Soybean Meal Supplementation of Low-Quality Roughage

The influence of crude protein degradability and frequency of feeding on dry matter intake and nutrient digestibility was evaluated in cannulated crossbred steers consuming a low-quality forage. Treatments provided a degradable or less-degradable supplement protein daily, every third day or every sixth day. Results indicated that protein supplementation increased total dry matter and nitrogen intake, duodenal nitrogen flow, intestinal nitrogen disappearance, duodenal bacterial nitrogen flow and bacterial crude protein synthesis. Duodenal bacterial nitrogen flow was greater for the degradable supplement protein source compared to the less available protein supplement. The researchers suggested that crude protein supplement consisting of 20-60% undegradable crude protein can be effectively used by steers consuming a low quality forage without reducing matter intake, nutrient digestibility, or bacterial crude protein synthesis, even when the supplement is provided as infrequently as once very six days.

Bohnert, D.W. and co-workers. 2002. Influence of rumen degradation and supplementation frequency on steers consuming low-quality forage: 1. Site of digestion and microbial efficiency. J. Animal Sci. 80(11): 2967-2977.