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Cited by 190Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive PhysiologyPasture and Agricultural SystemsAgricultural Productivity and Crop Improvement

Desirable characteristics of forage legumes for improving protein utilization in ruminants

Broderick, G A·1995·Journal of Animal Science
DOI 10.2527/1995.7392760x
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Abstract

Forages help meet the protein requirements of ruminants by providing degraded CP for microbial protein synthesis plus protein that escapes ruminal degradation. Evidence from numerous feeding studies with lactating dairy cows indicates that excessive ruminal protein degradation may be the most limiting nutritional factor in higher-quality temperature legume forages. Hence, there is interest in identifying factors that influence the rate and extent of ruminal degradation of forage proteins. Condensed tannins found in legumes are known to decrease protein degradation, either by altering the forage proteins or by inhibiting microbial proteases. Quadratic regressions of degradation rate and estimated protein escape on tannin concentration reached minimal rate (.048/h) and maximal escape (56%) at 27 g of tannic acid equivalents/kg of DM. Although most tannin-containing forages are not well-adapted to growing conditions in North America, biotechnology has been used to inject genes for tannins into adapted germplasm. The CP in red clover, which has no detectable tannins, was found to be less degradable than that in alfalfa, both in the silo and in the rumen. Small differences in protein degradability also were detected among alfalfa germplasm. Protein in alfalfa harvested as hay, rather than as silage, was used more efficiently for milk protein synthesis when fed to lactating cows; degraded CP from hay was captured more efficiently by ruminal microbes for protein synthesis in vitro. A ruminal escape of approximately 35% for total dietary CP is recommended by the NRC for lactating dairy cows fed mixed diets with 1.6 to 1.7 Mcal of NE1/kg of DM. Ruminal degradation of CP from the forage portion of the diet can exceed 65% when forages are the major source of degradable protein. When ruminants obtain most or all of their nutrients from forage, the ruminal escape for forage protein should approximate 35%.

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Authors
Broderick, G. A.
Affiliations
U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center (US)
Corresponding author
Broderick, G A
ORCID
Broderick, G A
Venue
Journal of Animal Science
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
1995
Volume
73
Issue
9
Pages
2760
ISSN
0021-8812 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.2527/1995.7392760x
OpenAlex
W1553956961
Cited by
190
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 9
FWCI
4.36
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Animal Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Forestry › Pasture and Agricultural Systems
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Agricultural Productivity and Crop Improvement
Keywords
forage legumes, rumen protein degradation, protein utilization, proanthocyanidins, microbial protein synthesis, lactating dairy cows, red clover, silage, hay, milk protein synthesis, rumen fermentation
MeSH terms
Medicago sativa, Animals, Cattle, Zea mays, Dietary Proteins, Fabaceae, Nitrogen, Nutritive Value, Plants, Medicinal, Ruminants

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