Barbara Pysera

Changes of Nitrogen Compounds During Ensiling of High Protein Herbages – A Review

Abstract Losses of crude protein during ensiling of herbages, in contrast to carbohydrates, do not affect the reduction of its content; their form is changed into greater solubility non-protein compounds and also highly degraded forms, which lower the efficiency of the microbial protein synthesis in the rumen. These processes are accompanied by a change of amino acid composition of herbage protein and decrease in intestinal digestibility of protein from feeds as a result of the formation of indigestible complexes with carbohydrates (ADIN). Reduction of protein degradation in silages is achieved by accelerated acidity through addition of acids or dominance of homofermentative bacteria. The positive effects of fermentation inhibitors or sorbents use, as well as the wilting of raw material on the level and rate of protein degradation were demonstrated by many researchers. A greater contribution of protein nitrogen and reduction of deamination in silages can also be obtained by using bacteria inoculants. Increasing the proportion of protein nitrogen is accompanied by the improved efficiency of microbial protein synthesis.

Fermentation and Proteolysis During the Ensilage of Wilted and Unwilted Diploid and Tetraploid Red Clover

The effects of the following factors were analyzed in the study: wilting degree, genetic form of red clover (2n – 4n), cultivars within the genetic form: 2n (Krynia, Parada), 4n (Jubilatka, Bona) and DM x form, DM x 2n, DM x 4n. Fermentation and proteolysis during the ensilage of red clover were affected primarily by wilting, whereas genetic factors (genetic form, cultivar) exerted a lesser effect. However, the genetic form of red clover affected the true protein content of silage and the extent of proteolysis during the ensiling process. The effect of the genetic form of red clover on the extent of proteolysis in silage (at similar levels of water-soluble carbohydrates and buffering capacity) suggests that diploid and tetraploid red clover cultivars differ with respect to chemical properties (poliphenol oxidase activity, polyphenol content) affecting proteolysis.

Effect of Rumen Protected Methionine Supplementation on Early Lactational Responses of Dairy Cows Fed a Grass Silage and Cereals Diet

To investigate the milk production limiting potential of a diet based on grass silage (40%), hay (15%), dried sugar beet pulp (13%) and grain compound mixture (32%), 28 multiparous cows in early lactation were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: a control group and a group receiving supplementary rumen protected methionine (RPMet) treatment (12 g intestinally available methionine/cow/day, given 1-120 days postpartum; Smartamine; RPANs technology). The diet was formulated to meet the requirements for protein and net energy. RPMet supplementation had no significant effect on DMI (kg/cow/day), milk dry mass, milk lactose and milk urea contents. Responses for mean daily milk yield, mean milk fat and milk protein yields were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in cows supplied with RPMet than in controls. Mean daily milk yield, milk protein and milk fat yields increased by 2.4 kg, 108 g and 124 g, respectively. The mean daily milk protein and casein contents were increased by 1.8 g and 0.9 g and milk fat content by 1.2 g in 1 kg of milk, respectively. The results suggest that in cows fed grass silage and a grain compound mixture milk production is limited by methionine insufficiency, but milk production performance can be increased significantly by the addition of RPMet to the diet.