Mcal/kg of dry matter).

Prediction of excretion of manure and nitrogen by Holstein dairy cattle.

A compilation of N balance data (n = 1801) was partitioned into four groups to define the mean excretion of manure and N and to develop empirical equations to estimate these excretions from Holstein herds. Mean excretion of manure for cows that averaged 29 kg/d of milk production was 3 kg/d per 1000 kg of body weight (BW) more than the value for dairy cows reported by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers; N excretion was 0.09 kg/d per 1000 kg of BW higher than the value reported by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers. Mean excretion of manure and N for cows that averaged 14 kg/d of milk production and that for nonlactating cows were substantially lower than the values reported by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers. Growing and replacement cattle excreted 10 kg/d per 1000 kg of BW more manure and 0.11 kg/d per 1000 kg of BW more N than was reported by the American Society for Agricultural Engineers for beef cattle. Estimation of manure and N excretion was more accurate than mean values when using regression equations that included variables for milk production, concentration of crude protein and neutral detergent fiber in the diet, BW, days in milk, and days of pregnancy. Equations that contained intake variables did not significantly affect predictions of manure and N excretion, and the use of such equations is discouraged unless dry matter intake is measured and not estimated. Accurate estimates of excreta output could improve the planning of storage and handling systems for manure and the calculation of nutrient balances on dairy farms.

The prediction of methane production of Holstein cows by several equations.

Ruminants are one of many sources contributing to atmospheric methane. The accuracy of seven published equations for methane prediction was evaluated using a data file consisting of 16 experiments (602 observations). Methane energy emissions ranged from .89 to 7.21 Mcal/d for Holstein cows. The DMI ranged from 9.7 to 28.7 kg/d for lactating cows and 4.0 to 12.9 kg/d for nonlactating cows. Mean dietary concentrations of ADF, CP, and ether extract were similar for lactating and nonlactating cows (20.9, 16.5, and 3.0% for lactating cows versus 21.2, 15.7, and 2.9% for nonlactating cows, respectively). Milk production ranged from 2.7 to 55.9 kg/d. Prediction equations were ranked by correlation coefficients and error of prediction. Prediction of methane energy loss from lactating and nonlactating Holstein cows with equations based on the daily total intake or intake of digested cellulose, hemicellulose, and nonfiber carbohydrates (OM - NDF - CP - ether extract) provided the highest correlation coefficients for reproducibility and the lowest errors of prediction. Predictions were poor for lactating cows when a quadratic function of DMI was used. In general, equations estimated methane production more accurately and precisely for nonlactating than for lactating cows.

A collaborative study of in situ forage protein degradation.

An in situ procedure was used in four collaborative trials to evaluate the variation in estimates of ruminal escape protein among eight laboratories. A standard smooth bromegrass hay was established and evaluated in all four trials, and Trials 3 and 4 also included the standard hay material that was retained on a 75-microns sieve. Polyester bags (10 cm x 20 cm) containing 5 g of sample were soaked in water (39 degrees C) for 20 min and incubated ruminally for 16 h in a bag made of mesh material. Bag rinsing after in situ incubation consisted of a primary phase in which the mesh bags containing sample bags were washed with water (39 degrees C) in 19-L white plastic buckets. Repeated cycles of filling, agitating, and dumping were performed until the rinse water was clear. Secondary rinsing was performed on individual bags by rinsing the exterior with water (39 degrees C) followed by rinsing through the unsealed opening the interior residue to the bottom of the bag for 1 min (Trials 1 and 2). Secondary rinsing for Trials 3 and 4 was the same as for Trial 1, but with only enough water (39 degrees C) and time to rinse the residue to the bag bottom. Mean estimates of escape protein (EP/CP) were: Trial 1, 27.4 +/- 3.08; Trial 2, 30.8 +/- 3.21; Trial 3, 31.1 +/- 3.04 (non-sieved); and Trial 4, 27.7 +/- 3.06 (non-sieved). Reasonable control of error was accomplished by technician training, including the use of a videotape to clarify the procedure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Metabolizable protein and amino acid requirements of growing cattle.

