Evaluation of dairy food processing wash water solids as a protein source. III. Nitrogen utilization by heifers fed medium-concentrate diets

May, T.; Williams, J.E.; Caton, J.S.

Evaluation of dairy food processing wash water solids as a protein source. III. Nitrogen utilization by heifers fed medium-concentrate diets

1991

May, T. | Williams, J.E. | Caton, J.S.

Eight multicannulated heifers (average BW 415 +/- 34 kg) were used in a replicated 4 X 4 Latin square to evaluate fluid milk processing wash water solids (WWS) as a dietary N source. Heifers were fed corn/cottonseed hull-based diets containing soybean meal (control, 0% WWS N) or WWS replacing soybean meal at 33, 67, or 100% of supplemental dietary N. Total tract and ruminal DM and OM digestibilities decreased linearly or cubically (P < .05) as dietary WWS N increased. Total ruminal VFA concentration (P < .05) and propionic acid molar proportion (P < .10) were greater in heifers fed 0 vs 100% WWS N. Heifers fed 0% WWS N had the greatest (P < .05) ruminal ammonia concentration at all sampling times. Dietary WWS did not affect (P > .10) ruminal pH, fluid dilution rate, fluid flow, fluid volume, or turnover time. Total tract N digestibility decreased quadratically (P < .10) with increasing WWS N in the diet. Supplemental WWS N did not affect (P > .10) flow of duodenal ammonia N or bacterial N, or efficiency of microbial N synthesis. Diets containing WWS N resulted in a cubic increase (P < .10) in duodenal flow of essential amino acids compared with 0% WWS N; however, there were no differences in small intestinal amino acid disappearance. Data indicate that WWS can replace 33% of the soybean meal N in a corn/cottonseed hull-based diet without decreasing ruminal fermentation, fluid digesta kinetics, microbial efficiency, or small intestinal amino acid utilization.

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