New Ruminant Nutrition Strategy: Metasmart®, The Missing Nutrient
Published: March 3, 2009
By: Courtesy of Kemin Europa N.V.
Amino Acid formulation is a common practice in monogastric nutrition, and it’s use allows nutritionist to reformulate rations for a lower cost. Thanks to the scientific work done in the past decades and the actual commercial experience of Kemin on amino acid balance in dairy nutrition, the same concept is applicable in the dairy industry.
Most of the dairy cow rations lack an essential amino acid, Methionine. As a result, if the cow does not have enough levels of Methionine, her protein synthesis capacity is been reduced significantly. When a protein molecule is not synthesized, the non-used amino acids are being destroyed in the liver. During this process ammonia is produced which is a toxic molecule. In order to remove this toxic product, the body will produce urea with the actual consumption of energy during this process (for further info see page 6)
This new nutritional strategy will allow ruminant nutritionist to develop a better ration at a neutral or at a lower cost while at the same time a significant impact on milk production and quality, cow health and fertility and N excretion can be observed.
Success Story
In December 2008, a French dairy farm decided to implement this new concept. In close collaboration with Kemin´s Ruminant Technical Manager, the diet was reformulated together with MetaSmart. The objective was to get a similar cost but a improvement on the Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency. The main challenge with this ration was the initial low level of crude protein, 14.8% (Table 1).
Table 1: Dairy Ration Parameters
The production parameters were studied before and during the trial in both groups. MetaSmart group showed lower milk production decreased and a better milk protein and milk fat yield which is a reflexion of the increased feed efficiency.
Figure 1: Effect of MetaSmart Reformulation on milk components (gr/cow/day)
Figure 2:Effect of MetaSmart Reformulation on milk production
As a result of the reformulation with MetaSmart and the impact on the milk production, the amount of protein feed to the animal was better utilized for production resulting in increased protein efficiency by 5.54 points, from 56.3% to 61.8% (Table 2). This improvement in protein efficiency will have mainly 2 big impacts:
- Lower Nitrogen Excretion to in the milk and manure, with a positive impact on environment
- Lower Nitrogen in Blood, with a positive impact on health and fertility.
Table 2:Impact of MetaSmart Reformulation on Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency
Economical impact
The use of MetaSmart for diet reformulation is an interesting tool from the economic point of view. Looking only at the ration cost, MetaSmart increase slightly the ration cost (+0.01€) but when the milk income is taking into account, the total profit of the farm improved.
In a farm with 100 cows this will result in a significant extra income.
MetaSmart is a Key Nutrient, easy to use and easy to apply that significantly impact Farm Profitability. MetaSmart helps you to differentiate your service as a high quality and on the top nutritional knowledge.
Most of the dairy cow rations lack an essential amino acid, Methionine. As a result, if the cow does not have enough levels of Methionine, her protein synthesis capacity is been reduced significantly. When a protein molecule is not synthesized, the non-used amino acids are being destroyed in the liver. During this process ammonia is produced which is a toxic molecule. In order to remove this toxic product, the body will produce urea with the actual consumption of energy during this process (for further info see page 6)
This new nutritional strategy will allow ruminant nutritionist to develop a better ration at a neutral or at a lower cost while at the same time a significant impact on milk production and quality, cow health and fertility and N excretion can be observed.
Success Story
In December 2008, a French dairy farm decided to implement this new concept. In close collaboration with Kemin´s Ruminant Technical Manager, the diet was reformulated together with MetaSmart. The objective was to get a similar cost but a improvement on the Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency. The main challenge with this ration was the initial low level of crude protein, 14.8% (Table 1).
Table 1: Dairy Ration Parameters
The production parameters were studied before and during the trial in both groups. MetaSmart group showed lower milk production decreased and a better milk protein and milk fat yield which is a reflexion of the increased feed efficiency.
Figure 1: Effect of MetaSmart Reformulation on milk components (gr/cow/day)
Figure 2:Effect of MetaSmart Reformulation on milk production
As a result of the reformulation with MetaSmart and the impact on the milk production, the amount of protein feed to the animal was better utilized for production resulting in increased protein efficiency by 5.54 points, from 56.3% to 61.8% (Table 2). This improvement in protein efficiency will have mainly 2 big impacts:
- Lower Nitrogen Excretion to in the milk and manure, with a positive impact on environment
- Lower Nitrogen in Blood, with a positive impact on health and fertility.
Table 2:Impact of MetaSmart Reformulation on Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency
Economical impact
The use of MetaSmart for diet reformulation is an interesting tool from the economic point of view. Looking only at the ration cost, MetaSmart increase slightly the ration cost (+0.01€) but when the milk income is taking into account, the total profit of the farm improved.
In a farm with 100 cows this will result in a significant extra income.
MetaSmart is a Key Nutrient, easy to use and easy to apply that significantly impact Farm Profitability. MetaSmart helps you to differentiate your service as a high quality and on the top nutritional knowledge.
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