Gwenaël FORGEARD (1), Lilian LELOUTRE (1)
(1) TECHNA FRANCE NUTRITION, 41 Route de St-Etienne-de-Montluc, BP10, 44220 COUËRON, France
INTRODUCTION
• For economic and organizational reasons, dairy farmers are looking for an increase in the productivity of their animals. The nutrient efficiency in the feeding of dairy cattle is enormous importance, especially with regard to cost- optimised feeding.
• Essential oils contain active ingredients that can modify the microbial activity of the rumen including the possibility of limiting the degradation of proteins and so increase the amount of protein available in the intestine (Macheboeuf and al., 2008; Forgeard et al., 2018). This property can be used to decrease the proportion of degraded protein in the rumen and so participate to balance protein in the diet and improve protein efficiency. This would also have a positive impact on the cost of the feed ration and lead to reduced nitrogen excretion into the environment.
NOVATANR is part of our nutritional approach to balance diet and optimise performances..
OBJECTIVE
• To determine the effect of feeding Novatan to dairy cows on zootechnical performances.
MATERIALS & METHODS
- The trial takes place in a commercial farm (Estonia) during october 2009 (4 weeks).
- The protocol was an OFF/ON, all the cows Prim’Holstein < 100 DIM have been studied.
- All the cows receive a complete diet (0,98 UFL, 16,7% CP, 104/93/36 PDI, 73,5% TD, 29% starch + sugar, 2,4% fat, 16,5% CF, 34,5% NDF): 10kg grass silage, 1kg grassland hay and 12kg Dairy energetic feed 18% CP (33% barley- 37% wheat-30% rapeseed meal), 0,350kg minerals.
- The cows during the period ON receive 12g/head/day of NOVATAN in top-feeding.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
• No statistical analysis.
RESULTS & IMPLICATIONS
- Milk production was higher for cows fed Novatan compared to control group at the end of the trial (less loss of production).
- Protein milk content was higher for cows fed Novatan.
- Cows fed with Novatan had a better protein efficiency.
1. Context: protein efficiency in ruminant
Improve protein efficiency in ruminant diets.
Ruminants, due to their digestive system and the role of the rumen, are able to use original sources of protein (fodder, etc.) that cannot be reused by monogastrics. However, the protein efficiency of rations (ratio between protein ingested and protein produced) is often only around 30%.
Part of the protein ingested is called a protein bypass. This protein arrives directly at the intestinal level to be absorbed and used by the animal. It’s the most effective protein. The rest of the protein is broken down in the rumen and produces ammonia (NH3). This ammonia is partly transformed into protein usable in the intestine. The excess is not used and is excreted as urea.