Calculation of utilizable crude protein at the duodenum of cattle by two different approaches

Abstract

The duodenal flow of utilizable crude protein (crude protein minus endogenous protein) in cows was estimated using dietary parameters, first by multiple regression and secondly by the addition of microbial protein and undegraded feed protein. These estimates were compared with 327 results from experiments conducted with fistulated cows in Braunschweig‐Völkenrode and Rostock‐Dummerstorf. The regressions and the measurements for microbial protein synthesis as well as feed protein degradation and organic matter fermentation in the rumen were based on the same experimental data set. The prediction of utilizable crude protein (uCP) at the duodenum by regression with digested organic matter (kg DOM) and undegraded feed protein (g UDP) as predicting variables, was more accurate than the value given by microbial protein synthesis and rumen protein degradability. The regression model [g uCP = [188.5‐(116.5 (UDP/CP))] DOM + 1.03 UDP] had the highest coefficient of determination (r² = 0.91) and the lowest coefficient of variation (cv = 8.6); indicating the model's superiority over the other method of estimation.

Key words:

• Utilizable crude protein
• Microbial crude protein
• Undegraded feed protein
• Dairy cows