Abstract #621

# 621
Evaluation of a rumen-protected methionine product for lactating dairy cows at 2 concentrations of dietary crude protein.
Shane M. Fredin*1, Heather M. Dann1, Kurt W. Cotanch1, Catherine S. Ballard1, Richard Paratte2, Kai Yuan3, Rick J. Grant1, 1William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute, Chazy, NY, 2Vetagro S.p.A, Reggio Emilia, Italy, 3Vetagro Inc, Chicago, IL.

This study evaluated the effect of a supplemental rumen-protected Met product (Timet; VETAGRO S.p.A.; Reggio Emilia, Italy) on lactation performance and rumen measures of dairy cows fed 2 concentrations of dietary CP. Sixteen multiparous Holstein cows (8 ruminally-cannulated) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 28-d periods. Cows were fed 1 of 4 diets: (1) a control diet containing (DM basis) 40.8% corn silage, 9.5% hay crop silage, and 49.7% grain mix (CON); (2) the CON diet plus Timet (TMT); (3) the CON diet plus Smartamine (Adisseo USA Inc.; Alpharetta, GA; SMT); and (4) a reduced-CP diet plus Timet (TMT-RCP). The TMT, SMT, and TMT-RCP were balanced to contain the same supply of metabolizable Met and Lys, and contained (DM basis) 16.2, 16.2, 15.9, and 13.7% CP, respectively. All diets contained 30.9% NDF and 26.8% starch. Dry matter intake and milk yield were measured on d 22–28. Milk samples were collected d 26–27 to determine composition. Rumen NH3-N concentrations were measured on d 26–27 at 4-h intervals. Data were analyzed by ANOVA using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Dry matter intake was unaffected by diet, averaging 26.8 kg/d (P > 0.10). Milk yield was unaffected by diet and was 45.6, 46.8, 44.4, and 44.9 kg/d for the CON, TMT, SMT, and TMT-RCP diets, respectively (P > 0.10). Milk protein percentage was increased for cows fed SMT (3.33%) compared with the other 3 diets (3.24%; P = 0.01), but protein yield was unaffected by diet and was 1.44, 1.49, 1.45, and 1.46 kg/d for the CON, TMT, SMT, and TMT-RCP diets, respectively (P > 0.10). Milk lactose percentage was decreased for cows fed SMT (4.55%) compared with the other 3 diets (4.61%; P = 0.01). Consistent with reduced CP, MUN (mg/dL) was decreased for cows fed TMT-RCP (11.3) compared with the other 3 diets (13.5; P ≤ 0.01), and ruminal NH3-N (mg/dL) was decreased for cows fed TMT-RCP (3.4) compared with the other 3 diets (6.9; P = 0.001). In conclusion, milk and protein yields were unaffected by sources of rumen-protected Met products. Supplementation of Timet maintained the lactation performance of cows fed reduced CP diets.

Key Words: amino acid, reduced CP, rumen measure