Metabolizable protein and amino acid requirements for growing cattle were estimated using data from 11 research trials. A total of 543 steers were individually fed a high-roughage diet supplemented with protein at several levels above a urea supplement control. The mean weight for all animals was 253 kg, with a range in mean initial to final weights of 200 to 316 kg, respectively. Daily gain ranged from -.04 to .89 kg. Metabolizable protein for each treatment group was calculated at the point at which the protein requirement was met. The sum of dietary escape protein (basal and supplemental) and calculated microbial protein represented metabolizable protein supplied per test protein source analyzed in each trial. Daily gain was regressed against calculated metabolizable protein flow using weighted regression analysis (r2 = .69, n = 45) to determine the metabolizable protein requirements for maintenance (3.8 x BW.75 g/d, where BW is expressed in kilograms) and growth (305 g/kg of live weight gain). Calculated metabolizable amino acid requirements as a percentage of metabolizable protein for a 253-kg animal gaining .49 kg/d were as follows: methionine, 3.0%; total sulfur amino acids, 5.8%; lysine, 8.0%; tryptophan, 1.0%; threonine, 5.2%; valine, 5.7%; isoleucine, 5.6%; leucine, 6.9%; phenylalanine, 3.9%; and histidine, 1.6%. The proposed requirements were based on live animal gain and intake of metabolizable protein and should represent the needs of the growing beef animal.

Effects of ruminally degradable and escape protein supplements on steers grazing summer native range.

One experiment was conducted during 1989 to determine whether a deficiency exists for either ruminally degradable or escape protein in steers grazing summer native range. Increasing levels of ruminally degradable (.15, .27, and .37 kg/d) and escape protein (.07, .14, and .21 kg/d) replaced a cornstarch and molasses (energy control) supplement. Supplements were isoenergetic and fed individually to steers (.88 kg/d). No response to the degradable protein supplement (P = .15) was observed; however, a linear gain response (P less than .01) was observed in steers fed escape protein in addition to ruminally degradable protein. An in vitro study indicated that more (P less than .01) microbial protein was synthesized from the energy supplement than from the degradable protein; this finding presumably relates to the numerical decrease in weight gains observed for steers fed degradable protein supplements. Analyses of esophageal extrusa samples indicated that CP was relatively constant for the 1989 growing season compared with the 1988 growing season (P less than .05). Escape protein values differed (P less than .01) between years and among months within year. Forages that were apparently grazed in 1989 were never deficient in degradable protein. Additional gain observed from feeding escape protein would indicate that microbial protein synthesis may be insufficient to satisfy the metabolizable protein requirement, which probably limited gains by steers grazing summer native range.

Escape protein supplementation of yearling steers grazing smooth brome pastures.

Two grazing trials utilizing individually supplemented yearling steers were conducted to study the effect of supplemental escape protein on steer performance during the active growth periods, spring and fall, of smooth brome (Bromus inermis). Graded levels (0, .11, .23 and .34 kg.head-1.d-1) of an equal-protein-basis mixture of bloodmeal and corn gluten meal were offered daily, replacing corn starch, which was used as the negative control. All steers received 582 g supplemental dry matter per day. Supplementation with escape protein improved daily performance in both spring (P less than .01) and fall (P less than .02). Analysis of pooled data from both trials indicated a linear (P less than .01) and quadratic (P less than .05) increase in steer performance with increasing level of escape protein in the diet. Analysis of grass samples collected throughout and composited over each trial demonstrated that grass protein was highly degraded in the rumen. Using a modified dacron bag technique, 12-h degradability was found to be 80 to 90% of the potentially digestible protein fraction. Rates of protein degradability were 14 and 11.7%/h. Assuming 5%/h rate of passage, escape protein was calculated to be 9.2 and 13.1% of total protein. As a result of the significant growth response observed above that of the energy-supplemented controls and the high ruminal protein degradabilities of the grass observed in the laboratory, it was concluded that growing ruminants grazing actively growing smooth brome pastures were deficient in metabolizable protein.