Feeding Lactating Dairy Cows Proteins Resistant to Ruminal Degradation

Abstract

Sixty multiprious Holstein cows were fed treatment diets from 11 to 40 d postpartum with corn silage as the forage. Treatment diets each contained a different supplemental protein: 1) solvent soybean meal; 2) extruded soy product; 3) combination of corn gluten meal and distillers dried grains with solubles; and 4) a combination of protein sources from diets 2 and 3. Covariate adjusted means for milk (kg/d) and milk fat (%) for treatments 1 through 4 were 37.5, 3.14; 38.5, 3.19; 31.8, 3.45; and 35.2, 3.08. Milk protein content and DM intake were greatest for cows fed diet 1.